Guest Author - Deborah Crawford

Giddy-up Cowboys & Cowgirls & Take a Dude Ranch Vacation!

If Tim McGraw is right, there’s a little cowboy in all of us. Why not express your inner John Wayne at a dude ranch?

Dude ranches started in the late 1800’s when family & friends of the original ranchers wanted to come out west to visit. Lodging was certainly limited, and ranchers opened their homes to vacationers. These “city slickers” would help out around the ranch and experience what life was really like for the cowboys. The tradition continues today, and dude ranchers offer more “guest-friendly” activities. You'll find dude ranches primarily in the western US, but also in states like Arkansas and New York. Canada also boasts many dude ranches.

Some of the activities offered include

• horseback riding on trails
• rodeo activities
• cattle roundups
• hiking
• fishing and fly fishing
• swimming
• campfires
• hayrides
• cookouts
• horseshoes
• overnight pack trips
• river rafting
• four-wheel-drive trips
• mountain biking
• tennis
• target shooting
• spa activities.

Evening entertainment might include a barn dance, stage show, or cowboy poets & musicians. Each dude ranch is different, so make sure to verify that the ranch you choose has what you’re looking for.

Dude ranches are great for families and many offer special children’s activities. Be sure to ask about policies and age limits before you book—most will arrange babysitters and offer special programs for younger children, but not all of them do. Typically, most have activities for children 3 and over. While the minimum age for horseback riding is usually six, younger children are usually allowed to “ride” while someone leads the horse around.

Most dude ranches will offer all-inclusive weekly packages which include lodging, all meals, activities, and gratuities. Some will have daily cabin or room rentals where you can pay for meals and activities ala carte. Also, many offer discount specials for certain weeks.

For more information on dude ranch vacations, here are some great website sources:

Dude Ranchers Association: http://www.duderanch.org has great information about dude ranching and also offers searchable listings of their members.

Every Dude Ranch: http://www.everyduderanch.com offers searchable listings by state and activities.

Guest Ranches of North America: http://www.guestranches.com On this site, you can choose your preferred location, activities, when you want to go, and your price range and find a list of matching ranches.