7 Day All-Inclusive Luxurious Winter Ranch Vacation in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Facilities

Program

Another element of the winter program is the horses. Whether you are coming with the focus of the top-notch riding program or just want to ride a little to take a break from skiing, Vista Verde will get you in the saddle, having fun and learning.

Trail rides

You will be sitting astride one of the horses resplendent in their warm, thick winter coat is also an experience not to be missed. It’s a lot different than riding on summertime trails, with the blanket of fresh snow under the horses’ hooves!

The staff will keep a few trails around the ranch packed down during the winter. Because of the snow, and the colder weather, they will keep the rides to a slower pace and only go out for an hour or so. Whether you ride on a warm, sunny day or on a day when the snow is falling gently on you, it’s an experience not to be missed!

Horsemanship clinics and lessons

For those looking for a more in-depth riding experience, the ranch offers riding in the indoor arena each day. Here, you’ll be able to learn how to communicate better with your horse and improve your riding skills. The ranch’s full-sized and heated indoor riding arena is the reason this can all happen at Vista Verde. The Indoor facilities include stalls, grooming areas, and a large tack room so you can enjoy all aspects of horse care in comfort.

Sleigh rides

It just wouldn’t be right to spend time in a winter wonderland without singing a line or two of “jingle bells.” Furthermore, you can do just that when you head out on the “one-horse open sleigh” around the ranch. However, if you would like, you will hop on the big sleigh pulled by the team of Percherons and help the wranglers feed the resident herd of horses each day. Either way, it’s a wonderful winter experience while the horses do all the work.

Quality horses and in-depth instruction

The Vista Verde riding program has helped the guests far exceed their expectations in regards to how much they can learn in a week. From both demonstrating what the trainers will be teaching the young horses to help you learn how to better communicate with your own horse during one of the many clinics, you might find that you never want to leave the arena because you’re having too much fun!

Everyday, the ranch will offer a clinic or horseback experience that can be great learning experiences for novices and experts alike. The training staff has developed a variety of different clinics to explore the different aspects of horsemanship, and they are suitable for all riding levels.

Kids program

A family snow vacation at Vista Verde means quality time together, sharing new experiences, creating memories, but also some time for mom and dad to relax and recharge on their own. The engaging kid's program will be for children 6 - 12 years old and the staff will wear them out. From tubing to riding horses to snowshoeing to just playing in the snow, the organizer will get them outside and keep them going all day long.

Each day brings a new adventure for the kids and they can run on over to the Kids Hut to meet up with the Kid Wranglers for the morning after having breakfast with you. After a fun-filled morning, they will meet up with you again for lunch and then off they will go again until later in the afternoon. Although Vista Verde do encourage families to participate in activities together, they know the allure of the fun to be had with the other kids is a strong pull. But, what a great problem to have!

Some evenings will be spent together as a family with casual meals and evening programs. On other evenings, the organizer will have what they call a “formal dinner” for the adults and the “Dine 'n Dash” dinner for the kids. Parents can enjoy a quiet meal with a nice glass of wine and other adult conversation while the kids have a quicker, more kid-friendly dinner and then head off for a fun activity.

Teens are welcome to join the kid's program any day, and for any of the “Dine ‘n Dash” meals. There is not a formal teen program during the winter months but the staff will invite them into the fun whether with the adults or the kids.

Other activities

• Culinary classes
• Fat biking
• Photography
• Skiing
• Snow tubing
• Snowshoeing
• Yoga

Daily schedule

Sunday

• 07:30 Continental breakfast
• 08:00 Hot breakfast
• Horsemanship clinic or Nordic ski clinic
• Lunch
• Glide, ride or slide, or cooking class
• 18:00 Happy half-hour in the great room
• Casual dinner with the staff
• Game night

Monday

• 07:30 Continental breakfast
• 08:00 Hot breakfast
• Horsemanship clinic
• Lunch with the staff
• Town trip
• All levels yoga class or leatherworking
• 18:00 Happy half-hour in the great room
• "Formal" dinner

Tuesday

• 07:30 Continental breakfast
• 08:00 Hot breakfast
• Horsemanship clinic or brown bag ski / snowshoe
• Lunch
• Colt training or wine tasting
• 18:00 Happy half-hour in the great room
• Casual dinner with the staff
• Dance night

Wednesday

• 07:00 Pilates
• 07:30 Continental breakfast
• 08:00 Hot breakfast
• Horsemanship clinic or Nordic ski clinic
• 12:30 Lunch with the staff
• 13:30 Town Trip
• Glide, ride or slide or Restorative yoga
• 18:00 Happy half-hour in the great room
• "Formal" dinner

Thursday

• 07:30 Continental breakfast
• 08:00 Hot breakfast
• Horsemanship clinic or brown bag ski / snowshoe
• Lunch
• Colt training or wine tasting
• 18:00 Happy half-hour in the great room
• Casual dinner with the staff
• Music show

Friday

• 07:30 Continental breakfast
• 08:00 Hot breakfast
• Horsemanship clinic
• Lunch with the staff
• Town trip
• Glide, ride or slide, or Nordic ski clinic
• 18:00 Happy half-hour in the great room
• "Formal" dinner with wine pairings

Saturday

• 07:30 Continental breakfast
• 08:00 Hot breakfast
• Horsemanship clinic or brown bag ski / snowshoe
• Lunch with the staff
• Colt training or all levels yoga
• 18:00 Happy half-hour in the great room
• "Formal" dinner with wine pairings

Program is not fixed, it can be changed.

This ranch vacation will take place at Vista Verde in Colorado, USA. A little bit luxury, a little bit Old West, it is a place for adventure and a place for rest. Imagine sitting by a roaring fire while the snow gently falls outside after a day of skiing, sleigh rides, and tubing. This is the epitome of a Winter Wonderland!

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During this ranch vacation, you will be served three delicious meals per day. Ranch breakfasts have a reputation to live up to. This is the meal when the ranchers stock up for the day on hearty fare that will keep them going however hard they work.

The breakfasts will reflect that heritage but with a little bit of fancy thrown in and an understanding that not everyone wants to partake in a heavy meal. You can keep it light with fresh fruits, berries, and homemade bread or go for it with a made to order breakfast burrito, eggs benedict or honey wheat pancakes with caramelized apples on top.

It’s a treat to come inside the lodge for lunch after an active morning out in the snow and trust Vista Verde, you will really earn your lunch in the winter! Each day a variety of salads will await you as well as homemade soups to warm you from the inside. In addition, the chefs prepare several hot entrees that can vary from simple and hearty to elegant and unique.

Dinner is the main event at Vista Verde. Throughout the week, the chefs offer several casual, family style dinners. However, the big draw will be for what it is called the “formal dinners.” The dress is anything but formal but the food will rival that of most metropolitan upscale restaurants.

These multi-course dinners are the true events here and will intentionally not rush through you. Here will be a chance for you to relax with a nice glass of wine, delightful menu choices and wonderful conversation with the other guests you will meet during your stay.

Note: The chefs are happy to accommodate special dietary needs. The ranch will send out an advance guest information form with space for you to fill out your requests and needs. Please send Vista Verde an inquiry for more information.

• Dog sledding
• Downhill skiing at Steamboat
• Hot air ballooning
• Ice climbing
• Massage
• Massage from a trained therapist
• Powder cat skiing
• Premium wines from the select list
• Shopping
• Snowmobiling

• 3 delicious meals per day
• 6 nights’ accommodation
• A weekly cooking class and a wine tasting
• A weekly photography workshop with professional photographer
• A wide assortment of wine, beer, and other beverages
• Daily kids program with trained wranglers (during holidays and family times)
• Evening entertainment some evenings (musical entertainers, movie nights, etc.)
• Fat biking
• Guided backcountry ski and snowshoe tours
• Horseback rides in the snow
• Informative horsemanship in the indoor arena
• Sleigh rides
• Transportation to and from Steamboat in ranch Suburban’s
• Tubing with snowmobiles to get you back up (it’s not just for kids!)
• Twice weekly yoga
• Use of the equipment for backcountry skiing, skate, and classic skiing, and snowshoeing
• Use of the 15 kilometers of groomed track for skate and classic skiing

• Airfare

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on departure.