Tanque Verde Ranch

I was put in charge of planning a trip for The Feline and I.

I wasn’t exactly sure what the right plan was but I guessed (correctly) that renting a bike somewhere hot and riding 500 miles a day wasn’t quite what she had in mind, so I tried to think outside the saddle. And that’s when it hit me, what about trading in the bike saddle for a different type of saddle. HAHA!!!

So I started searching for a place to go horseback riding. Bu not just anywhere: it had to be warm, have a pool, a spa (obviously), good food, and not break the bank. And thank you internet; Arizona!!

The Tanque Verde Ranch is nestled up against the Rincon Mountain Range on the outskirts of Tucson.

As opposed to some dude ranches that embrace the rustic feel, this place is almost luxurious. From the pool with the waterfall,

to the spa with enough treatments to pamper the woman in your life, to the beautiful spacious room, we never felt like we were roughing it.

They offer extras such as country cookouts, pancake breakfasts, riding lessons, episodes of The Lone Ranger poolside in the evenings, a saloon, and even tennis courts in case you travel with your togs (that word makes me feel weird).

And of course, there are horses. Tanque Verde has one of the largest dude ranch stables in the US and they’re quite careful about who they’ll let go on what rides, so in order to go on a loping ride, for example, you actually need to pass a test. You, along with a dozen or so other people, go into a corral and follow a wrangler around the fence-line. You need to gallop, stop, and then gallop again, all while showing control of your steed.

It’s a good system in theory but from what I saw the wranglers were passing people who did NOT have control of their horse (yep, talking about me and a tenacious fat kid who took the test twice a day ‘til they finally passed him), while NOT passing some people who looked pretty solid in the saddle.

And speaking of the wranglers; be prepared not to be coddled by them. Some are friendly, some not so much. This was my one pet peeve; when I pay this much money I prefer not to feel like I’m in some way inconveniencing the people who work there.

However, other than some of the wranglers needing to read Miss Manners, Tanque Verde is top notch and I’d recommend it.

If you do go, say hi to Juan at the front desk for me; he’s pretty much as nice a person as you’ll ever meet.

Tanque Verde Ranch in Arizona gets 4 out of 5 yeehaws from me. I’ll see again from somewhere else.

I came to TVR with my dad. It had been a dream of his to try out some real Western style riding for a long time, and he had finally gotten around to booking it.

We have both ridden English style back in the UK for many years, so we were a little unsure of what to expect on the riding front, but the wrangling staff are all brilliant and made us feel at home straight away. The rides were absolutely awesome, with walking rides for those of us who are a little rusty, and loping rides for the more experienced riders. Either way, the views are amazing and you can't help but love being out there. The lessons are also extremely beneficial to get you loping if you're not used to the Western style of riding.

Needless to say, the food was incredible; a lot of choice and all very tasty. The accommodation is also faultless. We were in Quail Hollow, which has a little courtyard with a fountain in the middle. This was a great place to sit and relax and watch the wildlife.

There are endless activities to do, walking, mountain biking, aqua aerobics, or even just sitting by the pool. This was a unique and amazing holiday, and I would love to go back.

We've taken dozens of family vacations over the years with family members ranging from 1 to 90 years old, mostly at luxury resorts. This is hands down the best place we have been. The room rates are a bargain, because everything is included except alcohol, sodas and some spa treatments. Included in the room rates are airport transfers, use of tennis rackets and tennis balls, all activities (including guided off-property hiking trips) and of course 3 meals a day and snacks. The food has always been decent, but recently got even better. Many rooms have spectacular views of the desert. Saguaro National Park, only steps away from the ranch, is unique in the world. Enormous cactus species blanket miles of desert, and are fully represented on the grounds of the ranch. You can't see this anywhere else in the world.

We've stayed at plenty of fancier places. (There is no TV in most rooms or room service.) But we haven't found any place more fun.

We have been to TVR many times, and will return many more.

We LOVE TVR! This was our fourth visit, and the place feels like home. Front desk reception is so welcoming! (Hi Juan!) Activities directors Melissa and Megan immediately get you into the swing of things, and make sure you have a blast.Chef Ben's Southwestern cuisine is on par with any highly rated Zagat restaurant around. Delicious, beautifully presented, paired with an excellent wine list, and served by attentive, friendly wait staff that remembers you from the year before! Try one of Lisa's margaritas at the Saloon: the best! Especially when she makes them while hulahooping! And the weekly picnics (both lunch and dinner) at the outdoor venue are not to be missed. Great steaks, music and fun. Our gorgeous room with an amazing desert vista is immaculate, comfortable and spacious. My daughter loves the kid's program SO much she's already begging me to tell them she's still 12 next year, so she can stay in it! There is hiking, mountain biking and fishing to be enjoyed. My husband shipped his road bike from NJ so as to ride some of the most iconic roads in the US. And he's back into tennis, thanks to excellent coaching by Mr. D at the courts! But as a life long equestrian and hunter-jumper rider, I go there for the western riding. Well trained horses and a talented wrangling staff make each ride unique and memorable. The Harmony with Horses program is awesome, and Lisa B tailors it to your specific riding needs. Mark, Jonathan, Mike, Rebecca, Alyssia, Caitlyn, Casey (who am I missing???) are ALL knowledgeable professionals with a knack in matching the horse to the rider, and maintaining safety and enjoyment for clients. It amazes me to read any reviews here criticizing their hard work and dedication. If youve never been on a horse, hold onto the horn and enjoy a quiet walk ride. Yes, it's the desert, so if you dont want to trust a seasoned trail horse veteran up and down a rocky mountain, walk up there instead. If you only ride occasionally, maybe some great lessons from the staff will prepare you for the loping that takes place. This is not cookie cutter, ring-only, nose to butt lope riding. Its the real thing, on a herd animal that can occasionally spook, trip, and misbehave, and that needs the wrangler's strong presence and your own good seat. I roll my eyes at those that barely ride but want to pass the lope check the moment they arrive... and then complain if they dont OR if they do and have a "bad experience". Horses are not automatons, and wranglers need to discipline and control them (as well as us:)) TVR offers the best of both worlds: a safe, quiet ride in a beautiful environment for the non-rider, and a more challenging, exciting ride for the advanced. And take some of their stellar lessons if you are in between. Cant wait to visit next year!