Although cactus-studded deserts and Rocky Mountain peaks dominate the views from most ranches, you also can get a taste of the Old West out East. In New York's Hudson Valley, for instance, Roseland Ranch is a sprawling retreat attracting families from Florida to Canada. Many clans choose the ranch as a meeting point for family reunions, said owner Chickie Fichera. Located at the foot of the Berkshires, about 20 miles northeast of Poughkeepsie, Roseland is the only ranch in the area with unlimited horseback riding. And at Pinegrove Dude Ranch, west of Poughkeepsie, the Tarantino family has been welcoming city slickers for 31 years.
Guests can even watch or participate in a cattle drive.
In western North Carolina, Clear Creek Ranch is nestled in a quiet valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounded by Pisgah National Forest. With log buildings furnished in Western decor, Clear Creek is a new ranch and features a heated pool, hot tub, children's activities, petting zoo and fishing pond. In the Feather River country of Northern California, Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch offers trail rides for ages 7 and older in Plumas National Forest. For children younger than 7, the Wee Wranglers program organizes hikes, kite flying and cookie baking. Idaho's Moose Creek Ranch also caters to families, offering an all-day schedule of activities built around a theme.