Dude Ranches

Dude Ranches are a popular type of family getaway: kids love horses, and so do many parents. Plus there's the attraction of the beautiful settings, the myth of Wild West, the cookouts under the stars... and maybe a massage and a spa treatment.

Tips for families considering a dude ranch vacations: what to expect, what's usually included in the price, typical amenities, etc.

This ranch sits on 500 acres just 90 minutes from New York City, and offers many activities: winter snow tubing and skiing, ice skating, and sleigh rides; an indoor pool with geyser; horseback riding; kids programs; water skiing, fishing, archery, kayaks, banana boats, and paddle boats in summer; and more.

This low-key authentic "ranch resort" in Wickenburg Arizona has over 60 years of history, and offers a kids' program, golf, a spa, and of course, horses; guests can ride twice a day. Learn about Sonoran desert ecology while having fun.

Guests can do all the horseback riding they want, at this ranch in the Sonoran desert founded in 1868. The ranch has 640 acres in the foothills of the Rincon mountains east of Tucson.

Many states have dude ranch vacations, but Colorado has its unique Rock Mountain setting.

This website facilitates searches for particular types of dude ranch vacations, such as those with kids programs, or working cattle ranches, or a resort-like style.

This website covers a dozen states and lets users search for dude ranch vacations by price and by activity.

"Explore the World on Horseback": this website helps locate guest ranches, working ranches, cattle drives, and more types of horseback riding vacations around the world.