THIS summer, consider visiting one of B.C.'s guest ranches for a chance to get up close and personal with horses and the great outdoors.
Stacey Briggs, who grew up in North Vancouver's Capilano Highlands, has been spending time at Sundance Guest Ranch in Ashcroft, B.C., since she was a kid. She has now included her daughter Anni in that tradition.
She says kids living in the city don't get a lot of opportunities to get out in nature, but at the ranch, the landscape is amazing and it's quite different.
"A four-hour drive and you're in the arid desert," says Briggs.
After arriving at the familyrun ranch, guests are welcomed like old friends, according to Briggs. The kids run off to play together and there's no real reason to worry about them, she says. The highlight of visiting the ranch is going for trail rides twice a day. Each last a couple of hours.
"You really get up to some amazing spots," says Briggs.
Sundance is home to more than 100 horses, so finding one to match anyone's skill level is not a problem, she adds. The group rides are also separated into beginner, intermediate and advanced. Aside from riding, there's plenty of other entertainment at the ranch, including a swimming pool, games room, street hockey court, movie lounge and an adult lounge featuring Saturday night dances. A chef provides three meals a day, and kids have their own mealtime, which makes it easy for them to get to know each other, says Briggs.
"Halfway through the first day they've all made friends," she says, adding if kids want they can sleep in their own bunkhouse.
"Anni and her friends love doing that, because they're still close to you and they have some independence."
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