Review - Rocking Horse Ranch, Highland, New York

I took my children on a long weekend trip to Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland, New York, just 90 minutes from New York City. Rocking Horse Ranch is an all inclusive dude ranch. I was very impressed, We stayed in the main hotel which made it easy for my children to have the freedom to go where they wanted. My children had the best time and so did I.

The activities were endless from morning until night, at the end of the day my children were so tired they went right to sleep. The grounds are beautiful, surrounded by mountains, and the rooms were spacious and clean.
The main activity to do at the ranch of course is horseback riding! It is a dude ranch after all!
They have three levels for your horseback riding experience, beginners, mid level and expert! Of course I was a beginner, I don't know if I'll ever do it again but at least I can say I tried. My older son absolutely loved it and was mid level by the time we left. The beginner trail had many helpers to make sure everyone stayed safe and the horses behaved. At the end of the day you can stand on the side of the ranch and watch all the horses go back to their homes. They actually stop traffic so that the horses can cross the street. The kids loved this part everyday it was like watching a parade with only horses.

Some of the other outdoor activities are horse drawn carriage rides, paddle boats, fishing, toasting marshmallows by the bon fire while a cowboy sings. Outdoor sports activities includes baseball, tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, mini golf, and wall climbing. Their is no need to bring any sports equipment the ranch has a full supply of everything you need.

Indoor activities include video games, movie night, ice cream parties, nightly entertainment, indoor pool with fountains and geysers. My kids enjoyed the pie eating contest, they weren't allowed to use their hands!
The food at the ranch was very good. Breakfast and Lunch consisted of an all you can eat buffet and Dinner was table service with your choice of three entrees. You had to make a reservation for dinner at the time that you wanted to eat, as their were two different times for dinner. You end up sharing your table with other families unless you have enough in your group to get a whole table to yourself. This is good because you ended up meeting some nice people.

Their are planned activities throughout the day, you just get the schedule and pick what you would like to do. Some activities are scavenger hunts and bingo. Their is a very large game room which included Ping pong and Volleyball. The nightly entertainment while we were there was a magic show and my son actually got to go on stage. Their is also Adult Entertainment like a Disco or Comedy Club while your children are enjoying movie night or some party.

They also have Summer and Winter activities which I definitely plan to go back and try everything.
Summer activities include two outdoor pools with a water slide and water skiing. Winter activities include snow tubing and skiing and ice skating.

The price is a little on the expensive side, but I think it is well worth it, for all you get to enjoy. If you were to go somewhere else and had to pay for all your meals and activities you would definitely spend more. When we arrived there, I told my kids I am not spending anymore money, that their is more than enough to keep them busy with whats included. They brought their own money for souvenirs from the gift shop and that was it!

The staff at the Rocking Horse Ranch were all very nice and accommodating and made sure this family had an excellent time when they needed it the most. I would highly recommend you putting on your boots and heading over to Rocking Horse Ranch! America Favorite Family Resort!