USA - Arizona
by Kevin Burton
I combined a few nights in San Diego before heading off to Arizona to sample the ranches. There are ranches to suit everyone, from real true grit working ranches to the luxurious and most of them cater for children making this a truly great family holiday experience.
There are four classifications of ranch:
WORKING RANCHES
Working ranches raise livestock and crops but guests have become a major part of the operation. Guests can become real cowboys, learning to drive cattle, brand and rope steers, eating round a campfire and sleeping under the stars. What you get to do may depend on what's going on at the time, you're not required to work but can help if you wish and learn a lot in the process.
GUEST RANCHES
Guest Ranches are designed primarily to care for guests and horses are often the only livestock. Riding is emphasised but other Western activities are available on an informal basis. The Ranch is a home, and is shared with guests who relax together in a very warm and personal way that is rarely available to visitors on the usual hectic fly-drive itinerary.
DUDE RANCHES
Dude Ranches while riding is a big thing, dude ranches are geared to catering for a wide variety of interests and are ideal for those who want a "something-doing-all-the-time" vacation. A full weekly programme of Western activities is usually included in your holiday price - such as Wild West Shows, rodeo visits, square dances, barbecues and a host of sports and outdoor activities.
RESORT RANCHES
Luxury Resort Ranches offer the Western experience but also emphasize other activities such as golf, tennis and ballooning. Accommodations tend to be more luxurious than other ranches, and are very individual.
I stayed at the Tanque Verde ranch, which is classed as a resort ranch, designed more to give guests a ‘Cowboy experience', combined with leisure facilities, such as a swimming pool and other non ranch styled activities. The Tanque Verde offers rides and horses to suit all abilities and complete beginners will feel totally at ease heading off into the surrounding desert on horseback.
There are rides throughout the day, but one to give thought to is the ‘breakfast in the desert'. This is an hour's easy early morning ride, followed by a hearty Creole breakfast served to you in the Sonoran desert. The silence on the ride is awesome, only interrupted by the rhythmic sound of your horses' hooves, or an eagle's cry soaring overhead.
Tanque Verde has an onsite naturalist and a nature information centre and you can gain in-depth knowledge of all the flora, fauna and indigenous animals that exist in the desert. Those who suffer from arachnophobia beware! This area has one of the largest varieties found anywhere in the United States, not to mention snakes, but hey, don't let that put you off. Get your Cowboy boots on and head off for a fantastic time!