Choosing the Perfect Guest Ranch Vacation - Circle Z Ranch
How can you Choose the perfect guest ranch for a solo trip, a family trip, or a vacation with your friends?
A guest ranch is an outdoor adventure vacation that is sought out by travelers of all ages and all levels of riding experience. It is the perfect vacation choice for active families with kids, seniors, and solo travelers. In the search for the perfect guest ranch experience there are several key questions to ask. We find that most vacationers like to devote time researching all the options, and the choices can be as vast as the differences.
The biggest question to ask is how many guests does the ranch take at a given time. The sizes can vary from 10 to 150 guests. If looking for more personalized and intimate experiences, the smaller ranches are typically more focused on individualized experiences while the larger ranches have more types of experiences to offer. The Circle Z Ranch takes 30 guests at a time and has a program that is centered around horseback riding. We take pride in individualizing each guest’s experiences for the ultimate in enjoyment.
The types of activities vary as well between ranches, so it is always good to look at the full list of offerings. Most guest ranches are focused on outdoor activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing and hiking in addition to horseback riding. A key ask is the availability of each activity to the guests, or if there a limit to the number that can participate. At the Circle Z Ranch our specialty is riding and that is where our expertise lies, and our rides are different everyday of the week from cookouts to all days rides to trailering horses to ride elsewhere. And our area is the most beautiful and biodiverse in the state so guided hikes and nature walks are popular activities.
Amenities also vary from ranch to ranch. Is tennis and a heated pool important in your choice? Do you want spa service and hot tubs? The latter services are typically found at the more resort-oriented ranches.
And always ask how many horses to guest ratio. If they take more guests than horses then you know that riding is not a main focus. At the Circle Z Ranch we have double the number of horses to riders. That way we can always have the perfect fit of horse to rider. This also ensures that are horses are adequately rested and healthy, and that each guest, regardless of ability, will have the perfect horse.