Luxury Hotels - Something different with kids... US Resort / Ranch with outdoor activities in the US

Looking for something different in the US for a family vacation.

Are there any nice resorts / ranches where we can go horse back riding, kayaking (but kids are 4-6 years old), hiking, etc....?

Looking for somewhere in the US for this...

Thanks for your recommendations.

Somewhere where BA flies ?;)
How about looking at Scottsdale Arizona, Sedona, the Grand Canyon etc - don't know details of where the hiking, horse riding etc but there must be some in the area. You could come the area with Southern California.

What month? Tanque Verde outside of Tuscon is nice...no kayaking though.

- check out amangiri? huge property
see john carter before going >
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/65918500 horseback
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/65918514 kayaking lake powell

interesting there isnt much if any ranch/etc discussion here
- triple creek ranch - good report - horseback, but maybe only whitewater
- blackberry farm - well regarded - horseback and kayaking, but no longer has casual restaurant?
- paws up - positive mention - horseback and kayaking
- carmel valley ranch - has been mentioned - horseback

in scottsdale i can recommend an outing with desert wolf tours

One other thing. You need to decide if you want good riding or good other stuff. They are pretty much mutually exclusive

The Resort at Paws Up in Montana is also very cool ( although kayaking for kids that young is probably not going to be easy to do anywhere). Riding is good, fly fishing, hiking of all levels, very good food...

I can speak to Blackberry Farm. It's very southern and is definitely more farm than ranch. It is absolutely gorgeous with great food, excellent trail riding, fly fishing, etc.

One other thing. You need to decide if you want good riding or good other stuff. They are pretty much mutually exclusive
what kind of horseback riding are you talking about?
scenery at amangiri is pretty incredible

im always interested in luxury properties that have huge acreage, with activities onsite. elk mountain resort bordered (and i believe had exclusive access to) government land, and i did a ~15 mile snowmobiling roundtrip onsite to a lookout. with 2 other guests and 2 staff. absolutely great. (although not done in an aman/FS way) hopefully at some point someone will reopen the property under really luxury management.

(like you brought up yellowstone club.)

it would be great to eventually see more aman like that, like amangiri.
singita tanzania is another, i believe launched with horseback, now with mobile camp on property.

The Resort at Paws Up in Montana is also very cool ( although kayaking for kids that young is probably not going to be easy to do anywhere). Riding is good, fly fishing, hiking of all levels, very good food...
first post on that here, thanks - how was service ?

It was good - I was only there for two days, but no glitches during that time. Friendly, western (I lived in Montana for a short time and it was appropriate for Montana:)) Beautiful area - lots of options. You mentioned, Kage, that you liked places with a lot of acreage - this is one of those.

- paws up (214 guests, full board rates)
what accommodations were you in?
forgot it was 37K acres, but how much is the cattle ranch?
Missoula airport - same as >
- triple creek ranch (57 guests, min age 16, incl alcohol)
- ranch at rock creek (93 guests)

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ranch at rock creek is R&C along with >
- http://www.homeranch.com/ (56 guests)

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- three forks ranch (58 guests? incl alcohol) has dropped rates and added cabins
- broadmoor emerald valley ranch (34 guest, all-inclusive) http://www.southsidebusiness.com/southside/index.php/704-broadmoor-ranch-at-emerald-valley-colorado-springs

I was in the one bdrm Big Timber house - very comfortable, cozy (some good representative photos on the website - theresortatpawsup.com)

The whole place is the cattle ranch - the houses and tents are scattered in various places. Cattle and some elk and other creatures all around.

Rocking Horse Ranch. It's about 100 miles from LGA or JFK, but every family I know who's been there has had a blast. I would say your kids are right in the "sweet spot" for that place.

what kind of horseback riding are you talking about?
Well it's kind of philosophical thing, but the good riding ranches are usually distinguished by being nice but pretty spartan, have good horses, most guests are experienced riders, most guests ride at least 5 hours every day, a lot of loping, the ability to go on long rides (20+ miles), Wrangler and Carhartt clothing, no cashmere, cowboy hats not riding helmets, no one riding in running shoes or hiking boots.


scenery at amangiri is pretty incredible

Hope to get there this fall.


im always interested in luxury properties that have huge acreage, with activities onsite. elk mountain resort bordered government land,
There are quite a few ranches bordering on government land.

it would be great to eventually see more aman like that, like amangiri.

+1

Heard good things about: http://www.devilsthumbranch.com/ . More western/ranchy than aman and a different price point.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Finally decided on the Ranch at Rock Creek

http://www.theranchatrockcreek.com/

Make sure they let the under 8 kids ride outside a pen (or at least have a schedule of activities for them). Many US ranches do not for liability reasons and it is a shame to go to a dude ranch and babysit the kids - or have them just be in the pool.

I have heard very good things about this place from friends:

http://www.flatheadlakelodge.com/

It is very convenient to the airport in Kalispell (FCA). A mid to late July visit would be ideal with beautiful weather and long days.