"I wish that road trips could pay my bills!"
I have been binge-watching the show "Yellowstone", so I thought my next bucket list should feature ranches and lodges out West. Yeehaw :). So, let's two step our way out yonder and I reckon we can check out some cool honky tonks and giddy up!
Note: I have broken these down by state with the lower priced one first.
Montana
Montana is called Big Sky for a reason. With its endless breathtaking views, stunning scenery and fantastic outdoor activities, Montana offers so many adventures for the young and old. With 37,000 acres of undeveloped land and hundreds of trails to enjoy, a visit to Montana is a must for outdoor enthusiasts.
Where to stay:
Sage Lodge
Sage Lodge is located on the banks of the Yellowstone River under 50 miles from Bozeman and just 30 minutes to the entrance of Yellowstone National Park. It is the ultimate headquarters where guests can launch a day of fly fishing, hiking, biking, hunting, cross-country skiing, and more, or just kick back and enjoy the breathtaking views. The Lodge guestrooms and Ranch Houses deliver pure Montana ambience inspired by anglers. While at the Lodge guests can also retreat to our full-service spa and The Grill for a drink and a meal cooked over an open wood-fire. It is an authentic Montana experience - complete with expansive landscapes, rolling rivers and majestic peaks. The Montana Paradise Valley cannot help but impress. And while the surroundings are peaceful, the ability to explore the outdoors awakens a strong sense of adventure.
Triple Creek Ranch
5-Star
Experience the legendary hospitality and enchanting beauty of one of the world’s best resort-hotels set in the heart of the breathtaking Bitterroot Mountain Range of the Montana Rockies. A proud member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux for over 25 years, Triple Creek Ranch offers an epicurean, all-inclusive vacation experience of refined rustic elegance, gourmet cuisine paired with an excellent wine list, and warm, welcoming, five-star service amidst the romance of a forested mountain retreat.
Nightly cabin rates are priced for two adults and include:
All meals served in the Dining Room, Rooftop Lounge and Outside Dining areas
In-Cabin Dining Delivery upon request
Snacks
Packed Breakfast or Lunch for Activities
House wine, spirits and beer
Access to all Resort Facilities and Amenities
Participation in Inclusive Ranch Activities with appropriate instruction and equipment provided
Participation in all Evening Programs
Participation in special Event Weekends and related activities
Special holiday activities for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day and 4th of July
Paws Up
The Resort at Paws Up combines luxury with unforgettable adventure on a 37000-acre ranch-that's about 60 square miles-featuring untamed Montana wilderness steeped in Lewis and Clark history. Situated on 10 miles of the legendary Blackfoot River -as featured in "A River Runs Through It", The Resort at Paws Up opened in June 2005. Paws Up boasts more than 100 miles of designated hiking, mountain biking, horse and ATV trails. Outdoor adventures include fly-fishing, cattle driving, rappelling, whitewater rafting, bird and wildlife watching and sporting clays shooting. Winter activities include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, skijoring, sleigh rides, ice skating, dogsledding and downhill skiing nearby. A vast menu of activities is available for you to choose from.
Ranch at Rock Creek
5-Star
This Forbes Travel Guide 5-Star Ranch features Luxurious accommodations, ranging from one-bedroom lodge studios to five-bedroom homes. Each is woven into the vast landscape. Western design echoes heritage more than hotel – filled with deluxe amenities, custom furniture and curated antiques. Discover your homestead away from home.
All Inclusive features:
The ranch offers all farm-to-table meals, a robust year-round outdoor activities program, and much more, based on the idea that the 6,600 acre ranch will become your playground for the length of your stay.
Utah
Utah is a state in the western United States that is known for its diverse and stunning natural scenery, its rich history and culture, and its vibrant economy and lifestyle. Utah has five national parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. These parks showcase the state’s unique geology, such as sandstone arches, hoodoos, canyons, and cliffs. There is plenty to see and do in this diverse and rugged landscape.
Where to stay:
The Lodge at Blue Sky
The Lodge at Blue Sky is a contemporary luxury resort set on a 3500-acre ranch near Park City Utah. Blue Sky is the ultimate outdoor playground offering guests transformational Western-inspired experiences year-round. The 46 accommodations in Sky House/Earth House/Creek House are designed to mirror the unique aspects of the environment on which they are situated and offer guests yet another powerful opportunity to reconnect with nature. Guests are invited to slow down and forge meaningful connections with the land/animals/people through pursuits such as horseback riding, fly fishing or hiking during the summer and skiing, snow shoeing or cross country during the winter. The iconic Auberge Spa invites reconnection with the self through indulgent treatments, yoga, guided meditation and products that feature nourishing bloom-to-bottle ingredients. Dining at Blue Sky features organic locally sourced ingredients with many grown or harvested on-site. The High West Distillery produces world-class whiskey offering guests the opportunity for tastings and tours to learn the finer points of the distillation process from grain to glass.
Note: All-Inclusive packages are available.
Sorrell River Ranch
4-Stars
Sorrel, nestled amidst the breathtaking backdrop of Moab, Utah, spans 240 acres of majestic landscapes featuring iconic arches, winding canyons, and stunning red-rock mesas.
Here, you can seize every moment with boundless adventure, embark on exciting discoveries, or simply bask in tranquil relaxation. This Moab resort accommodations not only provide the expected comforts but also offer delightful surprises, ensuring a truly unforgettable experience awaits you.
Note: You can customize your adventure based on many different menu options/activities.
Amangiri
5-Stars
Amangiri blends into 600 acres of red-rock country the last remnant of the truly wild West. This mountain of peace is cradled by the greatest concentration of national parks in the United States, a staggering otherworldly geology of slot canyons, mesas, mountains, gorges, rapids and desert where millions of years of history are woven into the rock. In this grand theatre of nature, the modernist Suites of Amangiri and the tented Pavilions of nearby Camp Sarika offer an inspiring welcome to one of the world's most dramatically secluded settings.
All stays include:
Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner for two guests per room (inclusive of non-alcoholic beverages)
In-room refreshments and non-alcoholic beverages
Daily scheduled guided group hikes
Daily scheduled group wellness classes
Access to self-guided on-property hikes
Colorado
Colorado encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains. Colorado is a beautiful state with diverse landscapes and attractions. Whether you are looking for outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, or relaxing scenery, you will find something to suit your preferences in Colorado.
Dunton Hot Springs Dunton Hot Springs - Dunton Destinations This former mining town deep in Colorado has been restored from top to bottom and offers an exquisite retreat. Log cabins and spacious tents provide delightfully comfortable rooms, meals are taken in the saloon which has retained its original character and provides a convivial gathering spot. The landscape of this splendid alpine valley- nestled in the San Juan mountains- changes with the passing seasons- from pristine white snow to flaming orange in autumn. This magnificent site's natural hot springs with their life-enhancing benefits are an added bonus.
Note: Packages and Itineraries are available with a menu of choices.
Wyoming Wyoming’s western half is covered mostly by the ranges and rangelands of the Rocky Mountains, while the eastern half of the state is high-elevation prairie called the High Plains. Wyoming is a great destination for travelers who love nature, adventure, and culture. Wyoming has many attractions that showcase its diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant arts.
Where to stay:
The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Wyoming Dude Ranch | The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch
Experience the true spirit of the American West during your all-inclusive vacation at this luxury ranch. Named a top resort in the country by Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and Forbes, Brush Creek Ranch offers an exclusive, private destination amid 30,000 pristine acres in the heart of Wyoming’s North Platte River Valley. Enjoy inclusive gourmet meals and alcoholic beverages sourced onsite from The Farm. Experience two daily activities from a vast array of year-round, authentic ranch adventures, as well as spa, wellness, and rejuvenation in nature. There’s something truly remarkable waiting to be discovered by everyone.
Note: Includes meals and alcohol and all-Inclusive activities menu
Amangani
5-Stars
Amangani is a big-sky wilderness retreat perched on a butte near Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park. Cowhide chairs, pine-stump tables and local artists work are complemented by Oklahoma sandstone columns and Pacific redwood beams. Outside the115-foot heated pool offers views across the pristine Grand Teton landscape. Home to some of the best skiing in the Rockies, Jackson Hole offers over 2471 acres of slopes for experts and beginners. Amangani's private ski lodge can also plan snowmobiling and snowshoeing and sleigh rides. Amangani sits at the threshold of adventure with hot-air ballooning, wildlife safaris, golf, hunting and horse riding. Guided treks through Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks showcase Wyoming's raw beauty. Spa offerings range from morning yoga sessions before hitting the ski slopes to relaxing reflexology after a long-days hiking. The redwood-paneled Grill Restaurant specializes in local sustainable ranch meats fresh fish and seasonal farm-to-table produce.
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States that offers a variety of attractions for travelers who love nature, culture, and history. New Mexico is known for its diverse landscapes, from the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the white sands of the desert. It is also home to many Native American tribes, Hispanic communities, and artistic expressions.
Where to stay:
Bishop's Lodge
4-Stars
The historic Santa Fe resort located in the foothills of New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo Mountains is set on over 300 acres. The resort features 96 guest rooms and suites plus 2 Casita Suites, a Healing Art Studio, a restaurant and lounge with expanded outdoor seating, an art studio/gallery, two swimming pools, Fly Fishing, stables and a trail riding, cultural and family programs and many other exciting outdoor adventures.
Vermejo
Vermejo is the jewel of northern New Mexico. This snowcapped alpine tundra features 19 fishable lakes, over 550,000 stunning acres of picturesque lands. This diverse landscape is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elk, bison, black bears, and mountain lions. Activities include riding horseback through open fields, exploring turn-of-the-century charcoal kilns, and fly fishing for Rio Grande cutthroat trout.
Summer and Fall Activities at many of the resorts:
Horseback Riding
Cattle Drives
Fly fishing, white-water rafting, Kayaking, canoeing
Hot air ballooning and helicopter tours
Biking and ATVs
Shooting and Archery
Climbing and hiking
Canyoning (Utah)
Campfires
Spa Relaxation
Winter Activities at many of the resorts:
Horseback Riding
Skiing and Snowboarding
Snowshoeing
Snowmobiling and Dog sledding
Biking and shooting
Tubing and Sleigh Rides
Hot Springs (Colorado)
What's next on your bucket list?
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