Did you ever watch old Westerns and fantasize about being a cowboy, or cowgirl as a child, sitting in the saddle and riding on the wind in the open range of a dude ranch? Make your fantasy a reality and take the family on a dude ranch vacation.
Think about it, your family will actually spend time outdoors, away from cell phones, iPods, computers, television, and malls. After initial culture shock your children may actually find this family dude ranch vacation an enjoyable activity. Lastly, remember no matter what activities you and your family members decide to participate, your family meets up at the end of the day for dinner together to share the stories of their daily activities.
Family Dude Ranch Lodging
Your family will not be sleeping in a bunkhouse with a bunch of strangers on your dude ranch vacation. You will have your own private lodging that is likely to be a cabin depending on the ranch you chose to visit. Your cabin can sleep many and it will be your home away from home where your family will be together.
Family Dude Ranch Activities
So what activities are available for you and your family at a dude ranch vacation? First, of all many dude ranches offer activities specialized just for children in the event your child is not are not interested in the same ranch activities parents wish to participate, or your child is a teenager and does not want to be seen in the company of their parent(s).
Family ranch vacations offer various activities guaranteed to spark an interest in even the most sullen of teens. The activities offered, of course, depend on the dude ranch you choose as well as the season. Common activities offered at a dude ranch include: horseback riding, cattle drives, and pack trips into the wilderness. If some of your family members are not the horseback riding kinda folk, then there are plenty of other activities. If your family members enjoy water adventures, many family dude ranches offer canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, fishing, or waterskiing. If none of those activities appeal to all members of your family, wait there are more activities such as hiking, mountain biking, or rock climbing. If your family members still cannot find an activity of interest, many dude ranches have swimming pools, tennis courts, and golf courses.
If you decide to take a family dude ranch vacation during the winter months, a whole new season of activities are available such as: cross country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, heli-skiing, or snowmobiling.
If someone in your family believes that a vacation is all about relaxing, then family dude ranches may likely have something that appeals to them too. Many ranches offer spas that offer massages and pampering.
Entertainment varies depending on the dude ranch where you choose to vacation but commonly the following types of family oriented events are available: campfires, cookouts, barbeques, western dances, live entertainment, and hay rides.
Then, of course, if none of these activities appeal to the vacationer, a dude ranch is just a nice place to get away, relax, enjoy beautiful scenery, and do absolutely nothing while other members of the family partake in these activities.
Did you ever watch old Westerns and fantasize about being a cowboy, or cowgirl as a child, sitting in the saddle and riding on the wind in the open range of a dude ranch? Make your fantasy a reality and take the family on a dude ranch vacation. 
