A dude ranch is an excellent idea for your family’s vacation if you want to enjoy some memorable outdoor experiences. It offers your family various outdoor activities, including hiking, fly fishing, and horseback riding. Nevertheless, getting ready for a dude ranch might be a challenge if it’s your first time.
What to pack for a dude ranch vacation depends on several things. Number one is the size of your family, the number of days you will be away, and the activities you will engage in during your vacation.
Additionally, you need to consider the weather because it determines the clothes you will pack.
Is it time to take your whole family for a dude ranch vacation, and you don’t know how to pack? In this blog post, I shall guide you on how to go about it.
Also, I will share some essential packing tips and the benefits of taking your family for a dude ranch vacation.
Things To Consider When Packing For a Dude Ranch Vacation
If you want the best for your family, how you prepare for a vacation has a huge role to play in how successful the trip is.
As mentioned above, several things will guide you on how to pack for a whole family when it’s time to step out into the woods, and here are some of them.
Dude Ranch Location And Weather
The location you choose for your vacation is critical in helping you pack properly. Most ranches are found in remote areas around mountains, prairies, and rivers. These places demand you pack the right types of clothes and shoes, among other items.
For instance, if you are going to a dude ranch in the mountains, you will need to pack warm clothes like a wind-resistant jacket, warm pajamas, and some pairs of long and warm woolen socks. This is because mountainous areas can be windy, rainy, and cold, even in the summer.
You don’t want your loved ones to come back from the vacation only remembering being cold the whole time.
The Size Of Your Family
This is another factor that you need to consider. How many are you? Packing for a dude vacation becomes easy when you consider your family size. You will pack clothes and other essentials enough for every family member.
Try making a list of the specific items you need for each family member. Getting to the dude vacation ranch to find out that you forgot diapers for your 3-year-old daughter can be frustrating.
The Number Of Days You Will Be Away
Thinking of the time you plan to be away with your family will also inform how you pack. Pack the things that you need for those days without bringing too much excess.
For example, if you’re going to be there for five days, bring each family member at least 7 outfits (a couple are bound to need changing more than once a day!).
But don’t overdo it by bringing 10 outfits each. Some items can be reworn without washing if need be. You’re at a ranch, after all!
This will save you from carrying heavy suitcases only to come back and realize there were things you didn’t need during the vacation.
Essential Tips On How To Pack For A Dude Ranch Vacation
Have a Packing List
Once you know where your vacation will be taking place and for how long, a packing list should be the first thing to come up with.
Technology has brought some online packing tools that guide people when packing, and this can be a great starting point.
However, a hard copy of the list would be ideal because you can keep it close to your suitcases and mark your things as they go into the bag.
This way, you will be able to circle any missing items, most of which are things like iPhones, chargers, and headphones that you can only pack at the last minute.
Pack Gear/Clothes For The Activities You Will Participate In
If you’re horseback riding, you must have blue jeans, and good boots are a good idea. If you’re going hiking, lightweight hiking pants are a must. If you’re joining the weekly square dance, bring a flowy skirt and pack a checked button-down for the hubby.
Find out what the activities offered at your ranch include, and make a list of the items you and each family member will need for those activities.
Don’t Pack Your Clothes By Person But By Day
Packing for a dude ranch vacation by day is another incredible tip that will help you. Packing by day means you pack every family member’s clothes for each day you will be away.
This makes it easy for everyone to get their clothes each day without digging into their suitcases.
This tip will work perfectly if you use packing cubes since you will avoid mixing dirty clothes and clean ones.
Pack In Advance
Packing is not easy, and many people keep on procrastinating. Commit to packing everything your family will need for the vacation three or four days before the traveling day.
You will be more organized and avoid the stress of packing for a whole family in a hurry.
Avoid Bringing Shoes That Are Not Practical
Shoes might weigh your suitcase down since they are bulky, but if you are traveling for a long distance, consider wearing light shoes.
You don’t want to begin your vacation with painful and swollen feet, so pack the boots and wear the sneakers.
Since this is a ranch vacation, make sure each family member has a sturdy pair of boots. Other than that, maybe a pair of sandals or sneakers, but limit the shoe selection to this only. No, no you don’t need to bring those strappy high-heels.
Go Beyond Clothes And Toiletries
One common mistake that people make when going on a vacation is to pay more attention to toiletries and clothes, and neglect the other items.
It is wise that you ensure you have everything you will need for the break, especially those you use daily. However, this depends on the location of your vacation.
For instance, you should not forget medications if you are on any. Carrying cash is also important because not all places have credit card services.
And of course don’t forget camera and phone chargers, etc.
Carry A Linen Blanket
When on your ranch vacation you may want to sit out by the campfire, or sit and watch the stars. A Linen blanket will come in handy in keeping you warm in such times.
Also, if you will be attending church and didn’t carry a skirt from home, you can use the blanket as a skirt if shorts are not allowed.
Don’t Forget The Sun Protection
Going for a dude ranch vacation means you will be spending long days outdoors. You will therefore need to carry some essentials for your outdoor recreation.
These items include hats for all the family members, sunscreen, sunglasses, swim goggles, and lip balm, among other items.
If you are going to a place where the weather is cold, don’t forget to carry gloves, wool hats, and hand warmers.
What Benefits Does a Dude Ranch Vacation Offer To Your Family?
Living a monotonous life can be boring, and sometimes it’s good to go away and get a break from the office or school. You might not be overwhelmed as a person, but your family may need a break from their struggles.
If you wonder why the idea of a dude ranch vacation is good, here is what your family stands to gain.
Immersive Experience
Besides the many activities your family will engage in, a dude ranch vacation offers an immersive experience. You get to connect with nature and disconnect from any stress from the town life as you explore the hills, and streams of water, and walk through the green spaces.
It brings the hustle of life to a quieter pace and gives you a chance to relax and refresh. Additionally, a vacation can change the perception each of you has about various aspects of life.
Besides, the change of pace opens up your mind, and you get ideas that you never had and a few skills and memories to carry with you.
Making New Friends
A dude ranch vacation also offers you an opportunity to meet different people who might turn out to be friends. As you spend a day or two with them hiking or trail riding, you get to know who they are.
As a result, you can get to know their culture and learn something different from them since they may come from different parts of the world, and undoubtedly have had different experiences.
Besides, your kids will also have a better chance of making new friends. A tip for this is to call the ranch in advance and find out who is already booked, the number of families, and the kids’ ages.
A Package Of Challenges
There is no better place for the whole family to try something new than on a dude ranch. There are many activities to involve yourselves in, and in the process, you will find out where each person’s strength is.
Additionally, it gives you a chance to try new things as you see other people doing them.
For instance, you may not have participated in a race, but you like the idea of it. So, as you see older women racing and competing with their husbands, you will be challenged to do so.
This applies to every family member, and you may be surprised to know that your 8-year-old son can quickly climb to the top of a tree, or maybe your teenage daughter is good at barrel racing!
Enjoy New And Good Food
Who doesn’t enjoy the taste of freshly cooked food amidst the woods? Dude ranches are known for giving their guests delicious foods to make their getaway more special.
As you plan for a vacation on a dude ranch, you can be sure to have a taste of some of the tastiest delicacies that your family has ever tasted.
Time To Bond
Regardless of how busy your life is, a vacation is essential for your family. You all deserve an excellent away-from-home time to bond, get to know each other well, and learn what’s been going on in each person’s life.
Vacations are great for bringing families together, and you can be sure to have everyone thanking you for planning the vacation.