Valentine's Day can be less than fun when you're single, what with couples going all gooey-eyed over each other, your loved-up friends rambling on about their Valentine's Day plans and people asking what you're doing for the big day. You could bury your face in the sand for a few days until it's all over - or you could celebrate being single and jet off for a last-minute vacation to escape the fuss! There's still time to book yourself a Top50 dude ranch vacation for the Valentine's week - after all, there's no better place for lone travelers to take vacation than a western ranch.
You'll never feel alone on a dude ranch vacation
Dude ranch vacations are a wonderful way to meet new people and whether you visit a luxury dude ranch, authentic guest ranch or real working ranch, you will never feel lonely. The unique welcoming and inclusive environment that only dude ranch vacations can provide means you will feel like part of the family and make life-long friends - horses included! The welcoming atmosphere is extended through all ranch activities, from camp-outs and cattle drives to mealtimes, where, on many of the smaller and more intimate ranches, everyone dines together family-style around the dining table.
Women in particular are often worried about the safety of traveling alone, but dude ranch vacations offer a totally safe environment for single travelers, and with all the freedom to access remote wilderness that non-ranch resorts can't offer. Explore remote landscapes and untamed wilderness on horseback, on foot, by boat or mountain bike, whether it's with other guests, by yourself or with an experienced guide.
Or maybe you're looking for a bit of holiday romance on your dude ranch vacation? With many other ranch guests often fellow singles travelling alone, you could just find love in time for Valentine's Day!
Top50 Ranches' Top 10 Dude Ranch Vacations for Singles
1 Echo Valley Ranch and Spa, British Columbia, Canada - With top-notch spa facilities, this is THE ranch to visit if you want some pampering and 'you' time
2 C Lazy U Ranch, Colorado, USA
Julie Goodnight women's clinic at C Lazy U
OK, so it might not quite coincide with Valentine's Day but that doesn't mean you can't treat yourself to a ranch vaca later on in the year - visit May, September or October 2012 and book the Julie Goodnight riding and yoga retreat for women, a true escape from the stresses of everyday life. Learn how to be your horse’s leader and master your equestrian skills through understanding horse behavior from top trainer Julie Goodnight, plus enjoy Anusara yoga from instructor Ellen Mesaros and indulge at the “Lazy U” spa for world-class massages, facials and more. Not wanting to exclude the singles guys out there, C Lazy U's new Stargazing & Science Learning Getaway is perfect for both male and female singletons, with nature hikes led by a resident biologist and geologist and nightly lectures from the resident astronomer, where guests can view the wonders of the cosmos.
3 Rowse's 1+1 Ranch, Nebraska, USA - Authentic western hospitality and the chance to ride alongside real cowboys on real cattle drives at this detail-oriented working ranch
4 Badger Creek Ranch - Taking just 6 guests at any one time, this working ranch welcomes you to share in their lifestyle: you'll feel like part of the family
5 Burnt Well Guest Ranch - A real working cattle operation where you can get to play cowboy alongside the wranglers - you'll be so busy horseback riding and getting involved in real ranch work, you won't have time to feel lonely
6 Estancia Ranquilco, Neuquen, Argentina - Take a 7-day pack trip into the mountains with a small group of guests and expeirenced guide T.A - an adventure worth traveling alone for!
7 Tod Mountain Ranch, British Columbia, Canada - Tod Mountain is one of the few Canada guest ranches not to charge single supplements for its cabin accommodations, so you can enjoy the whole cabin to yourself at no extra cost.
8 Snowy River Horseback Adventure, Australia - Australia is a lone traveler's haven and this down-under ranch fits right in, offering adult-focused horse treks across breathtaking Snowy River countryside
9 Sugar and Spice Ranch, Texas, USA - Single moms can bring their daughters with them on vaca, for a bonding experience alongside other moms and daughters
10 Rancho Las Cascadas, Mexico - A small, luxury ranch offering guided and unguided horseback rides, cultural tours and European-style pampering
For more information on all of Top50's ranches perfect for singles, visit Top50Ranches.com