Be a Cowboy for a Week and Head to a Ranch

Have you ever dreamed of being a cowboy or cowgirl? Watching old Western movies makes it look like the adventure of a lifetime. Now, you can book a ranch vacation and head off to the grasslands or mountains in the U.S. or Canada for a unique ranching experience. Here’s what to look for before you book your ranch vacation. 

Room and Board

When you book a ranch stay, you usually have the option of full room and board, or partial room and board. A full room and board experience tends to be the best option if you are heading to a secluded ranch. That means that all of your meals and beverages are covered for the duration of your stay. 

Activities

You will want to make sure you are heading to a working ranch. That means that the ranch hands, cowboys, and cowgirls still regularly perform ranch duties like lassoing cattle, branding them, and driving them out to pasture. These are all of the skills you want to learn, and if a ranch is only catering to tourists it won’t be a ‘real’ experience.

Many working ranches offer experiences like mucking out stables, sleeping under the stars while driving cattle, and basic livestock rearing experience. That’s the experience you want, especially if you wish to feel like you’re in a classic John Wayne film.

Where to Go

If you’re not sure where to start looking, some recommended ranch experiences are 1+1 Ranch in Nebraska, Bull Hill Ranch in Washington, and The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch in Wyoming.