The Double R Ranch is a great place to relax and enjoy the sandhills. Beautiful setting, the guest house was a long ways out by itself and the mornings were about as peaceful as you could ask. There are two places together out there plus the original sod house of the owners grandparents, but we had it to ourselves. It may be a birders paradise, I am not one, but there is such a variety and they raise a veritable symphony on any excursion out into the grasslands or even just while sitting out on the deck. It canget windy later in the day. On one morning three young weasels surprised me on the trail and then proceeded to essentially play with me for 15 minutes, racing up and down the trail, stopping to check me out, then scamper on. Large turtles were laying their eggs out front of the house and along the trail during our mid-June visit. Hiking the hills was my favorite exploring, no one around, just the deer, wildflowers, and a few cows. There is a lake, but surprisingly few bugs, at least they didn't seem to be landing. We made an excursion up to Valentine NWR, but frankly the country around the ranch is as nice and it saves the driving. read more