White Stallion Ranch, a luxury dude ranch and working cattle ranch in Arizona, USA, is the latest ranch to gain the Top50 accolade. One thing that really stood out for us was not just the ranch's convenient location just 35 minutes from Tuscon International Airport, but the fact that as soon as you step cowboy boot-clad foot inside the Arizona ranch, you could be a hundred miles from the 'outside world'. One reason is that White Stallion Ranch sits right alongside Saguaro National Park, with access to mile upon mile of cactus-adorned desert plains and mountain wilderness. What's more, the luxury dude ranch is nestled into the west side of the Saguaro studded mountains, where only on reaching the very top is the nearest town in sight.

Don't be fooled by the ranch's high guest capacity of 70 and luxury, resort-style facilities and amenities. This family-owned and operated 3,000-acre ranch is steeped in history, and is still a working cattle ranch alongside providing luxury and family dude ranch vacations. Brothers Russell and Michael True took over the guest ranch from their parents, who bought White Stallion in 1965, and go out of their way to get to know each and every guest taking dude ranch vacations at the ranch. This is the kind of place where people treat you like one of the family - so no wonder the Trues are renowned for their high-quality service and first-rate hospitality.

At White Stallion Ranch, it's all about the horse riding. This is the perfect family ranch vacation for parents with children able to ride, as kids aged 5 and above are, if able, welcome to join in the beautiful, scenic trail rides on the diverse riding program. Children aged 8 and above can - again, if able - even join the faster, more adventurous rides, complete with loping and trickier terrain. And if you want to ride without the kids, you must go on the adults-only "Cheese and Wine Ride" - a slower, relaxing ride to one of the ranch's most beautiful areas where you'll enjoy wine, cheese and other treats. With 140 horses, the Arizona dude ranch runs one of the largest horse herds in the state and so can match each guest with more than one perfect horse. Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced rider looking to tackle some 'real' riding, there is a horse and a trail ride for you.

Running 100 head of cattle across the ranch, White Stallion runs a hugely popular team penning program - an arena based riding activity where guests can learn the art of this tricky rodeo sport. And because you'll no doubt be hooked on rodeo by the end of the week, you'll love the weekly ranch rodeo featuring local cowboys and ranch wranglers demonstrating how the pros do it.

Not interested in riding? The guest ranch's wonderful location offers wonderful guided and unguided hiking opportunities, both through White Stallion Ranch and in the adjacent Saguaro National Park. There are also plenty of off-ranch activities to enjoy should you wish to head further afield - all made easy with the option of hiring a car direct from the ranch.

Aside from comfortable lodging and tasty meals, the luxury dude ranch boasts a heated pool with a large redwood hot tub; a fitness room with an exercise room, sauna and massage therapy; a lighted tennis court and sports court; a recreation room with a 27-seater movie theater, lots of fun games; a children’s playground and a petting zoo. Come evening, retire to the beautiful bar and hop up on one of the western-saddle bar stools for a drink with other guests - you don't have to be a rider to get in these saddles! And forget having to trek to town for souvenirs, as the ranch has its own gift shop where you can buy riding gear, gifts, travel items and lots more.

Whether you're travelling alone, with family and friends, with your partner or as part of a corporate retreat, White Stallion Ranch will give you a dude ranch vacation experience you will never forget - and want to return to year after year.

For more information on dude ranch vacations at White Stallion Ranch, visit their ranch profile at Top50Ranches.com

Cattle drive vacations don't come much better than the Lazy E-L Ranch in Montana, USA - Top50's newest addition to its family of guest ranch vacations. For the ultimate cattle drive experience, Lazy E-L Ranch offers riders of all levels the chance to experience genuine and authentic western cowboy culture, with cattle work and horseback riding at the fore of its working ranch vacations.

Just outside of Yellowstone National Park near the old cowboy town of Red Lodge, sits the 12,000-acre Lazy E-L Ranch. The 5th-generation working ranch opens its doors to guests wishing to immerse themselves in western cowboy culture, offering working ranch vacations perfectly suited to advanced riders and keen beginners alike. Taking no more than 16 guests at any one time, the working ranch offers intimate horseback riding vacations with a real personal touch. No wonder, then, that the ranch was chosen by Condé Nast Traveler as one of their Top 5 Guest Ranches in the USA.

Steeped in history, Lazy E-L has lost none of its authenticity or its working ranch practices, allowing guests taking working ranch vacations at the ranch to experience the real cowboy lifestyle – not the fabricated kind. This means getting up as early as 6am to head down to the barn to saddle your well-trained ranch horse, before heading back to the cookhouse to plan the day’s cattle work over a hearty breakfast. Each and every morning on your working ranch vacation at Lazy E-L, ride alongside real cowboys as you venture out on thrilling, fast-paced cattle drives, gathering and moving the ranch’s 3,000 head of cattle over 12,000 acres of rolling Montana ranch country to new pastures.

Riding at Lazy E-L ends after the morning cattle drive, allowing both you and your horse to recharge your batteries and relax in the peace and tranquillity of the ranch. Satisfy your appetite back at the cookhouse with a hearty, home-cooked lunch lovingly created by Chef Jesse Montenegro and his team of professionally trained cooks, then spend your afternoons however you choose – whether it’s visiting nearby Yellowstone National Park, exploring the ranch on foot or by mountain bike, fly-fishing for trout in five miles of the West Rosebud River or helping the wranglers doctor cattle. Head to the Lazy E-L Guest Ranch during one of the three Advanced Rider weeks that run throughout the year, and be treated to longer hours in the saddle – meaning even earlier starts and later lunches!

Lazy E-L might be all about the riding and specially cater for keen, advanced riders wishing to get in lots of riding and cattle work on their guest ranch vacation, but that doesn’t exclude younger family members and beginner riders. Scenic trail rides are always available, and the ranch’s team of wranglers provide a gentle, supportive hand to beginner and novice riders, as well as helping more advanced riders improve their horsemanship skills. Children will be shown the ropes and then, if willing and able, included in the morning cattle drives. Those children less interested in cattle work can enjoy arena games, scavenger hunts, horseshoes and many more non-riding activities.

For an authentic, genuine working ranch vacations with an abundance of first-rate riding and cattle work that’s beginners and advanced riders alike - as well as for family ranch vacations - it has to be the Lazy E-L Ranch. The adventure of a lifetime really does start here!

View Lazy E-L's ranch profile on Top50Ranches.com

Brush Creek Ranch’s Magee Homestead offers the ideal secluded hideaway for intimate dude ranch vacations for discerning individuals and families, as well as corporate, wedding and leisure groups.

Looking for complete privacy on your dude ranch vacation? Then enjoy the secluded and exclusive Magee Homestead at The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek – the Wyoming guest ranch’s ultra-private “Ranch within a Ranch”. Located just five miles from the main lodge at Brush Creek Ranch, Magee Homestead features a private lodge and a collection of seven historically-restored cabins in a tranquil, creek-side setting, tucked amidst rolling meadowlands and natural rock outcroppings in the heart of Wyoming cattle and ranching country. With its immaculate private lodge and dedicated staff, Magee Homestead offers the ideal secluded hideaway for intimate dude ranch vacations for the most discerning individuals and families, and is also ideal for corporate retreats, weddings and leisure groups.

Says Bruce White, owner of the luxury Wyoming guest ranch: “The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch is located in such a pristine and remote location that we felt compelled to create a place that offers true privacy and exclusivity for a select few. There very few places left in this world that provide complete privacy and luxury while still being understated and down-to-earth, and we believe Magee Homestead is the best of them.”

Much like the rest of Brush Creek Ranch, Magee Homestead has its own fascinating history. The property on which Magee Homestead sits was a cow camp and hay-producing ranch back in the early 1900s. The smaller cabins on the property, which have been renovated and turned into individual lodging cabins, were once used as housing for cowpokes. The names of each individual cabin – TZ, Elk Hollow, Burgess, Wood, Pierce, Downie and Wiant – come from the original property title work, which likely reflects the names of the original homesteaders before the Wyoming ranch was combined into one larger property.

The crowning jewel of dude ranch vacations at the Magee Homestead is the luxurious lodge. Its large, open club room offers a comfortable living area as well as a game room featuring an elegant bar with antique rifle collection. With a Steinway seven-foot grand piano, hand-carved billiards table, poker tables and two indoor fireplaces, dude ranch vacations at this secluded location are more than luxurious. There’s even a fully staffed private kitchen and dining room, serving up gourmet meals and premium beers, wine and spirits. Or why not dine outside, on the spacious outdoor dining and entertainment patio which features an outdoor fireplace and expansive views over the Wyoming guest ranch’s sweeping countryside.

Retire to luxury accommodations within seven historically-restored cabins, totalling nine bedrooms that sleeps up to 25 guests. There are sure to be fights over the three-bedroom TZ Cabin Residence, which includes a full kitchen, dining room and living area. Rest assured, however, that the other cabins are just as luxurious, all with en-suite bathrooms, plush interiors and complimentary Antica Farmistica® toiletries.

Go horseback riding direct from the Homestead

Take your dude ranch vacation at the Magee Homestead and enjoy the privacy of your own manicured lawns and a pergola with spacious outdoor hot tub. The Wyoming guest ranch even provides a private concierge to handle your every need, including scheduling activities such as horseback riding, ranger tours, float trips and more. And it’s all available direct from the Homestead – fly fishing and floating on the restored Elk Hollow Creek, a private tee pee for spa treatments, hiking and biking trails that connect to the Ranch’s 50 miles of maintained trails… Even its own private stable so you can ride out on the ranch horses without having to leave the Homestead. Dude ranch vacations at Magee also include access to the main Lodge and Spa, whether for morning yoga on Falcon Peak Overlook, or poker night at the Saloon.

Magee Homestead is available to book now, as a total package starting at $10,000 per night, with a minimum stay of four nights in peak periods and three nights in off-peak periods.

Discover more about Brush Creek Ranch at Top50Ranches.com

Dude ranch vacations don't get more unique than the Sugar and Spice Ranch, which is why their Texas dude ranch and new Wyoming dude ranch have been chosen as Top50's February Ranch of the Month.

Each month we scour our selection of dude ranch vacations and picks out one that we feel surpasses our standards of excellence - and, most importantly, offers something unique. That could be anything from ultra-luxurious facilities, to those personal touches that really make a ranch vacation, to fast-and-furious cattle drives that'll be etched in your memory forever.

Top50 has chosen Texas dude ranch Sugar and Spice, now also a Wyoming dude ranch, as February 2012 Ranch of the Month 

It’s set to be an exciting year for the Sugar and Spice Ranch. The Texas dude ranch, which offers unique mother-daughter dude ranch vacations, recently announced it will be branching out to Wyoming later this year where it will offer family dude ranch vacations. At its new headquarters in Wyoming, the Sugar and Spice Ranch will be offering week-long dude ranch vacation packages from August 2012, and this time it’s not just moms and daughters who can saddle up. The ranch’s Wyoming vacation packages will be available to families and individuals, meaning dads, sons, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts and uncles will all be welcome. Fans of the Texas Sugar and Spice concept will be pleased to know that the Wyoming dude ranch will still be running mother-daughter packages, which encourage moms and daughters to bond through horses on kids' camp-style horse riding vacations.

Head to Sugar and Spice in Wyoming from August this year and spend your days riding through breathtakingly beautiful mountain ranges in the high country, and seek out remote spots abundant with wildlife. Whether you wish to spend your family dude ranch vacation trail riding, swimming in the freshwater ponds, fishing for trout in the creeks or hiking and nature walks, your day are guaranteed to be filled with adventure at this Wyoming dude ranch.

End each day with a hearty meal and gather around the campfire to enjoy tales of yesteryear, then retire to your comfortable, lantern-lit cabin accommodations and fall asleep to the distant sound of bugling elk.

For more information and to book an all-inclusive package at either of the Sugar and Spice family dude ranches, visit Top50Ranches.com

Is there a ranch that stands out for you? Tell us why and we'll consider for upcoming Ranches of the Month!

Colorado dude ranches offer some of the world's best guest ranch vacations, and Badger Creek Ranch, located high in the spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountains, is no exception. As a traditional working cattle ranch, Badger Creek Ranch offers authentic working ranch vacations perfectly suited to keen riders and wannabe cowboys.

Cattle work at Badger Creek

Step through the gates of Badger Creek Ranch owners Susan and Eric Hotaling promise you the guest ranch vacation adventure of a lifetime. Join their crew of wranglers and ride fences, round up, doctor and sort their cattle as you immerse yourself in western cowboy culture. Life at this Colorado guest ranch is traditional and authentic, and with a guest capacity of just six, Badger Creek creates a small, homely atmosphere where first-rate hospitality and service come first.

Saddle up one of the ranch’s sturdy cow horses to cover mile upon mile of mesas, and ride the open range. After a long day in the saddle, enjoy hearty home-cooked meals, served family style in the dining room with the family. After an evening spent sitting out under the starry Colorado sky recounting the day’s adventures and planning the next one, retire to traditional and comfortable accommodations in the ranch bunkhouse and prepare for another day of western adventure.

With no set schedule, each day at Badger Creek runs to guests’ requests and needs – be it improving horsemanship skills in the arena under the quiet, calm tutelage of Eric; taking relaxing horseback rides through beautiful open country vistas or to ancient ruins on the ranch; or tackling everyday ranch work with Badger Creek’s cowboy crew. Whatever it is you want from your guest ranch vacation, Badger Creek will provide.

Not a rider? Not a problem - although ideal for keen and competent riders, the adult-oriented ranch welcomes guests without any prior horseback riding experience. Beginners are coached on the basics in the arena until confident and able to head out on the open range, and Eric is always on hand to impart his extensive horsemanship knowledge and ensure your comfort. Feeling a little saddle sore? Then take advantage of Badger Creek’s many off-ranch activities, which include rafting, fishing, trips to ghost towns and festivals, and much more.

If you're looking for an authentic taste of western ranch and rural life in a peaceful, tranquil environment, you'd be mad not to take a guest ranch vacation at Badger Creek Ranch!

For more information and to book, visit Badger Creek’s ranch profile at Top50Ranches.com or Email us.

Canada dude ranch Clayoquot Wilderness Resort was recently chosen as one of the world's Top50 Ranches, one of six British Columbia dude ranches to make it into Top50's discerning collection of luxury dude ranch vacations. Clayoquot’s breathtaking coastal location on Vancouver Island, its luxury tented safari camp and its diverse range of land and sea adventure activities are just some of the reasons this luxury Canada dude ranch stands out from the rest.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is Top50’s only luxury tented safari camp, where guests can enjoy the magical, unique experience of sleeping under the stars in canvassed accommodations more luxurious than your average 5-star hotel. Whether you're looking for breathtaking horseback riding, luxury pampering, adventure - or all three, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort won't disappoint.

Horseback riding at this luxury Canada dude ranch is suitable for all ages and abilities, and guests are given opportunity to learn about all aspects of horse care from the experienced team of wranglers. Non-riders, novices and advanced riders alike will love Clayoquot’s personalized approach to their riding program, guaranteeing you get the most out of your horseback riding holiday. Whether you ride through the temperate rainforest, river valley or spectacular mountain trails, all rides are highly personalized and tailored to your specific requests.

For true adventure, Clayoquot’s wildlife safaris offer the opportunity of a lifetime - think spotting the likes of black bear, whales, sea lions, harbour seals and sea otters! Adding to the wilderness experience is Clayoquot's extensive range of adventure activities, including deep-sea fishing, whale watching, surfing, kayaking, mountain biking, sailing, climbing and archery. One thing's for sure, you won't get bored at this Canada dude ranch!

If you're looking for a more relaxing dude ranch vacation, head to the dude ranch's secluded beaches, hot springs or luxury tented spa. Indulge in a spot of yoga, a soak in the hot tub, massages, facials and many more spa treatments, for the ultimate relaxation experience.

And the luxury doesn’t stop there – dining at Clayoquot is a truly gourmet experience, Executive Chef Ryan Orr’s ‘modern natural’ cuisine winning critical acclaim. Fresh and whole-food oriented, Chef Ryan's exquisite meals are created using ingredients sourced from local suppliers and there are menu options to suit every dietary requirement – from vegan to fruitarian, and from low-carb to high-protein diets. Foodies can even enjoy foraging excursions and cookery classes with Chef Ryan himself - simply ask and Clayoquot will arrange.

With such attention to detail and bespoke, personalized service in all it does, it’s no wonder Clayoquot Wilderness Resort has made it into Top50’s discerning collection of luxury ranch vacations – this Canada dude ranch really does offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

For more information and to book, visit Clayoquot Wilderness Resort’s ranch profile at Top50Ranches.com.

Top50 is happy to report that our recent visit to New Zealand came back with 5 stars! Our New Zealand ranch, Beaumont High Country Experience, is tried and true Top50 quality.

A real, true immersion into New Zealand sheep mustering culture, you'll stay with this family and enjoy awe-striking scenery and the ability move sheep on an actual working New Zealand ranch. Their hospitality is second to none and since they only take 2 guests at a time(4 if you come as a group)they will truly accommodate EXACTLY what you're looking for. Just have a visit with Lynn prior to your booking and she'll go over all your options with you, you then can visit with her about your expectations and she'll make it happen! She also has working cow dogs. And watching them work is just the icing on the cake! Although she claims her son is the expert in at directing them!

So, to book your best ranch vacation, contact Top50 or contact Lynn directly at Beaumont High Country Experience!