Picking a ranch: visitor tips

The range of choices in ranches out there is awesome—and for anyone planning a dude ranch vacation, it can be intimidating. There are some similarities: most ranches offer American Plan, with meals, lodging, and activities included, but some do offer Modified American Plan and European Plans. But one thing's for sure: every ranch serves up a slightly different menu of features to cater to your special interests.

To get started, head for Ranchweb.com, where you can find ranches listed by category. Then ask yourself some key questions. Are you interested in a child-oriented ranch or one where child care is provided? How important is the kind of riding program available (and how much of your visit do you want to spend in the saddle)? If fishing, nature walking, or hunting is important to family members, you'll want to scope out the ranch's level of offerings in those activities. Food and drink is always key, so don't be afraid to ask about menus and liquor policies.

And if there's a spouse in the house who just can't unplug from the Internet or cell phone, you'll want to check out the ranch connections (they're not all as remote as you think). Whatever you want, there's sure to be a dude ranch perfect for your needs, and it's just a click away!

ABC's new dudes

Alan Shore and Denny Crane on horseback? Yep, the wise-cracking, business-suited boys from ABC's Boston Legal are heading for a dude ranch on next week's episode of the hit prime-time show. Frankly, we can't wait to watch them saddle up.

We don't know if actors James Spader (Shore) or William Shatner (Crane) have ever been to a dude ranch in real life, but Shatner is, in fact, a fine horseman. He rides and breeds American Quarter Horses and owns the world champion Sultan's Great Day. The actor devotes time to AHEAD with Horses, a charity group which gives physically and mentally challenged children the thrill of riding a horse (while boosting their confidence); Shatner is also the annual host for the Hollywood Charity Horse Show. That merits a tip of the hat.

In next week's episode, Alan and Denny check into a dude ranch and find themselves "at odds with their fellow horse enthusiasts". Naturally. (Check local listings for time and station.)

Classic ranch wear

If you really want to fit in with the wranglers, get to know Denver's Rockmount Ranch Wear. The company has real cred on the range—they've been around since 1946.  Your must-have for the dude ranch: Rockmount's trademark diamond snap-front shirt (legend says they invented 'em); they're the longest-lasting production shirt design in America and one is even in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution. You can find 'em at any self-respecting western wear shop, or online. The tailored shirts with the sawtooth pocket style are now an icon, and make even city clickers look like the real deal. 

They were the brainchild of the late Jack A. Weil (below) Rockmount's patriarch and a fixture at the Rockies' main store even when he was well past age 100. 

When I stopped by the store in Denver's LoDo district a few years back, I asked Jack why he kept working long after the age when most guys have opted for golf and bridge. "Work is my way of relaxing," Jack said with a grin. "It keeps you young!"

Rock on, Jack A. Weil, wherever you are!

Your kid's first time on the ranch?

What happens when a city kid makes his or her first visit to a dude ranch? One thing is for sure: they never forget it. I vividly remember my first time on a ranch: I spent so much time in the saddle that I wound up "wearing" a pillow for the next few days. But I formed a love affair with horses that lasts to this day.

Tell us about your child's first visit and how it affected him/her. Did they bond eternally with their pony? Did your child try his hand at a little fly fishing with a ranch guide (and now wants his own waders)? 

Perhaps your child may have learned something about nature and formed a love for the outdoors after spending time on the ranch. Or maybe their visit provided a chance to put down the Gameboy and have some quality time with Mom and Pop.

If there's a funny or warm story about your child's first time on the ranch, please tell us! Post your comments below, or send us an email; we'll share the stories with our readers.

Autumn colors on the ranch

Split rail fences zig-zagging into golden groves of aspen. Chocolate brown horses stepping across a meadow. A tangerine alpenglow melting over the top of a nearby mountain. Those are some of the hues of a typical fall day around some dude ranches. You see, not all of the ranches close for the season at summer's end.

At spots like the C Lazy U Ranch in the mountains of Colorado, autumn is one of their favorite times of year. It's perfect for long hikes through forests daubed with bright colors, rides into the mountains, and roasting marshmallows around a crackling campfire. It's also when wildlife begin to move down from the mountains. Said one recent guest, "While sipping a cup of cowboy coffee one morning, I spotted a moose by a nearby creek; other days I watched the beavers take their morning swim in the pond!"

At California's Highland Ranch, the season brings wellness programs, like the Yoga and Riding Weekend Clinic, midweek discounts, and a harvest of fruit from Highland's own 

apple, peach, and pear trees (see photo, below, right). "With 

the start of school," says manager Jim Gaines, "crowds are gone and fall is a really peaceful time to be here."

Of course in Arizona, fall color is given a twist. At Grapevine Canyon Ranch, where Chiricahua Apaches once roamed, the sagebrush after a rainfall gets a tangy scent and a freshly-washed, gray-green hue. "Now the ranch is covered with tall, silvery grass that is at the legendary stirrup height," says owner Eve Searle, "and there are lots of wildflowers only now beginning to fade away." October and November is also time for cattle round-ups, and guests are welcome to help.

And up in the White Mountains at the Hidden Meadow Ranch, one seasonal high point is the Wild West Rodeo Weekend, (Oct. 17-19); team penning is one of their best events of the year. Another highlight is the HMR Winemaker Weekend (Oct. 24-26): A Taste of Rebel Vinum, and including a five-course dinner. But ultimately, you could say that fall's main color is green (rates plunge after September 5, saving you lots of green).

So as October weather brings a chill, remember that it also brings a palette of colors to ranches everywhere.