Archive for the ‘Vista Verde in the News’ Category
Date: March 12th, 2013
The folks at John Deere wrote a fun article about dude ranch vacations.
Click here for the article.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: March 7th, 2013
I couldn’t find a digital version of this article, but here is a PDF of it for your reading pleasure!
Better Homes Gardens all-inclusive vacation article
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: February 26th, 2013
HAVEN FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
After one visit to Vista Verde you’ll be hooked on this premier Colorado guest ranch. This luxurious, all-inclusive resort is a haven for those who love the outdoors, especially in the wintertime. From tantalizing cuisine to an educated and accommodating in-house staff, Vista Verde offers a wealth of activities to keep maestros and novices equally engaged. Go during snow season and you’ll find a magnificent setting guaranteed to stimulate the senses. Snow-covered rooftops and fields that are groomed daily are part of the stunning landscape. Guests can partake in snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, back-country skiing or perhaps enjoy an exhilarating snowmobile ride. Ardent skiers often choose to slalom downhill in nearby Steamboat Springs; the Vista Verde staff will pack your lunch and happily drive you there. If you are not yet an aficionado with a pair of skis, the able-bodied staff will help you become one. Lessons are part of the all-inclusive rate and in a short while you’ll be enjoying the breathtaking scenery as you glide along with confidence.
Cowgirls, if you love to ride or even if you’ve never saddled up, Vista Verde is an ideal setting to delight in a horseback ride.
At the end of the winter season, the ranch offers clinics that will teach even an anxious rider how to handle a horse. Guests can spend quality time in an indoor facility with experienced staff who work to teach you the basics, so that you’re in the know and feeling safe before you ever step out to ride. In 2013, clinic dates are March 17-21. The four-night stay is $1,600 per person and other ranch activities are not offered at this time, allowing riders to focus on their riding style during this horsemanship retreat.
The icing on the cake at Vista Verde is the spectacular cuisine. Food and wine are an art form; from Kobe beef to lobster, the food is delectably prepared. Guests’ preferences are noted and remembered; you’ll find your favorites awaiting you when you choose to visit again. Enjoy some excellent wines with your meals and be sure to enroll in a wine tasting class; Chef Matt chooses some exquisite vintages. Later, relax in first-class accommodations, many equipped with hot tubs. It’s an extraordinary and energetic escape that has guests returning again and again to savor the experience. www.vistaverde.com
-Renee Werbin
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: November 9th, 2012
By Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Media Services
It is dumping snow and we’re at 9,400 feet. But that’s not stopping us from taking a little walk in the woods.
No worries. We’ve got snowshoes strapped to our boots, the right waterproof clothes and we’re still smiling from the amazing lunch we devoured after our trek up about two miles to the Pine Creek Cook House (http://www.pinecreekcookhouse.com/) in the middle of the White River National Forest about 11 miles outside of Aspen, Co. (http://www.aspenchamber.org/).
“Weekends this place is packed with kids,” said Christopher Keating, the general manager and executive chef and himself the dad of a 9-year-old son.
You can snowshoe as we did or cross-country ski (there are more than 30 km of groomed trails for all levels and a place to rent gear) or take a sleigh ride led by giant Clydesdale horses. Come for lunch or dinner, wearing a headlamp on the trail. In winter, kids can sled outside.
But the highlight — after the snowshoe in the wilderness — is the food — Pine Creek Smoked trout, wild game Momos (Nepalese dumplings), grilled hearts of romaine Caesar, grilled Quail salad, wild mushroom and spinach crepes, Colorado elk bratwurst, a smoked trout melt on sourdough and buffalo tenderloin.
All that locally sourced food might encourage the kids to try a small portion of something new. How about butternut squash ravioli or buffalo tenderloin?
Honestly, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had in ski country — all the better because I had to “earn my lunch,” as my daughters would say, snowshoeing up to the beautiful restaurant with the giant picture windows.
Of course, you don’t need a gourmet meal to enjoy snowshoeing. It’s fun to take a sandwich and hot cider with you in your backpack; it’s fun just to get out and enjoy the back-country landscape away from the hustle and bustle of a snow sports resort. I try to take a day off from skiing each trip just for the experience.
In Stowe, Vt., at the Trapp Family Lodge (www.trappfamily.com) my guide was Kristina von Trapp Frame, granddaughter of Maria von Trapp, the young Austrian novitiate-turned governess-turned wife made famous by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film “The Sound of Music.” Maria’s youngest son and Kristina’s dad, Johannes von Trapp, opened the first cross-country ski center in North America here more than 40 years ago and these days, plenty of families on snowshoes and cross-country skis, take advantage of 100 km of groomed and back-country trails.
Not only is snowshoeing or cross-country skiing good exercise and a lot cheaper than downhill skiing, it’s a lot of fun with kids, says von Trapp Frame, who gets out with her kids often, listening for different birds (was that a woodpecker?), looking for animal tracks in the snow (squirrel or deer?) and stopping for a snack on a conveniently placed bench (M&Ms anyone?). The sport has grown so popular with snow-loving families that Tubbs Snowshoes now offers a huge assortment of snowshoes for kids (http://tubbssnowshoes.com/snowshoes?use=kids) and until Oct. 29 is inviting schools and nonprofits to enter an essay contest to encourage kids and teens to get outdoors in winter. Winners could win snowshoes for theirentire class.
Jim Kravitz, the chief naturalist at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (www.aspennature.org) and the father of two young sons, explains that, like naturalist-led hikes, snowshoe walks are a great way to help visitors — kids and adults — delve a little deeper into the winter environment — learning about mountain ecology, avalanches and wildlife in winter. ACES, in fact, offers snowshoe tours every day in winter at the top of Aspen Mountain, as well as Snowmass Mountain, that include snowshoe gear and instruction. (Visitwww.aspennature.org for more information.)
Snowshoe tours are offered at many snow sports resorts around the country from Maine to California, as well as at Yellowstone National Park, where we came face to face with a huge buffalo and snow-shoed right by Old Faithful. (Read what I wrote about our snowshoe in Yellowstone).
You can snowshoe at Grand Teton National Park too; Since Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (www.jacksonhole.com) is only one mile from Grand Teton National Park, their Mountain Sports School is a licensed concessionaire of the park and provides guided snowshoe tours at the base of the Tetons.
Snowshoe at dude ranches, too, like the C Lazy U Ranch (www.clazyu.com) or Vista Verde Ranch (www.vistaverde.com) in Colorado, while in New Hampshire, the Appalachian Mountain Club (www.outdoors.org) offers a variety of winter family adventures that include snowshoe tours led by experienced guides; you can even snowshoe to a back-country mountain hut for an overnight with adventurous teens.
Snowshoeing is also a great way to get the non-skiers in your group outside to play in the snow, whether at home in winter climes or at a snow resort. That’s what we did in Aspen when we took my sister-in-law who lives in Southern California out on her first-ever snowshoe. (The prospect of a gourmet lunch certainly helped entice her!) It’s not difficult, doesn’t require a lot of gear (you can rent snowshoes and even winter boots) and is fun whether you are six, 16 or 60. (You can make it as easy or as challenging as you like.)
In Aspen, we even learned a little history along the way. The 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army trained here outside Aspen before they went to Italy in World War II. There are still 30 back-country huts (http://www.huts.org/) in the national forest where you can spend the night.
Did I mention the bona-fide ghost town? In the mid-1800s there were some 2,000 people living and mining in the town of Ashcroft. Today, we snowshoe past about a half-dozen wooden buildings still standing from that era.
As the snow falls, we make our way along snow-covered Castle Creek, past quivering Aspens and giant Blue Spruce and Douglas Fir, all covered with fresh snow.
Thanks to all the exercise, we don’t feel the least bit guilty about the scrumptious desserts at lunch — brownie pie, bourbon pecan pie and apple crisp — topped with ice cream, of course.
It was one of those rare winter days that I didn’t want to end. None of us did. We were the last snowshoers back.
(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow @TakingtheKids, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. Look for Eileen’s newly published “Kid’s Guide to Orlando” and “Kid’s Guide to NYC,” available on www.amazon.comand in major bookstores.)
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: November 9th, 2012
Thank you to AVITAL ANDREWS for being included in this article. Go Steamboat!
Steamboat’s ski-school staff is basically a roster of former Olympians: Billy Kidd, Deb Armstrong, Nelson Carmichael, and Caroline Lalive all work here, as do Aussie and Kiwi champions and six members of the PSIA-AASI national team.
Within the past couple of years, the four terrain parks got new trails and many of the 18 lifts were treated to major upgrades—the most recently built ones run on solar and wind power. They unload atop 165 trails, onto which 354 annual snow inches fall, creating 10 percent of powder days per season. Of the 3,668 vertical feet descending 2,965 skiable acres, just 14 percent of the terrain is designated for beginners; the rest is pretty evenly split between blues and blacks. For riders, a freestyle park-and-pipe clinic is helpful for bagging tricks.
Bear, a safety dog, helps make sure that things are copacetic, as does the ski patrol’s more than 100 members. The nearest hospital is less than a mile from the hill and a team of 12 doctors share on-call duty for the resort throughout the winter.
Total peak-season staffers number almost 1,700. Among them are ski valets who will, upon request, come to your hotel room to fit you into gear. Lodging options here include the big, middle-of-the-road Steamboat Grand; One Steamboat Place, a slopeside collection of private residences; and the rustic-chic Vista Verde Guest Ranch, a AAA 4-Diamond lodge that’s happy to coordinate experiences like backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding. There’s also a KOA open to RVs.
Off-hill recreational options are many and varied—in fact, this is the category in which Steamboat scores highest. There’s a tube park, an ice arena, natural hot springs, a bowling alley, a movie theater, helicopter tours, ice climbing, a bungee trampoline, and much more. If you’re just looking for a good meal, Café Diva is popular; for something to drink, head to Tugboat Saloon or Tap House. The new, heated promenade at Gondola Square has lovely water features to play in, courtesy of the daylighted Burgess Creek.
Environmentally, Steamboat is mostly good, but the proposed Pioneer Ridge expansion would impinge upon 162 open-space acres. However, the resort gets credit for working to improve nesting habitat for migratory birds, and for having a zero-waste initiative that’s on track toward its goal: Thanks to much recycling and composting, 80 percent of Steamboat’s trash got diverted from the landfill. Free shuttles and buses have, the resort estimates, negated 1.2 million driving miles last year alone.
From February 6 to 10, the 100th annual Winter Carnival happens on Main Street, featuring a parade on skis and a nighttime light show. In early January is MusicFest, and mid-April brings the Cardboard Classic and its races in zany homemade sleds.
CONTACT: (877) 783-2628, steamboat.com
SEASON: Late November to mid-April
TICKETS: General: $99 (reduced-price half-day tickets offered; discounts offered to military personnel), children $60, ages 65 and older: $67, ages 4 and younger: free
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: November 9th, 2012
Fodor’s, the leading name in travel guides for over 75 years, today announced that Vista Verde Ranch has been recognized as a 2012 Fodor’s Choice selection. This distinction designates Vista Verde Ranch as a leader in its field for service, quality, and value in the 2012 year.
The editors and experts of Fodor’s have been selecting only the top fifteen percent of their listed properties and activities as Fodor’s Choice award recipients since 1988. Every year, Fodor’s writers experience, examine and evaluate thousands of hotels, restaurants and attractions in their travels across the globe. While every business included in a Fodor’s guide is deemed worth a traveler’s time, only those offering a truly remarkable experience are given the Fodor’s Choice designation.
For more than 75 years Fodor’s has presented travelers with the very top recommendations from hidden-away restaurants to can’t-miss museums, to make sure they’re making the most of their travels. The 2012 Fodor’s Choice recipients are the best of the best, providing a remarkable experience in their price range or category.
As a 2012 Fodor’s Choice property Vista Verde will receive special recognition in the next Fodor’s guidebook to this area and on www.Fodors.com.
About Fodor’s Travel
Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House, Inc., is one of the world’s leading providers of travel information. Covering over 7,500 worldwide destinations, Fodor’s guidebooks and website, Fodors.com, have provided the most up-to-date, accurate information for travelers since 1936. Written by a vast team of global correspondents, Fodor’s provides travelers with engagingly written, locally reported, and absolutely indispensable travel guidance. Visit www.Fodors.com.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: September 20th, 2012
Jamie Pearson wrote this fun story for Travelsavvymom.com.
Just when you thought dude ranch vacations couldn’t get any better
A couple of years ago, my family took a Colorado dude ranch vacation. Maybe you read about it here? If not, I’ll summarize it for you in a few words: boots, horses, hot tubs, cattle drives, and jaw-dropping scenery. A good time was had by all, but especially by me since there was also no shopping, cooking, or cleaning for a week.
I wouldn’t have guessed that the folks at Vista Verde could improve the experience, but I would have been wrong.
Baby animals are as silly as baby humans. Maybe this is why they get along so well?
First, they remodeled the (already awesome) cabins. Then they built a swimming pool. Now, they’ve introduced a weekly foal clinic.
Baby horses!
One of the highlights of our vacation, was tiptoeing into a darkened barn to see a newborn foal. Just hours old, she was all legs and eyes. While it was special to us, it was business as usual for the ranch staff. Because they have a breeding program, there are babies every summer.
I want a lap horse!
In an effort to get guests involved, Vista Verde started a weekly foal clinic where guests of all ages get to help halter-train, gentle, and socialize the baby horses (seven in all this summer). Not only does it turn the people into horse lovers, it also turns the foals into people lovers — an important quality for guest ranch horses
Follow this link to find out more about Vista Verde Ranch. They are open (mostly) year-round, but due to Colorado weather, baby horses are a summer phenomenon.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: August 22nd, 2012
Vista Verde Ranch, Colorado
By Teresa Plowright, About.com Guide
This luxury guest ranch near Steamboat Springs ski resort welcomes families year-round. Price includes gourmet meals, snacks, beverages (including beer and wine), evening entertainment, airport transfers, gratuities for staff, horseriding and many other outdoors activities. Accommodation-only rates are also available, whereby guests can pay for activities a la carte.
Families can stay in a lodge room or a luxury log cabin; the cabins are standalone units and have up to three bedrooms, with a woodstove and a private hot tub on the deck; fridges are stocked with complimentary beverages. Be prepared to relax and disconnect: there are no phones or tvs in the rooms. (Complimentary wireless is available, though.)
For evening meals, parents can opt for family-style dining, or indulge in a candlelight dinner while the young’uns have their own kid-friendly meal.
The ranch also has a kid’s hut play zone, a Great Room (photo above) with a nightly fire in winter months, and an indoor riding arena. Vista Verde has received a AAA Four Diamond Award.
Seasonal Activities
The all-inclusive rates at Vista Verde offer lots of outdoors fun that families can sample as much or as little as they like. In summer this include horseback riding, clinics with horse trainers and wranglers, guided hikes, guided mountain biking on trails or in a terrain park, use of bikes, guided fly fishing with gear, rock-climbing, river rafting and kayaking, a photography workshop, cooking classes, kids and teens programs, transport to Steamboat, and evening entertainment such as barn dances.* Guests can also enjoy the ranch’s swimming pool.
In winter, rates include guided backcountry skiing, snowshoe tours and cross-country trails, as well as the gear you’ll need for these activities. Winter also offers sledding, horseback rides, sleigh rides, a photography workshop, cooking classes, teen programs during holidays, and evening entertainment. Transportation is provided to and from Steamboat for ski days. Guests can also pay extra for dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice climbing, and massage treatments.
The holiday season is a top time to visit. Before Christmas, each family has its own tree in the lodge to decorate. Families can also try seasonal activities such as making decorations, and take a horse drawn sleigh ride to go caroling.
Kids and Teen Programs
Naturally, horse-riding is a primary focus for all ages, and kids are matched to an appropriate horse for the week. For other fun, “kid wranglers” take kids age 6 to 11 to treasure hunts, powwows in the tepee, boat races in the creek, gold-panning in the river, fishing, campfires… Meanwhile, teens age 12 and up have a separate program, with movie night, adventure rides, and other activities.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: August 22nd, 2012
“Skiing is a rich man’s sport,” is what my boyfriend heard growing up. He has lived in Colorado, the Western Slope to be exact. Seeing how his parents were always low on money, he has been unable to take part in much of what this great state has to offer. I personally come from a family where my parents wanted us to experience everything this great state has to offer. I would love to be able to show him an amazing getaway. The first day we would take on a day of skiing, something he has wanted to do for 27 years, but been unable to indulge in, due to lack of funds. Since he has never experienced being on skis before I would have him take a morning lesson and then we would tackle greens, maybe if feeling adventurous we would take on a blue or two. That night we would unwind in front of the fire. The second day we would take on a day of horseback riding. Seeing how I have always been interested in horses, holding a horsemanship certification, yet my boyfriend has never been on a horse, I would love for him to experience the world from atop a horse. We would also take on a cooking clinic, since his brother makes fun of him, since supposedly he doesn’t even know how to cook hotdogs. The last day we would take on some time to unwind before reuniting with the stresses of every day by having a massage. Then it would be back to the real world feeling a bit better from releasing the stress and having a bit of fun.
Name: Briana Sinn
Company:
City: Aurora
State: Colorado
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: August 15th, 2012
What a trip that would be, love the picture of the horse. Has to be great
Name: Connie Taravella
Company: retired Grandma
City: Brackettville
State: Texas
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: August 15th, 2012
Top 10 family resorts in the US
Geographically diverse, the U.S. offers an overwhelming range of destinations when it comes to planning family getaways. From Wild West ranches to laidback beaches to urban escapes, this list will help you hone in on a place for every interest. It also takes the adult factor into account. You may be a parent, but this is your vacation too, which means you want more than just water slides and bingo nights. What’s wrong with a great wine list, spa treatments and golf for mom and dad, along with circus activities, scavenger hunts and fire truck rides for the kids? Understanding the needs of adults and children, these properties are not only for staying together, but for playing together — and apart — while on holiday.
CALIFORNIA
Ojai
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Popular as a weekend spa and golf escape for Angelenos, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa offers an ideal retreat for both adults and kids. Dating back to the 1920s, this sumptuous property features kid-oriented adult activities such as biking and fishing, as well as Camp Ojai (ages five to twelve), where offerings include animal yoga, Chumash rock painting (based on local Native American traditions) and history hikes. Teens also enjoy dedicated programs, ranging from Friday night “dive-in” movies at the kid’s pool and Latin groove dance classes to tennis clinics, golf clinics and special spa treatments. Accommodations are residential in style, with comfy, contemporary ranch décor, and dining celebrates California produce and products. In short, this is the place to go when you want to combine luxury with an enriching experience for all ages. For more information, read a complete hotel review of Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
COLORADO
Steamboat Springs
Vista Verde
You gotta love a place that boasts its own Kids Wranglers. No, these babysitters in boots don’t round ‘em up and rope ‘em in. Instead, they teach horseback riding basics, host powwows in teepees and fill tiny bellies with nutritious food while you enjoy a wine tasting class or dinner by candlelight. From the welcoming day hayride to the marshmallow roast on the last night, Vista Verde’s all-inclusive getaways are filled with traditional ranch activities and a few unusual extras, such as gold panning, hunting for animal tracks and fire truck rides — complete with sirens blaring — into town for hand-cranked ice cream. The ranch has separate programs for younger children and teens, so the older kids can play it cool while taking an adventure ride or embarking on an overnight campout. And if you’d like to come in the winter, kids will find just as much to do, with skiing, snowshoe outings and igloo building. Just outside Steamboat Springs, this working ranch offers lodge accommodation and private cabins with up to three bedrooms. For more information, visit VistaVerde.
FLORIDA
Orlando
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Antelopes, gazelles and giraffes, oh my! Leave it to Disney — creators of “The Lion King” — to bring the savannas of Africa to Orlando. Four tropical savannas, to be precise, separated by guest room wings. Make sure to ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the wildlife … and don’t be surprised when a zebra or wildebeest strolls by (at a safe distance). African style pervades this resort and 43-acre wildlife preserve, from the thatched roofs to handcrafted artifacts to regional cuisines. Kids are invited to participate in cultural safaris, night vision animal viewing and junior research projects; as well, they can hit the waterslide at Uzima pool or check out the flamingos while they play at Hakuna Matata Playground. Adults who want a night out on their own can entrust kids aged three to twelve to Simba’s Cubhouse, featuring supervised activities, Disney movies (big surprise) and dinner. Read a complete hotel review of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
HAWAII
Honolulu
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa
Kids’ clubs are an art form at luxury resorts in Hawaii, but the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa offers more than just a few youth-oriented activities. Everything about the property feels as if it was made to accommodate parents traveling with their offspring, from Atlantis submarine tours (check out the sunken coastal freighter and old passenger plane) to the Friday night fireworks show with hula dancing. This 22-acre beachfront “village” in Waikiki also offers more than a dozen restaurant options, daily wildlife feedings on the grounds and Camp Penguin for ages five to twelve. The half- and full-day programs (for a fee) include diversions such as supervised Hawaiian crafts, lei-making, Hawaiian storytelling and outside visits to places like the Waikiki Museum.
NEW YORK
New York City
Four Seasons Hotel New York
We have always loved the Four Seasons hotel group for its efforts to pamper little ones. Call before you arrive, give the names and ages of your kids, and they will be welcomed with special amenities, appropriately sized robes, board games, coloring books, children’s DVDs and complimentary toiletries (for babies). Kids’ dishes are offered in the restaurant and on the room service menu, and the range of freebies is seemingly endless: childproofing, cribs and rollaways, Diaper Genies, bottle warmers and even strollers for perambulating Park and Madison Avenues. Take advantage of babysitting services while you hit the spa, and ask the concierge to help arrange carriage rides, museum tours and helicopter excursions. Best of all, there’s no extra charge for kids seventeen and under to share a room with their folks. Read a complete hotel review of Four Seasons Hotel New York
NORTH CAROLINA
Lake Toxaway
Earthshine Mountain Lodge
All-inclusive, Earthshine Mountain Lodge introduces kids and parents to an eclectic range of experiences. On Pioneer Mornings, you can apprentice in a blacksmith shop, press apple cider and make candles. And on Cherokee Mornings, you can learn the traditional ways of the Cherokee tribe, with activities that include making pottery and throwing tomahawks. Educational opportunities include the Destination 1840 immersion in living history, and Earth Explorers, where folktales become reality as kids discover their natural surroundings. Because the resort believes that family vacations are about more than just dropping your children off at the “kids’ club” and then heading to the spa and golf course, activities here are made for the entire family — creek hikes, turtle tracking and zip-lining are just the beginning. There are even Hunger Games weekends for fans of the popular book. Storybook rooms are available in the hand-built cedar lodge, while the Sunrise Cottage offers a selection of larger family suites. For more information, visit Earthshinemtnlodge.com
ARIZONA
Scottsdale
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
With its scenic championship golf and pampering Spa Avania, this 27-acre Hyatt Regency knows how to meet adult needs. And if those adults happen to be traveling with their youngsters, they can rest assured that they can actually get some R&R while their offspring are entertained at Camp Hyatt Kachina (with two programs for ages three to five and six to twelve). Heavily influenced by Native American culture, the camp offers a wealth of activities, including arrowhead arts and crafts and Apache relay races, as well as desert scavenger hunts, mining at the Lost Dutchman’s mine, cactus garden tours, Western sand art and Mexican bark painting. Enhancing the resort’s draw for families even further is a 2.5-acre water playground with ten pools and a sand beach. For more information, visit Scottsdale.hyatt.com
PENNSYLVANIA
Hershey
The Hotel Hershey
When it comes to product placement, it doesn’t get more scrumptious than this. Willy Wonka, eat your heart out. Just one aspect of the Hershey, Pennsylvania experience, The Hotel Hershey pairs adult pastimes such as golf and spa treatments (chocolate-themed, of course) with the Cocoa Kids Club, a daily supervised program (for a fee) featuring tennis, basketball, swimming and arts and crafts. For guests thirteen to seventeen years of age, Club Adventure sessions include hiking and woodland exploration, team-building activities, skating and scavenger hunts. Nearby Hershey Park boasts eleven different roller coasters. And the hands-on, interactive Hershey’s Chocolate World will tempt sweet tooths of all ages with an inside look at chocolate making: take a simulated ride through the Hershey’s factory, create your own candy bar (including packaging) and save your appetite for a chocolate tasting adventure. Surprisingly — and pleasantly — the hotel itself avoids kitsch; Spanish in style, it was built in the 1930s (though it has been renovated and expanded) and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. For more information, visit Thehotelhershey.com
TEXAS
Austin
Barton Creek Resort & Spa
From the Kids Club (six months to eight years) to Camp Barton (with no more than five kids per counselor), Barton Creek Resort & Spa will keep your offspring entertained. Swimming, nature trail hikes and scavenger hunts are just a few of the standard activities on offer, while fishing excursions and Friday Field Trips offer new experiences for young guests. During the summer, weeks at the camp are themed — for example, Buckaroo Blow-Out Week focuses on cowboy activities, while Party with the Planets Week gives kids the chance to discover the mysteries of outer space. Although this property has all of the expected kid-centric amenities, they have a hard time competing with the outdoor allure of this 4,000-acre Texas Hill Country resort. As for mom and dad, relaxation comes in many forms: unwind in the spa, play a round on the golf course or curl up with the kiddies for family movie night on weekend evenings. For more information, visit Bartoncreek.com
VERMONT
Highgate Springs
The Tyler Place Family Resort
Since 1933, Tyler Place Family Resort has been specializing in family vacations. Unlike many resorts that focus on the kindergarten and grade school crowds, this one caters to all ages, from newborns (musical games, bikes with baby seats, a fleet of strollers) to teens (water skiing, ropes courses, campouts). Those who came as kids when Tyler Place first opened now bring their great-grandchildren. It’s hard to name an experience you won’t find at this 165-acre lakefront property: it offers lake trampolines, circus activities, family field days and pontoon boat rides. There are special weekend and weeklong family retreats, and plenty of adult pursuits, like meditative yoga, pottery classes and Champagne cruises. With a picturesque setting on Lake Champlain, the resort features a selection of cottages and suites, all with separate parents’ bedrooms. Though they’re rustic rather than swanky, the accommodations are just right for a casual family escape. For more information, visit Tylerplace.com
MORE ON GAYOT.com
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: July 22nd, 2012
While soaring high above the Rockies anticipating my descent into the quaint Hayden Colorado airport I would be giddy with anticipation at my first greeting of real winter. You see we don’t have real winter in San Diego, CA though some locals might disagree.
Upon landing and gathering my belongings from the overhead bins I’d begin to feel the bite of winter in the air and as I pass through the aircraft door and step down onto the runway I would immediately see my breath, reminding me that I am alive. Breath= a pre-requisite for winter fun at high altitude.
At the airport terminal I’d meet up with the awesome Vista Verde staff members who will shuttle me towards a little slice of heaven for one week, my home away from home, Vista Verde Ranch.
Having visited the ranch in the summer, I am now excited to see how beautifully different it will be in it’s winter light. I love winter and snow, blustery cool days and days so bright, they blind you from all the goodness nature has in store. Either way it will be peaceful and exhilarating.
I anticipate the sound that emits from my first steps onto the snowy plain, compressing millions of delicate snowflakes to carry me through my days in this winter wonderland. Daydreaming about what activities to partake, will it be snowshoeing or snow biking? What delicious morsels might await me in the dining room to fuel my days of exploring by cross-country skis or dog-sledding?
Early morning, early evening and or moonlight sleigh rides with hot cocoa and song,
The laughter that will echo from my launch off a sled into a fresh powder of snow where I’ll lay making snow angels to carry me to my next activity. The muffled clippity-clop of my horse’s hooves as we galliantly make our way on the snowy trails, quietly listening to the sounds of winter birds and rustling of trees.
Making new friends and getting reacquainted with old ones, sharing stories, sharing new experiences and kicking back in big leather sofas with a throw to nestle up to a good book and a glass of wine in front of a crackling fire.
Board games, charades perhaps even a winter barn ball where we can don our comfy down parkas, flannels and burn our inner dance party and so that’s my story…
no Donner, no Blitzen, no Cupid, or Vixen not even Rudolph can hold a nose light to the great experiences shared at the ranch and…
no matter what the weather or the event truly the best things in life ARE free. Mother nature provides it, we experience it, breath it, live it- with family, friends and and in good health- for this I am grateful. Can’t wait to see you all!!
Happy New Year!!
Name: Andrea Forgnone
Company:
City: San Diego
State: California
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: July 22nd, 2012
A new generation of adult camps offers everything from sports to performing arts to cattle-herding
No longer must we settle for living vicariously through our kids’ or grandkids’ summer camp experiences. Now we can relive, or experience for the first time, the joys of nature and hone our skills or pursue our passions — with like-minded grown-ups.
Today’s adult camps offer everything from music to sports, from cattle ranching to performing arts, and from weight loss to spiritual study. And the timing and costs also cover a wide range: You can go to a three-day day camp for as little as $150 or a weeklong camp with upscale residential quarters for as much as $2,700.
According to the American Camp Association, more than half a million adults attend camp each year, and that doesn’t include people who go to family camp with their offspring. The association has kept records on adult attendance for only the past five years, but it notes that in that period, the numbers are up by 20 percent.
Hitting the Camp Trail
Bruce Henderson is a 60-something school psychologist in North Carolina by day. But by night but he’s an amateur saxophone player whose dream is to perform in lounges and jazz clubs when he retires. Six years ago, in an effort to improve his skills, he enrolled at a summer jazz camp on the campus of California State University, Northridge. It was there he met members of one of his favorite groups, the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band, who were serving as faculty.
Henderson was hooked. So much so that each summer he checks out a different jazz camp. Last year he discovered Tritone Jazz at Naz at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y., which inspired him so much he says he’s returning this year.
“Jazz camp is an experience like no other,” Henderson says. “I keep coming back because of the bonding I have with fellow musicians through creating art and sharing a love of musical expression. And it’s not all work — we have some really great laughs.”
Whatever your fancy, there’s probably a summer (or winter) camp that specializes in it. Here’s just a sampling of what’s out there for the kid in us all.
(MORE: Life From the View of a Canoe)
Jazz Camp
A typical day at Naz, on the campus’ 150 wooded acres, includes six hours of professional instruction for saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass, drum, voice and, starting this year, violin.
For 90 minutes each day, campers play in combos and are coached by professional player/educators. Throughout the week they learn and practice the tunes they’ll perform at the final camp concert for a local audience.
As it has for the past 14 years, this camp runs the last full week in July (July 22–27, 2012). Tuition is $775; meals and lodging in the college dorms are an additional $520. Campers can also stay in nearby hotels, motels or B&Bs. Registration ends July 15, and when this story published, there was room for two more drummers, three trumpeters and a bassist.
Circus Camp
If you’re traveling near Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., and happen to see a crowd of people waving brightly colored banners outside a monumental Colonial church building, you’ve found Stagebridge. And if you’ve ever fantasized about being a carney or joining the circus, this is the camp for you.
The Sixth Annual Performing Arts for Adults 50+ Camp, housed inside that Colonial church, welcomes novices as well as skilled performers. All the instructors have performing arts backgrounds. The clowning teacher, for example, worked with the Pickle Family Circus and is a faculty member at the San Francisco Circus Center.
Intensive classes are offered in acting, storytelling, clowning, mime, movement, Zumba, percussion and more. On the last day of camp, all participants perform in a videotaped “Big Show,” a copy of which is available for $10.
Every summer has a different theme; this year’s is “Under the Big Top: Run Away With the Circus,” and it runs from July 16 to 20 (9:30–4); cost, $285. Participants stay “off-campus” in hotels in downtown Oakland and can drive or take public transportation to Stagebridge. Snacks are provided throughout the day, but attendees are advised to bring a light lunch.
Fantasy Camp
For those who believe space is the place, the Adult Space Academy at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., will be a dream come true. Surrounded by icons of American history, like the Saturn V restored to its Apollo-era condition, and the Pathfinder Shuttle, campers may actually brush shoulders with famous astronauts.
During the three-day session, participants study historic space flights, train like a real astronaut then apply what they’ve learned in a simulator (though they won’t experience weightlessness; that happens only in advanced camp, underwater). Each camper gets to build a miniature two-stage loadstar rocket (23 inches long) and launch it himself. Weather-permitting, the rockets can soar higher than 1,000 feet. While space camp is open to people of all ages, roughly half the 184 participants in 2011 were at least 50 years old. (Space Camp for kids runs all year long.)
Adult Space Camp is from Aug. 24 to Sept. 15 this year and costs $549, which includes room and board. Campers sleep onsite in dorm-style rooms that accommodate up to seven people. Meals are taken communally, and yes, they serve Tang. Currently all slots have openings.
(MORE: Pursuing Passions in New Places)
Cattle-Herding Camp
Vista Verde Ranch might bring Billy Crystal’s City Slickers to mind, but it offers a much more comfortable experience. Situated in the middle of a national forest in Northwest Colorado just 45 minutes form Steamboat Springs, the ranch offers lodging in authentic log cabins and serves haute cuisine. Think of it as an all-inclusive resort, with horses.
Originally built as a private ranch in the 1920s, Vista Verde became a full-fledged dude ranch in the 1970s. Summer season, for guests, runs from June through September; during the off-season, the owners attend to ranch projects.
This summer is Vista Verde’s Fourth Annual Cattle Round-Up, where campers actually ride over the ranch’s 16,000 acres searching for 400 head of cattle. Some days the cows are elusive, but when participants hit the mother lode, they’ll be driving a large herd — in an actual roundup.
The first day campers learn to communicate with their horse, and skills are honed in clinics throughout the week. The resident horse trainer helps riders of all levels improve their skills. All equipment is provided, but guests must bring their own jeans and hats. (Boots and helmets can be borrowed.)
On average, there are 25 guests per week, with more couples than singles, but everyone interacts so no one feels left out. The biggest payoff is the luxurious accommodations in private cabins plus gourmet meals paired with fine wines. A weeklong stay (Sunday to Sunday) costs $2,700 per person.
(MORE: Beginner’s Mind: A Joyful and Beneficial Way to Learn)
Outdoor Recreation Camps
Campers challenge their body and mind at Vermont’s Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center, flanked by Bear Mountain and two small reflective ponds at its base. Nearly 1,500 acres of conserved land have been set aside for recreational use and agricultural purposes. Big Kids Camps in Grafton offers hiking, swimming and a low ropes course plus instruction in mountain biking and canoeing. During the session campers visit the local town blacksmith and learn his craft.
But the real draw is the annual biathlon, a competitive event that combines cycling or running around a cross-country track with two to four shooting rounds of a laser gun, half of which are done standing, the other half prone.
Big Kids Camps are offered every Tuesday through Thursday (9–4) from June 25 until Aug. 3. Tuition is $150, which includes lunch. There’s no on-site housing: Campers usually stay in the nearby Grafton Inn.
Traditional Summer Camp — for Adults
YMCA Camp Chief Ouray, in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, is a good old-fashioned summer camp experience, with horseback riding, canoeing, archery, arts and crafts, nature hikes, water aerobics and wood-carving. (Yoga is the most “modern” concession.) Activities take place in Alpine meadows and stands of aspen and lodgepole pines, and campers raft down the mighty Colorado River. (In winter, the camp welcomes cross-country skiers and snow-shoers.)
Campers choose how adventurous or relaxed they want to be. Evening activities include square dancing, games, a talent show, campfires — pretty much everything except Color War.
There is an age limit here: No one under 50 is permitted. Sleeping quarters are off site, at nearby Snow Mountain Ranch, offering single and double beds or private rooms for an additional fee. The session runs from Aug. 26 to 31 and costs $280 for YMCA members and $300 for nonmembers, which includes lodging, all meals, snacks and most activities. (There are additional fees for horseback riding, rafting and ropes.)
How to Find the Right Camp for You
The obvious place to start is with personal recommendations or a Google search. Camp Parents, Grownup Camps and Shaw Guides are also good resources.
When researching a camp, the same rules apply as for kids’ camp, says Peg Smith, chief executive of the American Camp Association.
- Ask a lot of questions.
- Make sure the camp philosophy matches yours.
- Find out what the expected fitness or skill level is.
- Check to see if it is ACA-accredited (camps must meet nearly 300 standards in health safety and operations to earn this).
To maximize your camp experience, know what you want out of it before you attend, Smith says, and keep expectations realistic. “This is your opportunity to go beyond everyday life,” she says. “You’re never too old for a camp experience.”
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (1)
Date: June 27th, 2012
When you combine majestic mountains with gourmet food, fun-filled activities and incredible staff, it adds up to one memorable vacation. After just a four-day stay at Vista Verde I want to share this experience with all my loved ones. My boyfriend, Guy, is Florida born and raised and has no idea what he is missing in these snow-filled mountains of Colorado. His expression entering the Great Hall in the lodge for the first time would make for a wonderful picture. Guy will turn 51 this March 16th and what better way to begin his next 50 years than trail riding with Hutch, snow shoeing with Jess, and skiing with Steve.
Name: Ann Marie Bachman
Company: Thomson Brock Luger & Company
City: Tallahassee
State: Florida
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: June 27th, 2012
America’s Best All-Inclusive Resorts by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher
Vista Verde Guest Ranch, Steamboat Springs, CO
“Picture this,” raves Jamie Pearson on her Travel Savvy Mom blog: “After an outrageously fun day of riding, learning to herd cattle, or watching your kids compete in a just-for-fun rodeo, you unwind on the porch of your private cabin in your private Jacuzzi. It’s heaven.” It’s otherwise known as Vista Verde Guest Ranch, where rates include meals and all beverages; horseback riding; guided hiking, biking, and fly-fishing; river rafting and kayaking; kids’ and teens’ programs; evening barn dances and rodeos; and shuttle service to and from Steamboat Springs.
Price Tag: Weekly rates from $2,900 per adult and $2,300 per child under 11 staying in the lodge; add $400 per person for a cabin.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: June 10th, 2012
Hello, my name is LaFray and I’m an insatiable horseman that’s been derailed from my pursuits by a head injury 11-years ago. My work related injury has not only sidelined my horse aspirations, but my whole life. I have chronic daily headaches and migraines which makes me a product/slave to pain. However, when I feel good, nothing can keep from enjoying my passions in life: my husband, riding or just playing with horses, and enjoying a romp with my dogs.
I view life a little different than some…I never take anything for granted, so I seize the day (Carpe
diem), or in my case, the moment, at every opportunity. I find equines the best medicine for what ails me. I receive so many physical and emotional benefits from riding, playing, grooming them, that I can’t begin to list them all. What I can say is that I receive twice as much from the horse than I give.
My husband and I have not had a vacation since my injury date of April 2002. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to share an exiciting fun filled horse vacation than with the love of my life. He has spent almost 11-years worrying and caring for me….finding the best doctors, driving me to doctor’s appointments when I couldn’t drive myself, cooking and cleaning. He’s a saint!
This trip would be my special "thank you" to him. Not too many men would stand by their wives the way he has stood by me!
I would just like to thank you for the opportunity to enter this incredible giveaway, and good luck to everyone who enters. It’s a dream vacation!
Note: I have no physical limitations that would prevent me from experiencing this wonderful resort. Doctor verifications upon request.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
LaFray Gadoury
Name: laFray Gadoury
Company:
City: Harrisville
State: RI
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: June 10th, 2012
Luxury Dude Ranch Vacations
June 4, 2012
Interested in “roughing it” in style? Don’t want to sacrifice comfort while communing with nature? Here’s what to expect on a luxury dude ranch vacation.
by Darley Newman
If camping out under the stars isn’t your thing, but you like to ride horses or want a very comfortable ranch vacation, a luxury dude ranch vacation might be a good fit for you. After researching upscale ranch holidays across the United States and Canada, I came up with answers to some common questions travelers may have about what type of vacation they’ll experience at one of these luxury ranches and some fun photos from ranches that you might want to choose.
One of the biggest modern luxuries for riders who visit Home Ranch in Colorado is the million acres of Rocky Mountain Wilderness.
What are the accommodations like at a luxury dude ranch?
As in with any upscale vacation, accommodations vary, but many luxury dude ranches offer beautiful Western decor. You may recline on handmade log furniture. You may be staying in your own cabin, an elegantly furnished log structure or entire ranch style home with grand stone fireplaces, a hot tub and fully stocked bar.
At BC’s Siwash Lake Ranch, suites and luxury tents have plush linens, private baths, balconies and beautiful lake and wilderness views.
Other ranches help you feel closer to nature in plush tents–– tents that you won’t be pitching yourself. Many are constructed on wooden floors and have en suite bathrooms, art decorating the walls, and even electricity.
Adobe-style log beams, Native American rugs, and king beds with down comforters decorate rooms at Home Ranch.
How much does a luxury ranch vacation cost?
Riding vacations in general can be economical, which surprises many people when they think about how expensive it is to keep a horse! Ranch vacations average from around $1000 or $2000 per person for an all-inclusive week to around $3500. Considering that this includes all riding, meals, accommodations and sometimes transportation, this can be a good deal. Another advantage of many ranch and riding vacations is that you can know your budget well ahead of time.
Luxury ranch vacations that I came across ranged from $250 a night per person double occupancy to $7,500 and more. The sky is the limit, as are the perks!
What are some fun perks those prices include on luxury dude ranch holidays?
Your vacation package may include private guides for hiking, fly-fishing or horse riding, golf, gourmet meals, dinner shows, fitness centers, indoor riding arenas, hot tubs, personal chefs, spa time and private cabins with fully stocked bars.
Rancho de los Caballeros in Arizona offers Home Sweet Home Milk Baths, brown sugar scrubs and peppermint essential oil body wraps.
For instance at Home Ranch in Colorado, food is a major focus. Dinner may consist of pan-seared quail stuffed with dates and prosciutto topped with a demi-glace and Maytag bleu cheese crumbles over soft polenta with manchego cheese and asparagus or crispy seared Alaskan halibut with braised spinach, wild rice pilaf and glazed baby carrots. Is your mouth watering yet?
At Vista Verde Ranch, a Colorado luxury ranch resort, an Executive Chef hosts a hands-on cooking classes and wine tastings. House wines, beer and a variety of sodas are included in your stay.
Vista Verde Ranch hosts formal multi-course dinners to delight ranch “foodies.”
Learn about luxury ranch vacations and other upscale equestrian vacation destinations in the luxury ranch guide in the Equitrekking Vacation Guide.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: May 3rd, 2012
Hello All
My Name is Delrea my husband is Kenny .He is 64. And I am 53.My husband is a farmer and works daylight till dark We are raising our Three grandchildren
We adopted all three at birth they are 9-6-4.The first two are boys and the baby is a girl. I Stay home and raise the children. I had knee replacement. In 09. Then in 10 I fell and destroyed my knee I have had 12 surgeries on my leg and came very close to losing my leg twice I was home with a
a pic line in my arm that is an I.v. on. Antibiotics I was also in a rehab for over a month. We need a break, we are so tired. When my husband. Comes home at night he will sit at the computer and search Colorado he loves Colorado Our dream is to retire. In Colorado Three nights would be part of that dream. And we would be so thankful to you for. Giving us a break. And a little piece of our dream. Thank you. Dearea and Kenny
Name: Delrea. Kelderman
Company: just home
City: Garland city
State: Ar.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: May 3rd, 2012
Kara Williams wrote a nice piece about luxury guest ranches for Luxury Las Vegas. You can see the digital version of the magazine here. The article starts on page 49.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: May 1st, 2012
I would like to wake up to a view of snow and open pasture land, with the sound of horses running through the snow would be great. Riding horses throught the snow during the day and riding in a wagon at dusk , under the blankets and a cup of coco in my hand… sharing it with my love…. I want to sit out on the porch and have a drink while i look at the big bright moon…. then i want to do it all over the next day
Name: paula ruta
Company: Body by Vi
City: scotssdale
State: arizona
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: May 1st, 2012
Back at the Ranch – 5280 Magazine – by Lindsey Koehler
Vista Verde Guest Ranch
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The sound of cowboy boots two-stepping across a wooden floor isn’t something you hear often within Denver city limits. But at Vista Verde Guest Ranch, you can listen to that heavy plodding—that is, big-belt-buckle-wearing men dancing with ladies in black Stetson hats—at its weekly old-fashioned barn dance. And if you’re sitting alone, tapping those newly purchased boots, it’ll only be a matter of moments before a polite young wrangler puts out his hand.
That well-mannered, congenial attitude permeates this small guest ranch situated on a petite parcel of land 27 miles outside of Steamboat Springs. No matter what you happen to be doing—sitting by the lake taking in the sunset or watching a band of horses graze in a nearby pasture—someone from the Vista Verde staff will ask if you need anything, and then smile and give a tip of the hat when you say you’re doing just fine. The truth is, you likely are doing better than fine because you spent the morning on a cattle roundup, ate a hearty lunch on the outdoor patio, took a short hike in the Zirkel Wilderness Area in the early afternoon, and now you’re nursing a beer while you wait for dinner to be served in the main dining room. Life is good here at the ranch.
In fact, at Vista Verde, the most stress-inducing decisions come in two categories: what to eat for dinner (there’s a choice of three entrées each night) and what to do after dinner (check out that barn dance or retire to your cabin’s outdoor hot tub to look at the stars). Fortunately, you can’t really go wrong with whatever choice you make.
The same can be said for the ranch’s recreational options. Most guests choose Vista Verde for its well-regarded horse program, which mixes clinics with trail rides and caters to every ability level. Ranch trainer Terry Wegener, along with a group of wranglers, seems to be able to teach guests more about horsemanship in one week than most others could in months. But if four-legged fun isn’t your thing, Vista Verde employs a host of guides—usually college-age kids with a ton of energy and skill—that can take you mountain biking, fly-fishing, and hiking whenever the mood strikes. And to be honest, it’s the overall mood—that balance of eager-to-please service, casual friendliness, and upscale amenities—at Vista Verde that makes it so darn enticing.
The Details
You’ll Love It If… You’re a wannabe horseman or horsewoman—or an advanced equestrian—looking to improve your skills at a riding-oriented ranch.
High Praise The accommodations here are sublime. The two-story Little Agnes “cabin” has plush linens, a small kitchen, a sitting room with a wood stove, a king-bed master suite, a queen-bed guest room, two bathrooms (one with a giant shower), and a front deck with a hot tub.
The Low Down Although Vista Verde offers fly-fishing, hiking, mountain biking, rafting, and other activities, many are not available on the ranch’s nearly 600-acre property, which can mean a long drive to reach your adventure.
Cost All-inclusive rates depend on accommodations and time of year, but a cabin generally runs $3,900 per week per person. Vista Verde does stay open for much of the winter season.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: March 22nd, 2012
604 miles. 549 days. 13,176 hours. 4 states. 4 kids. 2 dogs. 1 guinea pig. These are the numbers that define the last 18 months of our lives. In July 2011, we packed up our tribe, waved goodbye to our Indiana family and friends, and started a new life in Starkville, Mississippi.
After completing his doctorate in education, my husband decided that life as a Principal at a highly affluent and ultra-competitive high school was taking its toll on him, on our kids, and on our overall well-being. As a family, we agreed it was time to make a change, and he accepted a Professorship at Mississippi State University. We painfully and reluctantly sold the dream home we’d built five years prior, buckled in for a lifestyle change, and headed South.
It’s been a roller-coaster ride of epic proportions. We’ve made new friends and missed our old ones. We’ve visited extended family and spent our first Christmas without them. We’ve laughed and cried and second-guessed and forged ahead. We’ve embraced the adventure and we’ve longed for the comfort of familiarity.
Most importantly? We’ve grown as individuals and as a family. Our 16-year-old, missing his favorite Indiana sport, launched a lacrosse club in our new hometown. Our 13-year-old made the high school bowling team, our 12-year-old competed on the first middle school girls’ volleyball team. Our 10-year-old was named “Scientist of the Year” in a club that has given him both roots and wings.
And us? The parents? We’ve begun forging new relationships, have dipped our toes in our new Southern culture, have learned to properly say, “All y’all.”
But here’s one thing we really miss.
Snow. (Not shoveling it, necessarily, but playing in it.)
We kept our winter boots and our knit hats, not knowing whether this move would be permanent or temporary.
They’re still packed.
It’s hot in Mississippi, y’all. On Christmas day, it rained. I told the kids it was just really warm snow, but they didn’t buy it.
My dear hubby and I would be unable to express the depths of our excitement if we received the gift of a winter get-away to your beautiful Colorado resort. Here’s what we’d do when we arrived: We’d drink lots of coffee in the morning, then don our hats and boots for some beautiful winter snowshoeing. We’d stop for a leisurely lunch and some reading with a fantastic view. Then we’d visit your beautiful horses, partake in an afternoon massage, and settle in for a wonderful evening meal with ample red wine. The next day, we’d engage in a little Yoga, take a cooking class together, venture out for some downhill sledding, and participate in a wine tasting.
Then we’d do it all over again. With a sleigh ride thrown in for good measure.
But most of all, we’d get to breathe, relax, be together, unwind, reflect, reinvigorate.
And we’d be grateful beyond measure.
Name: Katrina Willis
Company:
City: Starkville
State: MS
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: March 22nd, 2012
We loved this article by MN Good Age Editor Kathleen Stoehr about our luxury dude ranch.
SADDLE UP!
BY KATHLEEN STOEHR
Colorado dude ranch offers truly memorable stay
Picture a quiet September morning; quiet, but in some way … charged. I am standing alone on a dirt road, hands in my pockets to keep them warm. My breath puffs out in front of me, but I know that as soon as the sun peeks over the faraway hills, the day will warm up measurably.
My attention is drawn to a little black dog running toward me on the road, tongue lolling, ears pricked. He has a look about him: some may call it trouble; others might say he’s just very alert and aware.
It’s then that a nicker punctures the stillness. I shift my position and move off the road, behind the short fence.
A horse, maybe two, crests at the bend in the road. Before I can exhale, three more horses appear. The little black dog runs back toward them, then forward, then back again. I understand now — he’s herding.
I feel the ground begin to tremble slightly as the road erupts in horses of all colors and sizes, manes and tails flying. There must be at least 70 of them. They trot past me, up the road, and into a nearby corral, and there they greet each other and nuzzle as the ranch hands ready them for their day.
I feel so fortunate to be able to witness this spectacle that long after the dust on the road has settled, I stand and absorb the feeling that I just lived a dream. I’m in Colorado at a ranch called Vista Verde, and I’m happier than I’ve been in a very long time.
Riding at the ranch
My husband and I had arrived at Vista Verde a few days prior not really knowing what to expect, save for what the ranch’s website touted. We were both eager to ride horses in the way they are meant to be ridden — not those awful “nose to tail” rides, but honest to goodness trot, cantor, and gallop-style rides. Vista Verde promised we’d have our own horses for the length of the stay and rides would be more akin to “bushwacking” (as in, off trail). Sold.
At the entrance a young woman on horseback, clad in dusty jeans, plaid shirt, and well-loved hat, waved to my husband and I. We’d later learn that was Jo, one of the ranch hands, an expert horsewoman. This was just the first of many friendly greetings we would receive during the stay.
Within an hour of arrival, I had my horse selected for me (“Chief” — who I discovered had a penchant for frequent food trolling), and a glass of wine placed in my hand. Our bags were sent to our cabin (its name: Big Agnes, after a nearby mountain range) and then we were seated at dinner, a robust meal prepared by the talented Chef Matt. And it was during this whirlwind that we were asked, “So, what would you like to do tomorrow?” Guests buzzed amongst one another at dinner, making acquaintance and talking about their chosen itineraries.
For the next few days, my life (and stomach) was full. While there was always horseback riding available, from individually guided rides to various riding clinics, there was also a plethora of other activities to explore. Each ran about two or so hours long, providing ample time to prep for the next gourmet meal, sometimes served al fresco on a beautiful patio overlooking a small trout pond; sometimes served in the expansive dining room. If you weren’t hungry enough for a full meal, the fridge in your cabin was stocked with beer, wine, juices, and water; and a nearby basket harbored fruit, trail mix, locally produced candies, and chips.
Horsing around
So I was assigned Chief, the “grass eater.” In a testament to the pull of this place, one of the guests riding with me that first day cooed, “Aw, you got Chief? I rode Chief last year when I was here. He’s such a sweetheart! Just yank up on the reins if he eats too much.” Yes, she was a return guest who chose this particular week, as it was the last week of cattle round up. Guests begin their stay by brushing up (or learning) riding skills and also training in cowmanship, culminating in a two day round up in which the outlying area is bushwhacked for the last few straggling bovines needing to be brought into the winter pasture.
In just two days, I was able to “relearn” all of my old skills as a rider, and some new skills too. We formed and named teams (such as the “Four Riders of the Cow-pocalypse”), and earned points for the ease in which we were able to intimidate cows through a small area set up with orange cones. Great fun.
For those who love the ranch experience but didn’t have much interest in riding, there were vast possibilities for entertainment. Mountain biking, river rafting, a hot air balloon ride, a gourmet cooking class, yoga — the good folks at this ranch were poised to ensure a memorable time was had by all. One fellow chose to forego an afternoon of activity and sat down by the trout pond with his cigar and a book. A mother/daughter team asked for a ride into Steamboat Springs for a day of shopping.
Happy hour with the horses? Check. Fly fishing? Yes, I actually caught two trout from a lovely stream about 15 minutes away from the ranch, within the Routt National Forest. Cattle wrangling? I am now an expert. (Okay, well, maybe not an expert but you know what? Not too many people can say they have done it!) I also participated in a wine tasting; a photography tour; rode Chief to an early morning breakfast set around a campfire; listened to a toe-tapping cowboy band; attended a barn dance; and sat in a hot tub on a star-filled night, contemplating the beauty of silence, lush pine forests, and stars. And I ate more than I ever should, but simply couldn’t say no.
At five o’clock in the evening, “happy hour with the horses” commences. With full wine glasses or bottles of beer, guests were allowed access to the pasture to walk among the gentle beauties, ply them with apples, and learn from their wranglers about herd dynamics. It’s a casual, easy affair should you choose to do it.
I can’t say this was an inexpensive trip. But with so many vacations where one might gamble on the quality of campsites, hotels, and restaurants; where you cook when you’d rather be served; where you scrimp even as you are spending; where you spend more time in your car than on a hike, or find yourself paying for an unsatisfying trail ride just so that you can have a horseback experience … and then you can have an vacation like this? It means everything. You total up your expenses from one; you total up your expenses from another and you think — wow. The difference isn’t that much compared to the value. An all-inclusive experience suddenly sounds less like indulgence and more like what a true, relaxing getaway should be. I highly recommend you do it.
——
Details
Getting there:Vista Verde Ranch is in a far-reaching area of Colorado, near Steamboat Springs. You can fly into Denver and drive about four hours across the state. It’s a lovely drive on easy roads through mountains and high plains. You can also choose to fly into Steamboat/Hayden and the ranch will pick you up at the airport and bring you to the ranch. This option is the best in the winter, when the roads from Denver can be snowy, depending upon the day.
Accommodations: The cabins and lodge rooms are authentic log structures, in keeping with the northwest Colorado locale. But rustic stops at the front door. Modern, elegantly furnished and spacious living quarters await, along with spa robes and your own outdoor hot tub.
Meals: All inclusive, the meals bring the gap between ranch-y and fancy, casual and also elegant — but always, always delicious.
Adventures: The hallmark of a stay is the diversity of activities offered. As a guest, you choose from myriad activities offered each day. Whether you want to try it all, or immerse yourself in one program, the depth is there and the options abound. With such diverse offerings, you could easily call this an adventure ranch vacation instead of a dude ranch. And with a one-to-one staff to guest ratio, the program is quite flexible. Visit Vistaverde.com for more information.
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (1)
Date: February 21st, 2012
I wandered west,
When the world was green,
Oh how beautiful!
The buffalo thundered,
Oh how wonderful!
I climbed my first mountain,
Oh how exhilerating!
Not a house in sight,
Oh how natural!
I saw the wolves traverse,
Oh how lucky!
The mountains soared,
Oh how heavenly!
I walked in an icy river,
Oh how invigorating!
The flowers bloomed,
Oh how gorgeous!
I rode through the towering forest,
Oh how enlightening!
I found my Shrangri-La,
Oh how fulfilling!
Then I headed east,
Oh how tears fell!
Now my hunger is insatiable,
For food will never do,
Once you’ve wandered west.
Name: Kristen
Company:
City: Pendleton
State: KY
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
Date: February 21st, 2012
I arrived at Hayden Airport near Steamboat Springs, Colorado on Thursday 1/26/12 dressed in my Haute Couture attire (Vintage Fur and Prada bag to be specific), only to find a nice young man named Tom, from the Vista Verde Ranch waiting my arrival. After a 45-minute ride to our destination, the blankets of snow and open fields of horses pleasantly surprised me. I was greeted once again to a southern inspired staff at the ranch. I was given a detailed tour of the ranch and then off to lunch. First impressions of lunch (it made me think of the bayou). Anytime you offer a southern gentlemen catfish in the form of a po-boy sandwich accompanied w/ a refreshing salad, sweet tea and dessert, you have me hooked.
I was gifted to three days of food, entertainment, sleigh rides, horse feeding and massages. I stayed in the biggest cabin on the ranch entitled Wapiti. (Named after one of the nearby mountains). The cabin was furnished with the most up to date amenities and a plethora of added treats. To add sugar to my tea (No pun intended) they had wine, vanilla cokes, assortments of beer, Gatorade and more wine all awaiting my arrival. Needless to say, I would not dehydrate. I neglected to mention having a hot tub on the front porch, which was often ornamented by the ranch cat (nappy). How could a fashion-ado and food critic go wrong?
Since reviewing culinary arts at Vista Verde was the primary focus of my stay, let me paint a vivid picture of my day-to-day experience. Breakfast started promptly at 8:00am w/ a detailed menu listing of options to choose from. Before one of the friendly and cowgirl chic wait staff took my order, I started with a continental plate of fresh fruit, an assortment of hot teas, coffee, yogurt, fresh bagels, etc. If that wasn’t enough, I was then given three selections to choose from the menu.
Lunch started each day at 12 noon. Lunch was typically served buffet style, but sometimes plated and served. Portion control was not my goal! There were options of salads, and hot soups to compliment each meal! After each meal I was treated to tasty desserts often garnished with nuts, berries and or some kind of savory sauce.
Dinner was served in two types of formats. First, in a buffet style and the second being a formal plated dinner with friendly servers. No matter the format, the food options were superlative. Words cant express the options granted on a daily basis. I have to take a moment to give reverence to the executive Chef of Vista Verde Ranch Chef Matt, Chef Lewis and Chef Scott Wolf. All three gentlemen afforded me the opportunity to get a detailed glance into the world of culinary, married with the daily accountabilities of the ranch. With experiences ranging from England, France and California it’s easy to see how the menu selections are so rich in character, style and taste. Thanks chefs Matt, Lewis and Scott for a job well done and the opportunity to taste, smell and sample some of the finest of cuisines west of my Atlanta, Georgia dwelling.
Well, all good things have expiration. To sum up my stay at the ranch, I would say it was filled with peace, serenity and a newfound appreciation for the concept of a luxury Dude ranch. Would I go back to Vista Verde? The choir shouts YES! Thanks to the entire staff and management team for luxury ranch experience that set the standard without loosing the personal appeal! Until… I say farewell in the name of all things fashionable and food.
Yours in Fashion and Food,
Courtney A. Hammonds – The Image Archietect
Posted in Vista Verde in the News | Comments (0)
