We returned last night from our first family Dude Ranch Vacation. We went to Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch in Colorado because our travel agent had been to it and highly recommended it. When I googled Guest Ranches there were over 200 in the Guest
more +Rancher's Association so I didn't know where to start. I wanted a ranch that was completely kid friendly and that was easy to get to since my husband and son were going on a Boy Scout trip for two weeks and it would be just me and my 2 daughters. Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch is now our favorite vacation ever and we vacation several weeks each year.
The location is great. You fly into Denver and rent a car and drive for about an hour north to Loveland. It is an easy and pleasant drive. The ranch is in the foothills of the Rockies - beautiful! One day we continued on past the ranch and within about 45 minutes you are in Rocky Mountain National Park looking at elk and big horn sheep.
Sylvan Dale Ranch was the most welcoming place I have ever visited. The owner, Susan Jessup grew up on the ranch which her parents started back in the 1940's after her dad served in World War II. We stayed in the Homestead which is like my grandmother's old farm house with iron bed frames and big windows that you can open at night to feel the cool night air and hear the sound of the beautiful Big Thompson River which runs in front of the ranch.
The three things we enjoyed most about our trip was #1)The friendliness and kindness of the people especially the ranch owner Susan Jessup and the young wranglers that interacted with us each day. #2) The natural beauty of the place. The ranch is 3200 acres and is up against the Roosevelt National Forest which means almost endless natural beauty. I talked to a friend of mine who went to a guest ranch which was right up against a golf course! At Sylvan Dale you feel like you are truly away from civilization even thought you are 15 minutes from beautiful Loveland, CO. #3) The horses are bred and born at the ranch. They are healthy and well-behaved - like pets. I love to ride but so often the horses are not well-cared for so that I feel bad about riding them. There is none of that at Sylvan Dale. Their 90 horses are loved and cared for like I care for my dog. They are members of the family and are so beautiful and well-maintained and gentle and well-behaved.
Activities: There are more activities than you can possibly do in a week. When you check in you receive a calendar of events and you pick and choose. There is something for everyone. The kids are entertained by counselors from 9:00 to noon and 1:00 to 5:00. My kids have never ever wanted to participate in the children's program anywhere. We have paid for some amazing children's programs at Club Med, etc. and they were always stuck to us like glue! At Sylvan Dale they said "bye Mom" and never looked back. I would say to my 7 year old daughter "would you like to stay with me this afternoon?" She would look at me apologetically and say "sorry mom." I was thrilled. The kids program includes riding twice each day with riding lessons and trail rides. It also includes many ranch activities like fishing, inner tubing, collecting eggs from the chickens, looking at the types of insects in the river that the fish eat, vaccinating the cattle, and sleeping out one night under the stars. My 13 year old daughter and I rode twice each day. We received expert riding instruction so that by the end of the week we were confident and decent riders. She enjoyed the adult program with me which gave me some important bonding time with my new and challenging teen. There were even activities for a grandmother who did not ride. She enjoyed learning about the many gardens on the ranch from the resident gardener, getting a massage, and taking a nature hike with a biology professor. She also enjoyed a lecture on the history of the ranch and going fishing for Rainbow Trout in the stocked lake. For the extremely macho there was fly fishing, rock climbing, and an overnight into the National Forest which was 4 hours of riding in and 4 hours back out.
The food is fabulous. Three amazing meals each day and healthy so that I was able to eat and not come back with extra pounds. The chef and his staff are real professionals. We are foodies and I was very happy with each meal. One treat was that all of the beef served was raised on the ranch organically.
Best time to visit: The ranch is open all year round but I think that the summer when they have their kid program running is definitely the best time to visit. June was wonderful because everything is green and there are wild flowers everywhere!
Family perks: good old-fashioned fun together in a relaxed family-friendly environment. The Jessups model family values and love for each other in a way that brings everyone closer together. We came back a stronger and happier family with memories and pictures to last a lifetime.
Date of Stay: 06/13/2010
Children in Party: 2
Accommodations Dining Kids Play Area Money Value Pool & Water Fun Staff
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