We recently came back from an all inclusive vacation to Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland, NY and let me tell you – my heart is full! A combination of creating family memories, the amazing staff, and wonderful experiences has our entire family wanting to go back.

I’m going to be honest, what we think of as “family camp” isn’t usually up our alley and we don’t want the stress of going from activity to activity on a vacation. Yes, I realize this makes no sense because we go to Disney all the time, but trust me, mentally this was a different animal for us. Boy were we WRONG! Rocking Horse Ranch gave us everything we needed for a fantastic getaway and checked all the boxes for a successful family vacation. To put in perspective, our kids are 12, 10, 8, and 5 and there was more than enough for everyone to do!

Let’s talk FOOD: Ok “family friendly” you’re probably thinking oh the food is basic… NOPE! You know how sometimes you go to a place where the dining area smells like a cafeteria? That is a big turnoff for me and I can happily say the dining room at RHR was not only beautiful, but most definitely did NOT smell like a cafeteria. I want to go back for all of it, but especially for the butternut squash soup I had with dinner and the brisket with lunch….YUM!

Here are some details you might want to be aware of:

• Check in time is 4:30pm and they request that you arrive no earlier than 1:00pm. When you arrive you will sign up for the pool and horseback riding. Do not wait to do this if you want some specific times! Pro tip – we did dinner at 5:30pm, pool from 7:00pm – 8:15pm, showered everyone up and went to the 9:15pm show – PERFECT TIMING!
• Your meals are included starting with dinner on your arrival day and breakfast and lunch on your departure day.
• You can purchase lunch on your arrival day for $20 per person or bring your own.
• Breakfast and lunch are buffet style (served by RHR staff) and dinner is waiter service. Please note that alcohol is not included, but want to hear something amazing? You can bring your own to dinner (or purchase there if you didn’t plan ahead).
• Due to Covid, the resort is currently booking at 50% capacity. You are guaranteed one horseback ride and must make a reservation for both that and your pool times.

Let’s talk MONEY: The price point can be a bit of a sticker shock, but you have to think about everything you’re getting. I sat down and figured out if we went to another place and paid for everything a la carte it would wind up being more in the end. You pay for the activities ahead of time so taking advantage of all RHR has to offer is the name of the game!

Let’s talk about WHAT’S INCLUDED: If your kids have never skied or are beginners this is the perfect spot to give it a try. The ski shop is so efficient your kids will be fitted and ready to ski in under 10 minutes. EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED – you are not paying for ski rentals, lift tickets, or individual instruction. This is a huge savings especially for bigger families!

Winter highlights include skiing, tubing, and ice skating. Summer highlights are all water activities like the banana boat, fishing, and kayaking. When skiing and tubing are retired for the season they convert over to the mountain tubing, which is incredibly perfect for both the “in-between” seasons and the summer, along with bungee trampoline jump and a rock climbing wall.

With every stay you are guaranteed a horseback ride, no matter the season, and if your little ones are not 7 years old or 48″ tall you can take advantage of the pony rides instead. There is an exotic wildlife exhibit, archery, shooting range, daily chef’s tasting, arcade, and nightly entertainment. We were laughing so hard I had tears from the skinny German juggler… seriously – he was hysterical and I want to go back just for his act!

Let’s talk POOL: If your kids are anything like mine you could take them to a Holiday Inn with an indoor pool and they’d be happy. But the pool at RHR had them feeling like they won the powerball…and to be honest I did too! RHR has a beautiful indoor pool, a splash area for the littles, a twisty slide, and my personal favorite, an outdoor hot pool called Eldorado Hot Springs! Another pro tip – bring a hat and fill your yeti with a choice beverage for this portion of the vacation.

Let’s talk STAFF: I have a major issue with unfriendly staff. Like, zero tolerance for it. I’m going to tell you – EVERYONE who works here was friendly, answered questions with a smile, and made you feel welcome. I cannot stress this enough. You know we have a Disney standard when it comes to customer service and RHR had us feeling that family business-run love!

Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall…all ya got to do is call…your local ETFT agent…and like James Taylor, you’ve got a friend! Ok sorry, couldn’t control myself to not burst out in song. Anyway, don’t delay and plan your Rocking Horse Ranch vacation today. This is a perfect getaway especially if you’re not interested in flying at the moment.

We hope you have a “rockin” good time!

by Ellen Volpe – co-owner of ET Family Travel