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{ BEST PLACES TO} Dude and Glamp words by JENNIFER WALTON

Horses. Mountains. . course. There are annual Cattle Round- July parade and fireworks or visit during Wranglers. Cabins. Campfires. ups and Centered Riding® Clinics plus Singer/Songwriter Week with Monty Are you an equestrian or a horse a week of combined yoga and riding Powell and Anna Wilson. Although there enthusiast? Do you prefer fine with the creator of the Yoga Journal is an outdoor lover’s menu of fun, there’s dining or ranch-style cooking? Want DVD, Stephanie Snyder. This family is so plenty of time to spend with the fam amid to try your hand penning or use your devoted to your experience that one of the fine dining and list of wines suggested pen to sign up for fly fishing, yoga, or them personally leads a ride nearly every by the on-site sommelier, which earned a day at the spa? Ranches in the West day. Their love of horses and global travel the ranch its 2017 Wine Spectator Award offer a wide variety of activities during is only one reason to experience Bitter- of Excellence. Giddy up! clazyu.com a typical week-long stay; however, to root. While you feast on local rainbow *Cowpokes are led on ponies and enjoy donkey carriage rides. ensure your dude ranch experience trout and straight-from-the-ranch garden is a once-in-a-lifetime sort, take into vegetables, plan your next riding trip with Collective Vail consideration your riding ability (if a member of the Fox family because in 3 you’re a beginner, no worries—there addition to Bitterroot Ranch, they own A Retreat at 4 Eagle Ranch are programs at every ranch that will Equitours Worldwide Horseback Riding Wolcott, Colorado match you to your horse), your riding . Anyone up for a gallop on the style (most ranches offer Western- Skeleton Coast in Namibia? “Explore extraordinary destinations without sacrificing any luxuries,” states Collective style only), your daily itinerary (would bitterrootranch.com you like to ride in the morning and Retreats. One of their premier locations take the afternoon off?), your loca- is only 15 miles from Beaver Creek and C LAZY U RANCH tion (topography often dictates the 2 25 miles from Vail Village, so when it’s Granby, Colorado type and pace of the ride), and THE time to get your glamp on, set aside the HORSES! summer hustle of a mountain town for a Ask a repeat guest about their experienc- simple and beautifully appointed tent in es at C Lazy U, and they’re apt to reply, the midst of Colorado ranchland that will 1 THE BITTERROOT “On the last day, I’m already dreaming inspire more than a horseback ride. With RANCH of next year so I confirm my reservation over a thousand acres to explore at 4 Dubois, Wyoming right then and there!” Since 1919, C Lazy Eagle Ranch, you can begin the day on the U has been the kind of guest ranch that Lodge’s porch with breakfast (included), You could say that the Fox family was inspires families and friends to coordinate then head out for a cattle roundup, Jeep born in the saddle. Owners Bayard and their summer plans because this 8,500- tour, or an afternoon fly fishing with impres- Mel Fox, their son, Richard, and daughter- acre all-inclusive Rocky Mountain luxury sive views of the Sawatch Range before in-law, Hadley, have combined equestrian dude ranch connects its guests with a returning to the king-size bed, electricity, experience in the hundreds of years and multitude of adventures for adults and wood-burning stove, full bathroom (kitted not just in Wyoming. When Mel was living kids (from ages 3-17). At the beginning of out with L’Occitane products), and private in East Africa, she began leading horse the seven-night minimum stay, kids are deck with rocking chairs. Before dinner, visit rides in the early ‘70s in the shadow divided into three groups, Cowpokes (3- the on-site Vines at Vail Winery to receive of Mt. Kilimanjaro. At this 47-year-old 5)*, Mustangs (6-12), and Teens (13-17), and a complimentary tasting and then head guest and working cattle ranch where they are given their own horse to bond back to the ranch-chic accommodations many of the ranch’s 170 horses are bred, with for the week. The magical part begins with a purchase of Born Free To Be Wild you can ride each day through alpine for kids when, after the family breakfast, (Bordeaux-style blend) or Vail Ink (50% Syr- meadows, aspen groves, high desert they spend the day with their peers, coun- ah/50% Petite Sirah). Happily prepare for a plains, towering forests, and a meander- selors, and horse until after dinner when night dining under the stars with a “grill your ing river with views of the surrounding they meet up again with family to relive own” tasty “BBQ in a Box” (choose between Wind River Mountains. Located in the the day’s activities, which could include three meats) or have the chef prepare a Absaroka Mountains, the ranch borders zip lining, whitewater rafting, or visiting hyper-local dinner (they deliver and clean the Shoshone National Forest and is a local rodeo. It’s like kids get their own up!) before cozying up for an evening of just two hours from Jackson Hole or 30 camp and adults get their own too, filled galaxy gazing and their signature “S’mores minutes from Dubois by car. Refine your with hours spent riding, hiking, biking, in a Box.” Welcome to Glamping, Collective seat with twice-weekly riding lessons or fishing, or relaxing (soak in a therapeutic Retreats-style. collectiveretreats.com do more than trail ride by enjoying the copper tub or get a massage suspended afternoon on the cross-country jumping over the stream at the Lazy You Spa). This summer, applaud your own private 4th of

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3 2 1 PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF THE BITTERROOT RANCH / COURTESY OF C LAZY U RANCH / COURTESY OF COLLECTIVE RETREATS OF COLLECTIVE OF C LAZY/ COURTESY U RANCH / COURTESY RANCH OF THE BITTERROOT COURTESY PHOTOGRAPHY:

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{ BEST PLACES TO} Dude Ranch and Glamp

Magee Homestead is an addition to the Barn Lawn (eat mouth-watering Flat- The Home Ranch 4 award-laden Brush Creek Ranch Collection head cherries), and the Canteen Social Clark, Colorado and every detail is perfect, including the Hour (bring boots and practice your line striking modern Western interior design by dancing!) are must-dos at this legendary Twenty miles south of Steamboat Springs Simeone Deary Design Group, the pasture- Montana outpost. lies the only Relais & Châteaux in Colo- to-plate cuisine, The Grand Pavilion with theranchatrockcreek.com rado. There’s a reason why. It epitomizes its spa, pool, saloon, grill, and library, the the American West. Situated on 500 phenomenal 75 miles of private trails on acres with only 14 rooms and cabins for the ranch for riding, biking, and running, 7 Zapata Ranch 50 guests, the secluded ranch in the Elk in addition to the 20 miles of private river Mosca, Colorado River Valley feels like home the moment for fishing. Whether you canter the vast it comes into view. Horses idly graze, landscapes of this former cow camp and Back in 1999, The Nature Conservancy aspen trees glitter, and views of ever- hay-producing ranch or bask in the full- (TNC) did something very special. It green forests politely command atten- service spa where “tranquility is definitely chose to conserve this 103,000-acre pre- tion. The setting is unspoiled, the food is on the range,” with products from Tata serve in south-central Colorado near the haute mountain cuisine, and as you rise Harper and signature treatments like the Great Sand Dunes National Park where each morning to experience rides in the Silver Spur. Confirm seven nights with the the buffalo (bison) literally roam. Their Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest (over Saddle Up and Ride Boutique Ranch Vaca- reason was two-fold: “To protect their one million acres), you may feel as though tion offer and receive a $500 travel credit. significant natural values and to demon- an equestrian dream has come true. The Time to pony up. strate how cattle and bison operations all-inclusive includes twice-daily mageehomestead.com can co-exist with conservation efforts.” rides (and full-day for those Thank you. Now, aside from being one of who crave long days in the saddle) with the most “scenic and ecologically diverse the wranglers. If fishing is your thing, there 6 The Ranch at landscapes in the U.S.,” the Zapata are over two miles of Elk River for your rod Rock Creek Ranch, located in the San Luis Valley, is and reel; there’s a reason this is an Orvis- Philipsburg, Montana the real-deal, no-holds-barred work- endorsed lodge. And, with team penning, ing ranch vacation. TNC partnered with hay rides, and cattle drives, it serves as This 6,600-acre ranch located between Colorado-based Ranchlands, a ranch an authentic and foolproof location for a Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks is management company whose mission is wedding, reunion, or summer family tradi- the world’s only Forbes Travel Guide Five- to preserve “ecosystems and our ranch- tion. The six stand-alone cabins dressed Star guest ranch and the ’ ing heritage,” so if the goal is to learn in Native American rugs, regional art, and only founding member of the National about ranching, bison, cattle, and horses, antiques all have their own hot tub on the Geographic Society’s Unique Lodges of this is the place for hands-on experience porch for views of the Mt. Zirkel Wilder- the World. With 29 distinct accommoda- in a rancher’s daily work. (No worries, ness. By week’s end you’ll have formed a tions (choose between gorgeous Granite there are nature hikes, yoga, and mas- deep connection to your steed, indulged Lodge rooms, bucolic Historic Barn sages available too!) Ride a ranch horse in delicious farm-fresh offerings at the suites, to-die-for Luxury Canvas Cabins, or bring your own. Take an overnight nightly communal dinner table, and con- or picturesque Private Homes), all include pack trip into the Sangre de Cristo Moun- versed with like-minded guests who swear omnipresent views of the unforgettable tains or get educated on grass-fed cattle they’ve found paradise. Rock Creek Valley and personal cruisers and bison production. The experience homeranch.com or mountain bikes for on-ranch . here is to explore America’s oldest tradi- Montana, the Treasure State, is known tion close to the earth and in the wild. 5 Magee Homestead as “The Last Best Place on Earth,” and Extraordinary and exceptional, Zapata is Brush Creek Ranch this ranch, ideally situated near Missoula, the future of ranching and you can take Saratoga, Wyoming Butte, and Helena, could give you reason part in it. zranch.org BL to believe Rock Creek’s motto that “the Pure and boundless luxury for a mere 27 best is a great story.” With guests with access to 30,000 acres in expert guides and 75+ amazing horses, the North Platte River Valley, the Magee stocked ponds and casting lessons, Homestead leads with one intoxicating target sports and ropes courses, bowl- suggestion, “The Romance of the West ing and billiards, mountain biking and is calling.” This is adult-centric escapism geocaching, RC has what you want to do with adventure and wellness options fit for when you think of being outdoors under anyone in your herd. (Note: With a full buy- the big sky. The Saddle Sore Soak (spa out, the kids are more than welcome.) The treatment), the Rodeo BBQ on the Buckle PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF THE HOME RANCH / COURTESY OF BRUSH CREEK RANCH / COURTESY OF THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK COURTESY OF ZAPATA RANCH OF ZAPATA CREEK COURTESY ROCK AT OF THE RANCH / COURTESY CREEK RANCH OF BRUSH / COURTESY OF THE HOME RANCH COURTESY PHOTOGRAPHY: biglife 43