After finishing up in Durham, and before moving onto my next long-term stay, I took a week of vacation in mid-February 2022. As a kid my parents and I spent Christmas at a dude ranch in Tucson, AZ for about 8 years straight, the White Stallion Ranch. We went with a big group of friends every year and had the best time. As the kids grew up we all took a break, but before the pandemic hit we decided to do a 10-year reunion trip. Sadly with Rona we had to re-schedule twice, but third times a charm right?
In February we made our way out west to finally reunite! My dog (and my car full of stuff) stayed at my aunt’s house in Durham, and I took a plane for the first time in a while. Upon arriving at the White Stallion we all discovered that this all-inclusive family resort had gotten some serious upgrades in the past decade. Where our primary activities used to just be horseback riding and playing endless games of pool, now there was hiking, rock climbing, a shooting range, e-bike tours, an expanded spa, and a whole lot more. (This is not a sponsored post, I have just loved this place since I was a kid and finding out it got all these pretty cool upgrades was a fun surprise for us all!)
Happy hour is always better with a prickly pear marg
All in all, we had a great week re-connecting with some old friends, drinking in the beautiful scenery, and doing our best to be proper cowgirls & cowboys. What a fun place, if you have kids or a group of friends, I HIGHLY recommend checking this place out. It’s a trip you’ll never forget.
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Bonus round: As a kid 10 years ago I wasn’t vegetarian. But now that I’m vegan I was a weeee bit worried to be traveling to a spot known for it’s weekly BBQ cookouts. However, the kitchen is full of pros. They are an all-inclusive place so you get all of your meals family style. I just communicated with them and every day I was given some vegan-friendly options for what I wanted to eat. They were so lovely about it, if you have dietary restrictions or especially food allergies, they are super on it so don’t worry, they will take care of you!
Thanks for checking out the White Stallion with me. Let me know in the comments below if this looks like a place you might like to visit and want any more info. I would love to share more!
~ Happy traveling, V ~
Photo note: all photos taken with a 1st gen iPhone SE