A Guided or Guest Ranch Vacation: All Fun and No Hassles
What could be more fun than a summer home in the Northern Rockies?
As an alternative, how about your own personal wilderness guide
or a couple of weeks at a guest ranch? While owning a summer
home may be appealing, it also comes with a price. Just like
regular homes, summer places require upkeep and maintenance.
Who wants to spend precious vacation time repairing leaky roofs
or faulty plumbing?
Outfitters and guest ranches offer a satisfying, cost-effective
alternative to maintaining a vacation home in the region, while
at the same time helping guests tread lightly on the land. More
outfitters are specializing in natural and social history, helping
clients understand the landscape as well as enjoy it.
Many guest ranches have been around for generations, and their
staff can guide you to the experiences that are likely to give
you the most satisfaction. Perhaps just as importantly, these options
can save you the time and expense of maintaining a summer property,
freeing you to enjoy your vacation.
Confessions of a Repeat Guest Ranch Vacationer
By Nancy White
When I arrived in Montana, I was a little worried that my first
guest ranch experience would seem too much like Disney Land-too
artificial, too "slick." I threw my stuff into the back
of a pickup, and headed down what seemed like the longest dirt
road in America. At the end of that road was the beginning of a
perfect vacation-a big Sunday meal and miles of the most beautiful
trails I'd ever seen.
I never worried about paying taxes, mending leaky roofs or doctoring
sick barn cats. I do not take this lightly. Raised a Virginia farm
girl, I know just how big a dent chores put in free time. To this
day, whenever I pass an apple orchard all I can think about are
pruning, picking and bush hogs. I didn't have to go grocery shopping,
do dishes or check to see if the furnace still worked. You gotta
love the guest-ranching life.
Now, I anticipate building on past experience. Over the years,
my friendships in Montana will deepen as my knowledge of the area
increases. The guest ranch provides an amazing "home base" from
which to enjoy the state, without having to worry about property
upkeep or payments. Ultimately, I don't feel like I'm making a
compromise by not buying property. I'm being selfish about my time.
Forgoing the headaches, I'm free to enjoy Montana.
Guest Ranches
- 63 Ranch
- Dude Ranch Association -
lists every associated guest ranch in the West
- Ranchweb.com - Gene
Kilgore's on-line showcase of dude ranches
- TripleE - a conservation
vacation travel agency
- Twin Creek Ranch -
5th and 6th generation sons of pioneers guide on week-long horseback
riding vacations.
- Flynn Ranch
Vacations - Tony and Andrea Malmberg, are dedicated to
fostering the health of the land, economy and cultural life
of their Wyoming home--a home they wish to share with you.
Green Guides and Outfitters
