100 Days of Summer: Kick Back with a Ranch Vacation

Horseback riding. Cattle drives. White water rafting. Canoeing. Cook-outs.

The above sounds like a checklist for summer, doesn’t it? You know, in a way it is, but not in the sense you think it is. See, that list above is just some of the activities you can participate in while vacationing at a guest ranch.

Yes, there’s a little bit of the West in the South.

Of course, you’ll find many guest ranches in Texas (that’s a given.) For instance, there’s the Running-R Ranch in Bandera, where you can explore the area with a mountain bike, take horse riding lessons or just enjoy the great outdoors. Watch a rodeo or enjoy the campfire at Twin Elm Ranch, also located in Bandera.

Believe it or not, Arkansas is home to a number of guest ranches, such as Bar-J Ranch in El Dorado, where you’ll find horse trail riding, fishing and more.

Missouri is home to Bucks and Spurs Guest Ranch in Ava. Here, you can participate in an actual cattle check. If you aren’t feeling like it, there’s fishing, tubing and other activities to keep you busy throughout the day, if you so wish.

Not only do you ride at Sequatchie Valley B&B Guest Ranch in Dunlap, Tenn., but you also are responsible for your horse as well. That is, you take care of the horse during your stay. Not only that, but you can also try your hand at roping a (fake) cow while you’re riding.

Also in Tennessee is the French Broad Outpost Ranch in Del Rio that offers the opportunity to work with real cattle, as well as other activities for everyone.

Circle E Guest Ranch in Belvidere, Tenn., is great for outdoor lovers. That’s not to say that other guest ranches don’t promote the outdoors, but Circle E has over 120 miles of marked trail that offers incredible vistas.

Georgia just might be one of the last places you would expect to find a guest ranch, but in Madison, there’s Southern Cross Guest Ranch. Ride a horse, swim in the pool or do nothing and enjoy every minute of it.

Westgate River Ranch in Lake Wales, Fla., is a combination of the West meeting central Florida. Here, you are able to enjoy the best of both worlds.Not only can you go horseback riding, but also ride on an airboat. There’s line-dancing and rodeo as well.

Fishing, roping and horseback riding is just some of the things to do at Pisgah View Ranch in Candler, N.C. The ranch also has nightly  live music and cowboy entertainment .

Clear Creek Ranch in Burnsville, N.C., offers something to do for all ages. From horseback riding (a given) to fishing to swimming to horse carriage rides – you can find it all here.

Take a guided horseback trail ride along the Shenandoah River at River’s Bend Guest Ranch in Stanley, Va. Don’t feel like a ride? Don’t worry, because you can go tubing, fishing, hiking among other activities.

Did You Know?

U.S. Ranchers have declared June as National Ranch Vacation Month. If you unsure what to do the last two weekends of this month, why not stay at a guest ranch. Be sure to look for special deals and events for June.

photo credit: (top right) Cowboy boots, flickr, creative commons by blurred scenery; (middle left) Saddled, flickr, creative commons by eric.surfdude; (bottom right) Horse in flowers, flickr, creative commons GibZilla