Family of 5 (13, 9, 8) just returned from 4 days, 3 nights, and are already wondering when we can…read morego back! This will be one bc We did the all-inclusive package, which meant 3 meals were included, and all the activities. For those of us who wanted to ride the horses, we had ample opportunity - after the breakfast ride, there are rides at 10, 11, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30. You ride out to the middle of the forest every day for breakfast (covered wagon for those who don't want to ride) and enjoy the best bacon, sausage, eggs and pancakes or french toast. You won't go hungry! The horses never trot, only walk, on the breakfast ride, so take a flyer and try it - they are well-trained trail horses who know their job and do it well, plus there are 1-2 wranglers who ride middle and end of the line to help give instruction if there is ever a need.
My 8 yo daughter and I rode a lot while the boys found other things they wanted to enjoy like canoeing, working out, basketball in an air-conditioned gym (or kickball or dodgeball). There is an outdoor pool, archery, fishing at the lake, a movie theater. They have staff that run various activities throughout the day. The meals are family-style and plentiful.
For lunches we had reubens, chicken salad sandwiches, and grilled ham and cheese. Dinners were a cookout (Sat.and Tuesdays complete with burgers, dogs, brats, chicken and bison burgers - order what you want and beans filled with bacon!), Northern fried chicken, meatloaf.
They used COVID as an opportunity to do some maintenance and the main house got a facelift. We stayed in Ranchero and it was 3 bedroom (2 with Queen beds, and one with bunks), one bathroom.
Pets are allowed, but think through how that will work if you are enjoying all the activities. Our dogs did not want to do their business on a leash, so that was interesting - not sure we would bring them again because you check out at 11a.m. but can stay till 5:00 and there was no place to put the dogs, so someone has to sit out of the remaining fun.
Bring lots of bug spray - the type with lots of Deet (even then I got a few bites but I'm super sensitive to bites)!
My kids ended up wishing they had more time to fish because we tried it on the last day and ran out of hotdog bait and time!
Kids 8 and over can ride. You pick your horse and reserve it by putting the stirrup over the saddle horn. You can pick a different horse each time. As soon as we got off the horse after a ride my daughter would immediately reserve the same horse (Dunny). For those under 8, there is a pony ring. If you are a family who wants to all ride horses, wait till your youngest is 8 or one of you won't get to ride each time.
My only suggestion is to bring something to hang up your swim suits (the pool does have towels) - I wish each cabin had a clothes line for that purpose - as we ended up setting clothes over the chairs that were outside our cabin. Oh, and moms who have "issues" on trampolines, you will have same issue when the horse trots - so just come prepared. *wink*
Check out the photos for this review by clicking my name. I uploaded them and put captions with them but they aren't showing up here.