For many households, winter break means a visit to the seashore or hitting the slopes. After our lengthy New England winters, I normally need to jet off to Europe or absorb some solar someplace. Jumping on a horse for a dude ranch winter break trip by no means actually crossed my thoughts. That is, till an invite to go to and assessment the Vista Verde Guest Ranch popped into my inbox.
I usually consider dude ranches for summer time horseback using, in all probability as a result of that was our earlier expertise out in Montana. It made me marvel, what would a ranch journey be like with snow on the bottom? Luckily we have been already trekking out to Colorado on an enormous faculty street journey and some days on the ranch seemed like an ideal break earlier than a protracted drive residence.
As it seems, a ranch trip is precisely what all of us wanted earlier than my teen was able to graduate. Time outdoors, participating in enjoyable actions collectively, soaking in attractive pure environment, enjoyable in our luxuriously-appointed non-public cabin, and consuming method an excessive amount of scrumptious meals — it was all the things I really like a few dude ranch trip at simply the correct time.
Vista Verde Ranch Review
Note: Our journey was hosted by the Vista Verde Ranch for editorial functions to facilitate this assessment. All opinions are my very own.
The Vista Verde Guest Ranch is a luxurious dude ranch positioned about 40 minutes north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The property is located within the National Forest and has permitted entry to the attractive Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area.
With a few dozen cabins and a handful of lodge rooms, the ranch can accommodate about 50 friends at a time. Priding itself on personalised service, Vista Verde maintains a 1:1 employees to visitor ratio that makes everybody really feel warmly welcomed and accommodates everybody’s wants.
Vista Verde welcomes friends for weeklong visits in the summertime from Memorial Day via late October. It then reopens in mid-December for the vacation and winter season, wrapping up spring break on the finish of March.
Just understand that from proper after New Years till President’s Day weekend, the ranch is put aside for adults solely, however households are welcome from mid-December till New Years and mid-February till they shut for the season on the finish of March. This makes it an ideal alternative for vacation household holidays or these with an early spring break.
Non-holiday winter visits have a three-day minimal, whereas at different instances weeklong stays run from Saturday to Saturday. Pro tip: the final two weeks of the winter season are designated for spring break and supply a 15 % low cost!
Cabins at Vista Verde Ranch
Vista Verde Ranch presents a variety of lodging. There are just a few lodge rooms positioned upstairs in the principle lodge, however the major lodging are within the ranch’s dozen cabins, starting from one-bedroom as much as 4 bedrooms, together with one duplex with two separate cabins.
Each cabin is comfortably and luxuriously appointed, however not excessive such as you would possibly see at among the tremendous luxe ranches. At Vista Verde, it’s extra in regards to the expertise and repair. That mentioned, you’ve all the things it is advisable chill out and be snug in your personal cozy cabin.
Every cabin has a sitting space with both a wood-burning range or fuel fire, and its personal non-public scorching tub on the deck for a soothing soak on the finish of a busy day. There can be a fridge stocked with complimentary drinks and a welcome basket filled with snacks and different goodies — not that there’s a probability of going hungry at Vista Verde!
You gained’t discover any TVs or telephones in your cabin — however that’s intentional so you possibly can unplug and chill out. But the cabins are outfitted with espresso makers, scorching water kettles, hairdryers, robes, and extra. The cell service on the ranch will also be fairly spotty, however you will get simply sufficient WiFi on the essential lodge to examine these essential emails — simply don’t anticipate to stream something or spend plenty of time on social media. That undoubtedly is not the purpose of a ranch trip.
We stayed in North Fork, one half of the North and South Fork duplex cabin, which is near the Main Lodge. The again deck of this 900-square foot, two-bedroom, two-bath cabin seems out over the horse paddock, giving a fantastic view to get pleasure from your morning espresso or a day soak within the scorching tub.
The first bed room has a queen mattress and an en-suite full toilet. In the entrance corridor you will see a closet and mudroom space, together with a boot dryer, together with a fridge, sink, and occasional maker. The sitting space has a settee and armchair, in addition to a small fuel fire. There will not be WiFi however there are video games to play to maintain you busy — the alternatives of Pandemic and Herd the Horses felt very apt. You can even exit the sitting room to the again porch, outfitted with just a few log Adirondack chairs and the recent tub.
The essential room includes a king-size mattress, together with a really massive grasp tub. The en-suite toilet featured double sinks, a separate room for the bathroom, and a big walk-in stone bathe stall with a rainfall bathe. The flooring have been heated, protecting it cozy even within the winter, and the ranch supplied locally-sourced tub facilities together with lotion, physique wash, shampoo, and conditioner. I additionally appreciated the small particular touches like a humidifier in every bed room to assist with the drier climate and better altitude.
When touring as a household, we at all times respect having numerous house — whether or not it’s a suite at a resort, an residence rental, or our personal cozy cabin. It felt so nice after busy actions or filling meals to return again to the cabin and chill out in the lounge and hang around as a household, however then divide up into our separate bedrooms after we have been prepared to fall asleep or wished some alone time. And frankly, I want I may simply import the toilet from our cabin to my own residence. It was so spacious and I now need radiant warmth in my toilet flooring to heat my chilly ft.
Winter and Spring Break Activities at Vista Verde Ranch
The essential purpose I by no means thought of a ranch trip for spring break was that I didn’t assume there can be a lot to do. I’ve seen the attractive pictures from luxurious ranches which have elaborate vacation festivities — however March? Plus our earlier ranch expertise in the summertime was incredible, however we have been using twice a day, fishing, mountaineering, sitting round campfires, taking hayrides, taking part in softball…I wasn’t certain how a lot of that might be attainable or snug in Colorado’s early spring. Turns on the market was far more to do at Vista Verde Ranch than we may match into our go to.
Before you arrive, the ranch will ship you a pattern calendar of actions so you can begin to consider what it’s possible you’ll need to do in your trip. Each night throughout glad hour or dinner, a employees member will come round to see what you need to join the subsequent day. There are some customary choices which can be provided day by day, resembling horsemanship, cross-country snowboarding, snowshoeing, and others resembling journeys to city or snow tubing which can be provided solely a few times all through the week. At any time, you possibly can examine the actions calendar and join record within the lodge and alter your picks if there’s nonetheless house.
Snowshoeing
Since first attempting snowshoeing at Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont, I’ve been a fan of this sport. It presents a exercise and an opportunity to get pleasure from nature and delightful views, however with out the ability required for snowboarding. Unless you possibly can comply with trails which can be very simply marked, it’s best to move out with a information.
At Vista Verde, the tools and information are included in your bundle. Guided excursions are provided within the mornings and afternoons, and so they attempt to pair you up with your personal information for your loved ones group so you possibly can go on the tempo that you really want and discover the terrain that most closely fits your loved ones. Tours usually final for about 90-minutes, however you’ve a number of alternatives to chop it quick in order for you, relying on how a lot you need to do.
We had an absolute blast snowshoeing at Vista Verde. The climate was full perfection, despite the fact that the temps mentioned it was within the 30s it felt just like the 50s and with somewhat motion, we have been loads heat. Our information Alex was so useful and enjoyable to speak to all through our time collectively. Once we have been all outfitted, we headed out into the again nation to discover. Since we have been all feeling energized by the nice climate, we ended up mountaineering as much as Indian Hill, which presents panoramic views of the ranch and surrounding countryside. Altogether we went about 3.5 miles in our morning tour.
Cross-country Skiing
Glenn had a hankering to strive cross nation or Nordic snowboarding, and since it’s a part of the all-inclusive bundle at Vista Verde, it appeared like the proper alternative. Of course, circumstances could be a bit tough at the moment of yr, because you don’t need the snow too icy or slushy. We gave it a strive on our second morning at Vista Verde.
The first choice is to get snug on the skis on the groomed trails close to the journey heart on property earlier than heading into the again nation. However, given the circumstances on that morning, our information packed us into one of many ranch automobiles to take us to some close by again nation to provide it a strive.
Everything was going advantageous till we began to climb into the hills. We quickly discovered that happening inclines on cross nation skis versus downhill skis is definitely fairly completely different. Hannah beloved it and was typically first to provide it a strive, after which waited patiently for Glenn and I to make our method down, generally falling alongside the way in which. When our information first talked to us about falling earlier than we received began, I laughed pondering, how are you going to fall doing cross nation? I came upon!
Let’s depart it by saying that we’re all glad we had an opportunity to provide it a strive, particularly with a affected person and useful information and with out strangers watching our progress. But on the identical time, I believe Hannah may be the one one giving it one other go sooner or later. For me, I’ll persist with snowshoeing!
Horseback Riding
Every day in the course of the winter and spring break seasons, Vista Verde presents horsemanship classes within the indoor enviornment. The classes begin with a lesson on horse dealing with and are adopted up by a path experience. In addition, path using is obtainable a number of instances per week. The path rides are pretty quick, about an hour or so, in case of chilly. The horses take a comparatively flat path via the ranch property. Guests are paired up with horses based mostly on their using expertise.
Snow Tubing
During the winter months, Vista Verde additionally presents snow tubing on a hill above the indoor enviornment. Guests are escorted to the mountaintop on snowmobiles. Then you seize a tube and select one in every of two trails down. The snowmobiles will then whisk you again as much as the highest for an additional go.
Just watch out within the hotter weeks when the paths get slick. You will velocity down the hill and have to decelerate earlier than hitting the obstacles on the finish of the run. When the path is just too icy, it may damage a bit to make use of your ft as brakes. That didn’t finish too nicely for my husband who reinjured his foot that he had damaged a few years in the past – so watch out and put on sturdy footwear!
Other Outdoor Activities
In addition to the actions we had an opportunity to strive, friends within the winter can even get pleasure from ice fishing and fats biking. And, when the climate is correct, the ranch additionally presents horse drawn sleigh rides and the chance to hop onboard the feed sled to help in throwing hay out to the horses, who eagerly comply with alongside behind. There are additionally optionally available actions resembling snowmobiling, canine sledding, or spa providers, which aren’t included within the fee however could be organized by the ranch employees.
We additionally loved taking part in “spring shed.” In the spring, the horses shed their winter coats and wish plenty of brushing. In the afternoon, friends are invited to hitch the ranch fingers within the paddock to brush the horses. It was a enjoyable alternative to stand up near the horses — undoubtedly a win for horse lovers!
Indoor Activities
Not all of the enjoyable is discovered within the nice outdoor. If you’ll quite not enterprise out into the chilly, the staff at Vista Verde makes certain there are many indoor leisure choices. You may strive indoor archery, be a part of a beer or wine tasting, watch a film, or take a yoga class. The lodge additionally has video games, together with chess, that you would be able to play by the roaring hearth.
Kid’s Cabin
Kids usually are not ignored of the enjoyable at Vista Verde. During the summer time months, there are full applications for teenagers ages 6-10, tweens 11-13, and youths 14-18. During the winter and spring, the applications are a bit looser, relying on what number of youngsters are visiting, however there are at all times applications and actions obtainable for teenagers. Families can even do many actions collectively, like snow footwear, tubing, and many others.
Dining at Vista Verde Ranch
While some ranches favor family-style meals, Vista Verde kicks the meals up fairly just a few notches to turn into a real spotlight of the expertise. In regular instances, meals can be served at communal tables with a mixture of friends and employees. Currently, friends usually decide to dine individually and tables have been unfold out all through the eating room, essential lodge space, and the outside patio in hotter climate, and employees eats individually.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included within the fee, in addition to night glad hour, which ran from 5:30-6:30 and included wine, beer, and small snacks resembling deviled eggs or prosciutto-wrapped dates. At least two essential entree menu choices have been obtainable at every meal, in addition to starters and dessert for lunch and dinner. And when you have hassle deciding, the employees is extraordinarily accommodating in serving up a bit of every. From the beneficiant meals to the home made cookies and the snacks supplied within the cabins, friends will definitely by no means go hungry.
The cooks ship not simply on the amount, but additionally on the standard and selection. I used to be fairly shocked on our first evening to be provided Alaskan King crab legs. I couldn’t even get these on our cruise to Alaska! I additionally noticed a wide range of vegetarian choices, so it appears that evidently the ranch is absolutely able to addressing most dietary restrictions.
Breakfast was served anytime between 8:00 and 9:00, which was excellent for my household of late risers. We then had somewhat time earlier than morning actions kicked off between 9 and 9:30. Everything that got here out of the kitchen was scrumptious, however for breakfast I’ll give additional props to the pancakes and the superbly cooked bacon.
Lunch is served promptly at 12:30, though they appeared to accommodate the stragglers pretty nicely. The mid-day meal usually began with a soup or salad, adopted by an entree, resembling a burger or fish and chips, and completed with a candy deal with. The parts of this meal alone may have glad me for the whole day, however someway I nonetheless discovered myself wanting ahead to the dinner bell at 6:30.
The ranch presents each informal dinners, resembling a barbecue themed-night, or formal dinners. On formal nights, friends aren’t anticipated to decorate up, however the meals are a bit extra refined. The cooks come out to current the choices, and children are given the selection of selecting a grab-and-go meal to eat rapidly after which hang around, as an alternative of sitting via an extended dinner.
Of course my teen was glad to hitch us on a foodie expertise! Our formal evening choice was salmon over a truffled cauliflower risotto and Brussels sprouts leaves. In case you haven’t gotten the image but, I used to be completely impressed with the meals at Vista Verde.
What to Expect for Weather
I have a tendency to think about Colorado winters as snowy and primarily for snowboarding. But what I discovered from our go to is that winter in Colorado is completely different than residence. The air and snow are drier, the skies are bluer, and customarily the temperatures are somewhat milder, making it preferrred for outside actions. And the great factor about staying at Vista Verde is, if you wish to go snowboarding for a day, you could be in Steamboat Springs in lower than an hour.
Visiting in late March is certainly going to be a blended bag with regards to climate. We noticed snow flurries and chilly nights, together with attractive sunny days and air temperatures that felt a lot hotter than it might have at residence (it should be that sunshine and altitude). We have been greater than snug snowshoeing in only a base layer shirt and a sweatshirt. Of course, you do additionally have to be ready for some mud because the spring thaw begins. It could affect your packing, however not your enjoyable.
What to Pack for a Spring Break Dude Ranch Vacation
Note: This submit could include affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
Packing for a spring break trip at a dude ranch can get somewhat tough, since you’re proper on the cusp of snow and dirt seasons. My dude ranch packing record for summer time is a bit more simple. For spring break, you’ll want to make sure to carry the next:
- Snow jacket and/or windproof shell with fleece to go beneath it
- Warm snow boots or waterproof mountaineering boots
- Warm, wool or moisture-wicking socks (resembling Darn Tough socks)
- Rain boots or “muck” boots for strolling via the snow and straightforward cleansing after strolling via the pasture
- Wool or moisture-wicking base layers
- Snow pants or weather-proof pants
- Warm knit hat & gloves (skinny and thicker)
- Warm sweaters or sweatshirts/ fleeces
- Lounge put on for the cabin and lodge put on for meals
- Headlamp or flashlight for locating your method again to the cabin from the lodge after darkish. Preferably one which has purple gentle for star gazing
- Sunglasses (and presumably goggles if you wish to do snowmobiling or snow tubing)
- Bathing go well with (for the recent tub)
- Day pack for bringing water, snacks, tissues, and many others on snowshoeing or snowboarding actions
- Sunscreen
- Refillable water bottles
- Garbage baggage/plastic baggage for packing soiled footwear
- Books
- Lip balm / a moisturizing hand cream / eye drops
Bottom Line
A keep on the Vista Verde Ranch isn’t low-cost and whenever you first have a look at the charges, it’s possible you’ll get a little bit of sticker shock. But give it time to sink in and take into consideration how a lot it might value for all these actions (e.g. group guided snowshoe excursions will normally begin at $50 per individual, non-public excursions can be extra), plus luxurious cabin lodging (e.g. a luxurious 2 mattress, 2 tub condominium in Steamboat Springs will probably value $350+ per evening), and all that meals (three full meals a day, plus drinks, plus snacks). Maybe then the value gained’t appear fairly as excessive.
A visit to the Vista Verde Ranch isn’t going to be a funds trip, however it could simply be the journey of a lifetime. The expertise, the service, and the situation make it well worth the splurge.
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