| You may have heard of dude ranches, but do you | | | | have modern amenities also though, this is modern day |
| know what these are and how they started? The | | | | after all. |
| dude ranch first became popular because of the | | | | You can almost always take horseback lessons at a |
| writings of Teddy Roosevelt. In the 1920s, they really | | | | dude ranch, and horseback riding is usually available at |
| took off in the American imagination. Roosevelt had | | | | any skill level. Other activities vary from ranch to ranch, |
| spent time as a rancher and had herded cattle. | | | | but common ones include fishing, hiking, square dancing, |
| Americans wanted to check this out for themselves. | | | | swimming, and campfires. |
| The cattle ranches in the American west decided to | | | | The draw of dude ranches is the same today for |
| accommodate tourists from the east and overseas. | | | | many tourists that it was in the early 20th century. At |
| Ever since, dude ranches have existed in the US. They | | | | a dude ranch, you get a taste of another way of life. |
| are a uniquely American phenomenon, like baseball and | | | | It's a good time, in a wholesome, adventurous setting. |
| apple pie. | | | | You can even have some fantastic sky time. Here's a |
| Today, dude ranches still have a strong draw because | | | | modern draw of a dude ranch: it is usually far enough |
| they embody the very ideal of self-reliance. You can | | | | from the neon city lights that you can actually see the |
| have the experience of living off the land and | | | | stars at night. |
| experiencing the great wide open. There's no TV, no | | | | Those who live in the city will be amazed how quiet |
| Internet, and your cell phone isn't relevant here. It's a | | | | and roomy it is. There's no highway obscuring the |
| great escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. | | | | natural sounds of crickets and birds. You can sit on |
| In some dude ranches visitors can even help with the | | | | your horse and see for miles, there's no mall or office |
| daily chores of operating the ranch. This gives visitors | | | | complex in the way blocking your view. |
| a real feel for cowboy life. You can find them that | | | | |