What is the purpose of your vacation? Is it to sit on an overcrowded beach, pay a small fortune for tickets to an amusement park, and snap a few photos to post online? Or, is the point of a getaway to actually refresh yourself and come home feeling renewed and invigorated? This is where dude ranch vacations come in.
More and more people are asking themselves these questions. And increasingly, they are figuring out that the best way to relax is to take on a new challenge. That’s why our dude ranch vacations, specifically at a working ranch – ones that let visitors live the cowboy lifestyle for a week at a time – are gaining in popularity.
Why would you want to spend your precious time off moving cattle or feeding horses? Here are a few things you might want to consider…
Not All Work is “Work”
Working on a Colorado dude ranch isn’t like putting in time at an office, or taking care of clients. Instead, you’ll get to do fun “work” like attending to cattle, learning basic veterinary care for horses, and tending to grasslands that are being preserved. None of these would really qualify as “work” in the way most of us have become used to. There’s no daily grind, or pressure to deliver to someone else’s expectations. Just the self-satisfaction of doing something physically demanding or learning a new skill.
Probably the best analogy would be to compare the time you spend “working” on a dude ranch to the hours you would put into a recreational sports league or another hobby. You might be working towards a goal, but you’re doing it for personal enjoyment.
Activity Can Lead to Restoration
We’ll let you in on a little secret: spending a week “relaxing” on a beach isn’t always the best way to unwind. It typically takes the average vacationer three or four days just to stop thinking about the things they were obsessing about when they left home. And, the minor aggravations of being at a tourist trap (not to mention sunburns, long lines, and high prices) can really put a damper on your great mood.
On the other hand, staying active and working with nature immediately takes you out of your existing frame of mind. It points your brain in a new direction, which is both stress-relieving and great for your sense of perspective. In this way, being “busy” with the right things can actually be more restorative than sitting around and drinking sugary drinks.
You’ll Have Unique Experiences
The other great thing about staying active on a Colorado dude ranch is that you’ll build skills and memories that will last a lifetime. While theme parks and resorts can be great, they all tend to be very similar. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.
On dude ranch vacations, every day is different. The weather, the people, and the challenges of working with animals and nature all come together to give you a sense of adventure and unpredictability. You won’t get tired of “working” with us because there is always something new to try and explore.
The appeal of a “relaxing” vacation is obvious, especially when you’ve been tired and stressed. But, if you really want to unwind and help your mind or body to rejuvenate, consider taking a “working” break with us instead!
