From Eveningsnews.com
Dude Ranches: A Green Vacation Choice for Your Family
By
Dec 2, 2007, 01:00
(ARA) – As more people are becoming aware of environmental issues, vacationing green is a growing travel trend. Families are seeking vacation options that offer activities that respect the earth, and experiences that create cherished memories and a renewed connection to nature.
“Dude Ranches in our association are environmentally kind and a great way to bring your family closer on your next vacation,” says Colleen Hodson of The Dude Ranch Association, an organization that represents over 100 ranches in the western United States and Canada. “People come to enjoy the outdoors, have an adventure and relax in nature. After they leave, they often have a renewed appreciation for the environment.”
So what is it like to vacation on a dude ranch? Imagine cool, fresh mountain air, riding a trail on your trusted horse, participating in a cattle drive during a beautiful sunset, and hearing the dinner bell call you to a delicious meal. And this is just a start; many ranches offer spas, rafting, fishing, hunting, and special adult and children’s programs.
If this sounds like a vacation you might be interested in, there are options for every budget. Plus, many ranches participate in activities that help preserve the environment that they rely on so you can feel good about your trip.
For example, Rocking Z Ranch in Montana uses a stationary diesel motor that is powered by recycled vegetable oil to pump water for irrigation. This worked so well, the ranch took the idea one step further by using the vegetable oil to make biodiesel after taking out the fatty acids. They use this to run the tractors, loaders, an excavator, dozer and diesel pickup during the summer months.
Coffee Creek Ranch in California respects the environment by not spraying their fruit trees with any chemical pesticides. And like many hotels and travel establishments, you have the option to get fresh towels every day or hang them up and reuse them as a way to conserve water.
Recycling is another aspect that dude ranches are embracing. Keep in mind, with some ranches being far from major cities where a recycling program might exist, it’s a bit harder than simply putting items in a bin and putting it at the end of the driveway every week. Wilderness Trails Ranch in Colorado collects bottles, cans, plastic and paper from the approximately 38 guests and 30 staff that stay at the ranch each week and loads a large trailer to take into town 30 miles away.
“Successful ranching depends on a positive relationship with the earth, therefore ranchers know that they need to treat it with care. This relationship influences a visitor’s experience at a dude ranch and often brings them a deeper appreciation for the environment in which they live,” adds Hodson.
A ranch offers activities for the whole family. Maybe your daughter loves horses and has always dreamed of lopping across a grassy meadow, or your son wants to learn how to rope a steer. While your wife enjoys some time in the spa, why not try some fly fishing? Then you better rest up so you can all go whitewater rafting the next day.
So if you are looking for a vacation that will leave your family with memories to last a lifetime and a closer relationship with Mother Nature then a vacation at Wilderness Trails Ranch, Coffee Creek Ranch or The Rocking Z Ranch are the destinations you are looking for. For more information about vacations where your family can embrace the great outdoors visit www.guestranch.com.
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