Vacation Dude Ranches

Looking for something a little different to do on your next vacation? A dude ranch vacation may be the perfect answer. A dude ranch vacation, also commonly referred to as a guest ranch vacation, allows travelers to get away from the ordinary and spend their vacation on a dude ranch. It’s the perfect getaway for anyone who loves spending their days in the saddle, or who has ever dreamed of being a cowboy.

What is a Dude Ranch Vacation?

Guests on a dude ranch vacation get the opportunity to stay on a real working ranch.  Most guest ranches offer a variety of experiences to travelers including cattle drives, hayrides, horseback riding, cattle roping, trail rides and more. As dude ranch vacations are becoming more and more popular with travelers, many ranches also offer a wide variety of activities outside those you would expect to do on a working ranch. A dude ranch vacation can include golf, fly fishing, four-wheeling, hiking, white water rafting, shopping expeditions, and more. The variety of activities offered at dude ranches makes it easier than ever to plan a vacation all of your traveling companions will enjoy.

Dude ranch accommodations vary from one place to the next. Some dude ranch vacations are geared toward those looking for a real adventure on vacation. Guests can expect to stay in a cabin or rustic ranch house or even spend a good portion of their vacation camping. On the other end of the spectrum, many dude ranches are now offering luxury accommodations. These resort dude ranches offer comfortable rooms full of amenities which allow guests to pamper themselves after a hard day at play.

All inclusive dude ranch vacations tend to be the norm. For one rate, dude ranches offer accommodations, meals, and a number of activities and amenities. It’s important for travelers to find out before booking their trip exactly what is included in their dude ranch vacation. Even all inclusive packages may charge extra for certain activities or amenities.

One of the reasons dude ranch vacations are gaining in popularity is because they offer such a wide variety of activities tailored to meet the needs of such a wide variety of guests. Travelers can find all inclusive dude ranch vacations suitable for families, singles, adults only, or corporate outings. With the numerous dude ranches and dude ranch vacations available, travelers are sure to find something that suits their needs.

Best Destinations for Dude Ranch Vacations

To decide on the best destination for you, you should first decide what you’re looking for in a dude ranch. Are you interested in being immersed in the day-to-day activity on a real working ranch? Some people may prefer doing some horseback riding and then having the opportunity to branch out to do other activities. Other travelers may be seeking a resort vacation that allows them to do some horseback riding and other ranch activities. Figuring out which type of vacation you are looking for is the first step in narrowing down destinations.

Dude ranches can be found all over the world, but the most popular destination for a dude ranch vacation is the American West. Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas are destinations where people can take a step back in time to get some of the flavor of the Old West. Here travelers will find a variety of dude ranches to suit every taste.

How to Find a Dude Ranch Vacation

If you’re sold on the idea of making your next vacation a dude ranch vacation, there is no need to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of dude ranch vacations available. A good place to start is at the website for the Dude Ranchers’ Association at www.duderanch.org.  The Dude Ranchers’ Association was formed to preserve the way of life of ranchers. It has over one hundred members, all who must go through a two year inspection and approval process before membership is granted.

Another place to help narrow your search for a dude ranch vacation is DudeRanches.com (www.duderanches.com).  This site offers a directory of hundreds of dude ranches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It allows visitors to narrow their search by activities, accommodations, skill level and amenities.

RanchWeb.com is another website that can help you in your search for the perfect dude ranch vacation. This site allows visitors to find the dude ranch that best meets their vacation needs. It contains an extensive listing of dude ranch rates, and also offers dude ranch reviews from other travelers. Visitors can also use the interactive map to pinpoint the exact location of dude ranches. Best of all, RanchWeb.com has a directory of travel deals for dude ranch vacations.

Keep in mind when searching websites such as RanchWeb.com and DudeRanch.com that these are simply directories, and ranches listed here are not necessarily endorsed or approved by any organization. Once you find several dude ranches that appeal to you here, you may want to continue doing some research before booking your dude ranch vacation.