Dude ranches are sure-fire favorites with children, but how do you know which product is right for you and your family? Gene Kilgore, ranch expert and creator of www.top50ranches.com, www.ranchweb.com and www.ranchvacations.com, offers his five top picks for guest ranches just right for the mini wranglers in your family.
When coming up with his list, Kilgore looked at the attention paid to young guests by staff and the variety of age-appropriate activities at each property. The idea, he said, is to help families bond while on vacation and create memories that will last.
“Take children to a beach and ask them 10 years later to name that beach and they will have forgotten. But take them to a ranch and they’ll remember the name of the ranch and the names of their horses for the rest of their lives,” Kilgore said.
Three Bars Guest and Cattle Ranch
The Canadian Rockies Three Bars Guest and Cattle Ranch offers horseback riding, target practice with kid-sized archery equipment, clay shooting with lightweight rifles, river rafting, supervised swimming, mountain biking, fishing, hunting for frogs, building forts and panning for gold for kids aged 6 and up.
Children under 6 can ride around the arena on horses led by wranglers and meet other animals in a petting zoo.
“The first day or so most families tend to ride together,” said host Tyler Beckley, adding, “As children feel more secure and after they’ve made friends, they’re off and running.”
Families reconvene for evening meals, and log cabins of up to three bedrooms accommodate 45 guests.
California’s Rankin Ranch has been running cattle at the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada mountain range since 1863, and offers supervised activities for little wranglers aged 4-11. Activities also combine hiking and swimming with ping pong, shuffleboard, archery, badminton and horseshoes. Children 6 and older can take part in twice-daily trail rides through areas where cattle are grazing, and in the evenings they can feed chickens, pigs, sheep, goats, a miniature donkey and miniature horses. They can also brush the animals and collect eggs, take part in hay wagon rides, go square dancing and compete in a children’s race on stick horses they make themselves. Accommodations are for 45 in duplex cabins.
Colorado’s Lost Valley Ranch in the front range of the Rockies welcomes children aged 6 and up to walk, trot and even lope on horseback under the supervision of trained counselors. Tiny visitors aged 3-5 can be led around on horseback to explore the ranch.
“Children learn the true ropes of being cowgirls and cowboys,” said Stephanie Geary in Guest Services. “Sometimes they ride from 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. Every day the rides are mixed up with games, a creek swim or stories the wranglers tell about the history of Lost Valley.” Other activities include scavenger hunts and themed outings, and cabins with one, two or three bedrooms accommodate up to 85 guests during the summer season.
Montana’s Nine Quarter Circle Ranch allows parents to enjoy fishing and riding while their children are learning to ride, fishing or just playing hide and seek. “Our Small Fry group [5 and under] can be led around on horses and supervised while parents spend time in the saddle,” said Sally Kelsey, co-general manager, while Rough Riders, aged 6-9, learn more advanced skills on horseback. Kids aged 10 and up can join group trail rides according to their ability levels, and accommodations are in log cabins of from one to four bedrooms.
Wyoming’s Paradise Ranch in the Big Horn Mountains has been a dude ranch since 1907. “Our registered brand is fun,” said Clay Miller, managing owner with his wife Leah. “We get a lot of extended families because the kids are totally taken care of. We really emphasize getting the kids — even the teens — outdoors and becoming involved in activities that reattach them to the outdoors. One staff person is assigned to teens and three others to younger guests.” Children age 6 can enjoy pony rides, and older kids ride on horseback, he said, adding the ranch can also accommodate infants. Accommodations for 70 are in newly renovated log cabins with up to four bedrooms.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedNorth America
Apr 25, 2024Discover 5 of the Best Hotels Near National Parks
If your family travel happens to take you to a national park, look no further than the list of hotels below.
Sponsored Content
United Continues Its Global Expansion
United Airlines keeps soaring to new heights, recently announcing another expansion of its leading global route network. The airline added new non-stop flights between Newark (EWR) and Marrakesh (RAK), Morocco; Tokyo (NRT) and Cebu (CEB), Philippines; and Houston (IAH) and Medellin (MDE), Colombia. That’s not all: United also plans to increase flights to popular worldwide destinations including Hong Kong (HKG); Seoul (INC), South Korea; and Porto (OPO), Portugal. Following the recent agreement to increase flights between the U.S. and Chinese governments, the airline now adds four weekly flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Shanghai (PVG).
Slideshow
Apr 25, 20247 Curaçao Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Curaçao with us.
Travel Tips
Apr 25, 2024Protect Family Trips with Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Summer family travel is quickly approaching. Where is your family headed? A Forbes Travel Advisor study recently found the cost of travel for a family of four for a three-night stay with airfare averaged about $3,600. Protect your family travel spending with Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, offering a variety of travel insurance packages tailored to all types of travel.
Sponsored Content
Make the Most of Hamad International Airport When Transferring
Making travel plans can be exciting; did you know planning on how to spend time at the airport the right way can enrich the overall trip experience? As a transfer hub, traveling through Doha's Hamad International Airport is a unique experience, as waiting never feels like waiting at one of the best airports in the world.
Destinations / Africa
Apr 24, 2024Enjoy an African Beach Safari with Jek Tours and Safaris
An African safari is a dream vacation for many. For family travelers, it is a great way to introduce the kids to a lifestyle in which people coexist compassionately with the world around them. Not everyone is looking for the same experience, so choosing the right safari for the family is an important decision when planning your vacation.
ShareThis