null
Pressing your toe into a stirrup and swinging your leg over a leather saddle to go on a horseback ride, one of the oldest forms of transportation, is an indelible way to connect to the natural world around and light up your senses. Whether you’re clip-clopping through an old-growth forest, trotting on a well-worn trail up and over verdant rolling hills, or making your way through a dung-dotted cattle pasture, you’ll be aware of your surroundings as you travel at a slower pace in the open-air. You’ll notice an assortment of birdsongs, spot tiny critters scurrying across nature’s floor, and feel the breeze as it rustles your hair. In short: you’re more cognizant, present, and engaged.
If you haven’t taken a ranch vacation yet, or experienced the whimsy of a trail ride, then consider the following horse-centric trips.
Fall in Love with Cowboy Culture in Cheyenne, Wyoming
null
If you pop into The Wrangler, a three-story brick building built in the late 1800’s, you can meet a cowboy hat shaper and pick out a pair of new Western-style boots. In fact, if you’re a history buff, you can also learn about the Nagel Warren Mansion, built in 1888, and the Historic Plaines Hotel, built in 1911. Don’t miss Cheyenne Frontier Days, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration, which has been operating since 1897. Of course, after all of this historical perspective, you’ll be inspired to ride your own steed.
Make your way to Terry Bison Ranch where you can see and hand-feed Bison on a narrated train tour and, of course, ride gentle horses on a guided trail ride, perfect for multi-generational families.
Ride Horses at the Gateway of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Woman riding her horse at a ranch in Colorado
It’s not uncommon to hear bugling elk as they roam in the meadowlands, or see large herds block traffic as they cross the street, in the town of Estes Park, Colorado. Outdoor activities, in and around Rocky Mountain National Park, are this town’s modus operandi. From rock climbing to hiking to mud bogging off-trail in an ATV to horseback riding, there are no shortages of happenings to keep you engaged in Colorado.
At Sombrero Stables you’ll take a ride up a mountain where you’ll see a tree covered in old cowboy boots along the way. At the end of the riding season, wranglers race up the highland, toss their boots into the tree, and then race back down barefooted.
Relish in the Spirit of Old Hawaii in Lānaʻi
Four Seasons Resort Lanai
Lānaʻi, known as the Pineapple Island, was once an island-wide pineapple plantation. Now, Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, owns nearly all of the island where the stunning Four Seasons Resort Lanai and Four Seasons Hotel Lanai at Koele, A Sensei Retreat sit.
A plethora of outdoor experiences are managed by the resorts: boating, snorkeling, ATV island exploring, fishing, golfing, hiking, and, of course, horseback riding. The island’s rust-colored rugged terrain is accessible via one main paved road, creating a Mars-like environment as you traverse most of the island on red-dirt paths via jeep, ATV, and horse. Magic.
Unplug in California
Horses grazing on grass on a ranch in Santa Ynez, California.
Surrounded by wineries in the beating heart of Santa Barbara wine country, in the verdant hills of Santa Ynez Valley, sits Alisal Guest Ranch. You’ll have no choice but to unplug and experience the ranch in the present moment—the rooms are void of telephones and television sets and the Wi-Fi is delightfully spotty.
What you will do, instead, is explore over 50 miles of trails on horseback. There’s a fitness center, swimming pool, hot tub, tennis court, and golf course on property but, honestly, the horses at this working cattle ranch are the nucleolus of the operation. Join a wrangler and ride to the Old Adobe house for the Breakfast Ride, where you’ll enjoy a well-earned cowboy breakfast around the fire while being serenaded by acoustic guitar.
A Luxury Cowgirl Roundup in Montana
The Resort at Paws Up
Now is your chance to join acclaimed Honorees of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame on a cowgirl weekend in Montana at The Resort at Paws Up. Not only will you learn important ranch proficiencies through hands-on demonstrations and workshops at the Cowgirl Spring Roundup, but also, you’ll ride and connect with horses until your heart is content. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to move cattle via horseback, develop roping skills, or practice photography in one of the most stunning landscapes in America, then this trip is for you.
Bonding with other women and cultivating new friendships is easy in this environment, should you decide to travel solo, and if you choose to bring a gal pal along for the adventure, you’ll have many unforgettable memories to reminisce about long after the vacation is over. And, of course, the food and beverage programs at this luxury ranch resort are top-notch, whether you’re dining in the casual tented breakfast space, the fine dining room, or around a campfire.
