Horseback Riding Vacation with Arizona Dude Ranch Association

City Slickers take a horseback riding vacation at the Elkhorn Ranch in Arizona

City Slickers take an Arizona Dude Ranch horseback riding vacation

It’s been 20 years since Billy Crystal’s City Slickers hit the big screen and with the new film Rango, featuring the voice of Johnny Depp, taking a visit to the Wild West this spring, a whole new generation will be introduced to the cowboy lifestyle.

Take a ride in the Arizona desert on your next horseback riding vacation

Horseback riding vacations provide Western lifestyle experience

Dude Ranches make a perfect family horseback riding vacation, as our hectic, technology driven lives need a way to relax, reconnect and unplug. The Arizona Dude Ranch Association offers the opportunity to experience a traditional Western lifestyle and horseback riding family vacation like no other. Time in front of the television or on the lap top is replaced with activities that range from horseback riding, to hayrides and cookouts or golf, spa treatments and tennis courts.

Does your horseback riding vacation offer kid’s programs?

Dude Ranches in Arizona once numbered over 200 in the 1950’s and 60’s. Today, their numbers have dwindled to a handful. While the wide open vistas and horseback riding vacations in nature haven’t changed, ranches have adapted to include activities to appeal to a wider audience. WiFi and televisions are found on most ranches, but they are not available in the guest rooms, further encouraging guests to enjoy the great outdoors at its best. To help visitors kick their technology habits, many locations offer riding instruction for those new to horseback riding, swimming pools and hot tubs, kid’s programs, hiking, and fishing.

Team penning is one of the activities offered on an Arizona Dude Ranch horseback riding vacation

The Arizona Dude Ranch Association offers high-quality ranches ranging from the more traditional smaller, remote ranches, where horseback riding and ranching are the primary focus, to larger resort-style guest ranches.

Member Ranches for your Arizona horseback riding vacation