What was it like? Was it fun? Memorable? Expensive? Did you feel corny?
Kinda thinking about talking my wife into going to one with me for a different vacation experience.
I have and I loved it enough to go back for several years- but the one I stayed at was far from the beaten path. Sprucedale is designed primarily as a family-oriented, rustic ranch in the White Mountains of Arizona. Not easy to get to (it’s about 6 hours from Phoenix) but worth every mile. There, you really get a feel for the Western way of life. Check out their price list. It really is that inexpensive. $640 for one person for six days + $40 per day for riding is all-inclusive. (You’re encouraged to leave a tip for the ranch hands.)
Typically, you get up pretty early, have breakfast (every meal is family-style), go for a two-hour ride (marvelous scenery), then back for lunch. You can spend the afternoon at crafts or practice for the “rodeo” on Friday, or go fishing, or just sit on the cabin porch. Another family meal then the evening may be devoted to a campfire or games, or a dance (learn square dancing!) or a talent contest. And then off to bed because the electric generator is shut off at 10 pm.
Who cares about corny when you’re having fun? And anyone who will see you is there too.
I haven’t stayed at the more typical ranches. I understand there are some that are basically a resort with horseback riding in between the golf, massage and beach.
Which kind of vacation do you and your wife want? If you want a “real” ranch, I can’t recommend Sprucedale enough.
That sounds like alot of fun and is exactly what we are looking for! We have a 1 year old though. Is that type of thing doable with a baby?
If you take turns staying with the baby/going riding, it should work out. No baby-sitting services are usually offered, but since it’s run by 3 generations of a huge family they are used to kids.
I stayed at the Mayan dude Ranch in Bandera twice with adolescents. http://www.mayanranch.com/
I totally enjoyed it. As the mom, I often plan, pack, cook, entertain, and/or otherwise keep pretty busy on vacation. At the Mayan, I never did anything except have fun. They have a pretty full schedule and you can take part, or just goof off as you see fit. I love the plays they put on every year and you can take kids greater than 13 into the saloon for talent show night (they allow drinking, but have a very low tolerance for drunkeness). Also, the food is very good (too good, really!). Plus, there is lots of music, entertainment and western dancing. They also have a nice swimming hole on the river (and a pool). Did I mention how good the food is? Thanks, Shauna!
I don’t think a one year old will get too much out of it, but I had a blast and so did my kids.
Didn’t even mention the horses- Slow walks of about an hour twice a day, or you can use one ride to head down to the meadow for the cowboy breakfast. I believe they do have baby sitting a couple times a week.
One of their competitors is http://www.silverspur-ranch.com/ Never stayed there, though.
Not quite the same thing - but I did a multi-day ride with Holiday on Horseback in Banff one year.
It was awesome. I highly, highly recommend it. About 2-3 hours every morning, 2-3 hours every afternoon on a horse through the Canadian Rockies (which are gorgeous). I did the one where you stay at the lodges - so full course meals every morning and night in lovely cabins in the mountains.
Maybe when the baby’s a bit older.
I did it when I was about 10 and I had a blast.
Dude, Dude Ranch
lolz! 
Oh, Dude ranch. My mind first went to a “boys ranch”, you know, where troubled youth are sent. I’d be a little more wary of the latter.
Unfortunately, Sprucedale Ranch was right in the path of the Wallow fire in AZ. I haven’t heard anything concrete yet, but it doesn’t look good for them this summer.
I have family with a ranch in Eastern (cough) insert Western state (don’t want to leak anonymity). They take dudes on, or at least used to. I handed a summer and they’re the best crew of people you’ll ever hang up a saddle with. I can’t even ride, but they put me right to work, and I think they’d do the same for any city dude.
All I ever heard was at least at this ranch the “dudes” were cool with in the book of the hands, and the hands had fun having something different to do. Don’t get between them and their work, though, or they will get mighty mad, because they still got “chores” to do.
I know nothing about the business, but I can’t imagined you’d go wrong hooking on to a ranch in Eastern Montana or maybe Wyoming.