What you've always dreamed about in a Western Vacation

As I drove through the breathtaking Colorado Rocky Mountains I couldn't help but wonder what my experience at the Cherokee Park Guest Ranch was going to be like. Christine Prince, the owner/operator of the ranch had called me inviting me to come out for a real life dude ranch experience. As Christine and I talked over the idea, she thought it may be great to experience the ranch first hand, like any other dude would, although I am not a dude. Therefore, I would come to the ranch and experience this adventure without anyone knowing that I am a fairly good rider and an equestrian writer/photographer, while pretending to be a dude. How fun I thought.

When I arrived at the picturesque lodge and as I pulled up to front, I noticed there was a young woman standing on the front porch waiting for me. I was very impressed when she came to the window of my SUV and said "you must be Janine". Gosh, she even knew my name how impressive - I found out later I was the last to arrive therefore it would have been easy to figure out the only name left on the list and the last arriver would be me - oh well.

She told me to leave my vehicle where it was and someone would take care of it for me while she gave me a tour of the facilities. My introduction to the ranch was of the gorgeous one hundred year old lodge, stately in its presentation with its double-decker front porches, both lined with wooden high-back rockers covered with red checked gingham seats.

The interior of the gorgeous lodge was even more impressive as we seemed to step back in time - right into the Old West. I could feel my mood change and I even heard the jingle of my spurs ring out as I walked across the wooden floor - I wonder if anyone noticed I wasn't wearing any spurs - but, if I had been, they certainly could have. How refreshing, to feel like a real cowgirl.

Cherokee Park Ranch is owned and operated by the Prince Family - Dr. Mark D. (alias Dicky) and his wife Christine, their children Thomas, Elyse, and the twins Townsend and Emily. It's extremely easy to see that this family loves what they do.

A question that may come to mind, with the family's obvious Tennessean accent, is what brought them all the way out here to eastern Colorado. "Well, that's easy," explains Christine, "we came out here to the ranch on a family vacation and fell in love with the place so, we bought it."

Talk about "a well oiled machine" there is none finer than the wrangler team here at this fun-kickin' ranch. Whether you are a novice rider trying on a saddle for your first time or a well seasoned horseman, Cherokee Park Ranch has just the right horse for you.

A match is readily available from the beautiful and well trained selection of horseflesh, as they say here in the west - your steed a waits.

The first priority of the ranch is of course for everyone's safety, then running a very close second is having fun. Therefore, safe fun is definitely the name of the game for this crew of delightful wranglers. Whether your preference is a pretty smile on the face of a beautiful cowgirl or a handsome rugged cowboy to guide you along the trail you'll certainly find him or her right here at the ranch.

The rest of the staff, here at Cherokee Park, is a charming mixture of talent, charisma, intelligence and down-home finesse that makes for a lifetime of memories. The excellence and professionalism exudes from everyone as they enjoy making your vacation the best one possible. Whether you are enjoying a sing-a-long around a roaring campfire, a toe-tapping night at the hoe-down, a raft trip down the river or you may be enjoying a candlelight dinner while the kids enjoy a night of fun in a tee-pee. The fun and adventure never stop around here.

The most popular activity of the ranch is the horseback riding, as young-ins and the not so young-ins arrive at the stable wide eyed and full of excitement. What a thrill it is to be a cowboy/cowgirl on your very own western steed. To canter through spectacular scenery rivals anything they have ever dreamed of or seen in any picture or western film. The trails are endless and the scenery is spectacular. If having the "Western" experience is what you are after, then this is certainly the place to come for your dream of a lifetime vacation. Happy trails cowboys and cowgirls, happy trails. - Janine

P.S. When you go to Cherokee Park, don't tell anyone that I wasn't a dude, thanks.

Janine is the author of, WESTERN HORSEMAN's Trail Riding: A comprehensive guide to enjoying your horse outdoors, she is also an international freelance equestrian writer and photographer, the founder of her new project "Beyond Natural Horsemanship ("a lecturer and clinician, a Trail Horse Behaviorist, expert in trail riding, horse camping, and traveling with horses, and a Long Rider - founding member of The Long Rider's Guild. Web site - www.horsetravels.com.