When you pull up, you learn that you picked the perfect horseback riding experience. Talia was…read moregreat, very knowledgeable and it was an awesome ride. The horses are very manageable and even tempered, so you can sit back & enjoy the ride without having to navigate much. I know both me and my boyfriend enjoyed riding Laso & Kermit!

We had a great experience with our group of 10 amateur riders. Tawni is an excellent communicator…read moreand made the process smooth and easy, especially for some folks that were reticent to mount a horse for the first time. Everyone had an amazing and very safe ride, and it was an amazing introduction to horseback riding for many of us, including myself. They also take great care of their horses and seem to care deeply for them, which made me feel even better about an already extremely positive experience. I will definitely use them again next time I'm in Bandera!

Went on another ride with Bandera Historical Ride and it was great!!! Had some friends come in town…read moreand they had not ridden before but the horses were great and we went on a 45 minute ride down by the river. Perfect weather and great day to do a ride. Madison was the wrangler we met up with. Super company to do a ride with no matter what your skill level is!!! Highly recommend Bandera Historical Rides!!!

What an experience!…read more I try to go horseback riding on every vacation. This place is the best yet! We went for the cowboy breakfast. It was amazing. 1st the horses are beautiful and so well maintained! The staff was phenomenal-- so nice to us and our kids. The food was great and the coffee was outstanding! I absolutely love this place!!!

I can't recommend Cross G enough! My wife and I had an amazing time riding and had a blast. Ron…read more(our guide) was very friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced. He selected horses for us based on our physical size and experience level. I rode a wonderful horse named Tejas who was very gentle with me. It was my first time horseback riding and I would do it again for sure after this experience. The location can't be beat. It is quiet, beautiful, clean, and has the most incredible views. If you want a real Texas cowboy horseback riding experience, Cross G Ranch Trail Rides is the way to go!

First time riding a horse and this experience was wonderful. The wrangler was friendly, answered…read moreany questions and offered to take us pictures along the route. I will definitely come back again during the fall and sign up for a two hour ride. Please don't forget to tip if your experience was wonderful :)

Before I even set foot in Texas, Rancho Cortez had already won my heart with their warm and helpful…read moreemails. As a solo traveler visiting the USA for the first time, I had a million questions -- and they patiently answered every single one. By the time I drove up their long, dusty road and caught sight of the charming ranch buildings and heard my first distant neigh, a wave of peace washed over me. I knew I had found something special. My warm welcome included a map to my cabin... which I promptly misread (I have many talents, but navigation is *not* one of them). Thankfully, the wonderful Lisa appeared like a real-life cowboy guardian angel and personally guided me to my cozy cabin. First impression? Spotless. Cool. Authentically Texan. I actually said "wow" out loud -- to no one -- like I was in a commercial. As a true animal lover, I was thrilled to see how well the horses were treated. Guests are encouraged to help groom them, and the wranglers always explain *why* certain things are done -- it's all about respect and care. Whether you're a total beginner or basically Clint Eastwood, they tailor the experience to *you*. Now meet the dream team: Travis, Dawn, Trey, and Cora. Travis and Dawn are the talkers, the entertainers -- always in for a laugh, teasing and challenging each other like true cowboy siblings. Their banter is pure gold, and somehow still leaves space for heartfelt guidance and genuine connection. Trey? He's the quiet cowboy with that dry, perfectly timed humor. When he speaks, you listen -- and when he drops a one-liner, it *lands*. He's got that silent strength vibe going on, and it works. Cora, with her calm and grounding energy, is the soul of serenity. When things get rowdy (and they do), she's the one who gently reins it all in -- the horses love her, and so do the guests. Her presence is like a deep exhale after a long ride. The wranglers feel like a tight-knit family, and you quickly feel part of it. Meals are homey, healthy, and announced by a big ol' bell you'll hear all over the ranch. You'll come running like one of the horses when you hear it. There's always water, coffee, tea, and refreshing drinks during meals, plus your cabin comes with a mini fridge for your own snacks. (The nearest supermarket is about 20 minutes away, but honestly, you won't want to leave.) Between the twice-daily rides, you'll learn to rope like a cowboy, roast smores by the fire, meet the longhorns on a hay ride, or just float in the pristine pool with the sun on your face. My personal favorite spot? A hammock near the dining hall, country music in my ears, goats chilling behind me -- pure bliss. Special shoutout to Miss Katie for the extra riding lessons (worth every penny). The trails are walk-only for safety and horse care, but even as an experienced rider, I never felt bored. They even arranged a more challenging ride when things were quiet -- and let me tell you, there's nothing like the sound of hooves and the warm wind in your ears to remind you you're *alive*. I originally booked one night... I stayed four. The only downside of Rancho Cortez is having to leave. To anyone reading this: whether you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure or a peaceful place to recharge -- book it. Go. Make memories. Laugh at yourself. Ride a horse. Roast a marshmallow. And let your heart be hugged by the spirit of this magical ranch. Thank you, Rancho Cortez. You deserve every star in the Texas sky. Wendy from Belgium

Very friendly staff! Great experience. Was everything that we expected for a half day trip to the…read moreranch.

It may be a nice place but don' count getting your deposit back if you need reschedule. We are…read moreout 728.00 and I'm not happy.

This place got it 95% right!! Alec was accommodating and so helpful! Kim and the remaining housing…read morestaff were amazing. The meals were served family style, different every day, and so delicious and local!!! The room was perfect and as expected on a back country ranch. I was surprised and thankful we had an electric heater!! The horses and ranch staff were a bit stand off ish until they get to know you, but then they are super friendly and accommodating, so please give everyone a chance, they are all great people. The facilities are great, though we came at a time of year that the pool was not in use. The only thing we were a bid irked by was how the horses didn't seemed to be brushed daily, and they had burrs and mud caked on them. I would think it would still be a profitable business after being in the family for over a hundred years, to have a hired hand that just took care of the horses on a daily basis, since that is the business' main draw and attraction. Other than that, an outstanding time!!

The people that run this ranch are not reputable. They took our group's deposit for a reservation…read morein 2024 last year. Recently, when they figured out that they are in the path of the total eclipse during the time of our reserved stay, they jacked up the price by over 10X and told us to pony up more money! When we refused, they cancelled the reservation. And now they are stalling on the refund. This is no way to treat customers and no way to run a business. Take your business elsewhere.

We took our 3 & 5 year old grandchildren for Pony rides at The Twin Elm. We did not expect such a…read moreprofessional and amazing introduction to horseback riding for these little ones! Miss Shirley involved the children in such a beautiful, calm and caring way, She engaged all of us in the experience. We also loved her stories of raising her children when she was on the Pro Rodeo circuit as a Barrel Racer! Thank you for a wonderful experience, Miss Shirley!!

I board my horses here and they are wonderfully ran. Staff are caring and horse people and it is…read moremore than just a business to them. My horses are happy and healthy. My daughter took lessons here and really has advanced after a couple of months with Jessica. Definitely give them a call!

If I typed out all of the kind words I have for Spring Creek, everyone would stop reading this…read morereview after page 4,567. I'll cut to the chase. They do private lessons which got our daughter into riding horses (with wonderful form). They do trail rides, and their trail is a gorgeous run thru the hill country. They board (if they have capacity, which we got lucky bc they're always full!). And most importantly, we've made lifelong friendships with all of the staff there. Megan, the barn manager, treats us like family. The rest of the staff always go out of their way to chat with us when we go visit our horse. Whether you're looking to board your horse, learn how to ride, or get your barrel racing on, Spring Creek is where you gon' go do that.

I recently returned for a second time to take our exchange student girls from the Netherlands and…read moreGermany for a Texas Hill Country horseback riding experience. Just like the first time in April, it was a very pleasant, comfortable, and all around positive experience. Eileen is very welcoming and accommodating. Her skill of matching a human rider with a horse and her overall demeanor towards her horses and human visitors is very comforting and adds to the experience. Even if you never sat on a horse before , I highly recommend Juniper Stables located in a beautiful remote setting of the Hill Country.

Just completed a trail ride here and highly recommend you do too! There are located on a beautiful…read more200 plus acre ranch with awesome views and varied terrain. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Good for families. Added bonus they are right next to the State Park and they have trails they use there too! We will definitely go back!

Y'all if you wanna learn about Cowboyin' you best mosey on down to Rancho Cortez. Larry is an…read moreexperience. He'll get you ropin' and Ridin' in no time! For real city boy if you wanna be a cowboy go to rancho cortez.

TREMENDOUS would be the best way to describe my Fitness Program experience at Rancho Cortez located…read morenear Bandera, TX. My weight loss goal during my 60 days of fitness at Rancho Cortez was 35 pounds. Healthy food choices and fat burning exercises allowed me to not only reach my goal but EXCEED it. My final weight loss was 40 pounds, as well as a great number of inches lost. A common sense approach to nutrition - eating REAL food in proper portions at set meal times combined with hiking, core & balance workouts, cardiac and strength training, water exercise and yoga provided the most stress-free environment to focus on my weight-loss journey. A huge THANK YOU to owners Mary & Larry Cortez for providing this Fitness Program. Mary's encouragement throughout my 60 days kept me going. Larry's knowledge of local and state history weaved in with his wonderful story telling abilities made for not only educational but entertaining times at the nightly campfires. The level of expertise, guidance and knowledge shared by Fitness Director Karen and Strength Coach Doc directly IMPACTED my weight loss success. The core and balance work with Karen, as well as her cardiac class and her leading challenging hikes helped me gain confidence and increased my ability to do so many things my overweight sedentary life restricted. Doc's strength training produced better RESULTS than I expected. After 60 days, my overall strength and flexibility makes me feel 20 years younger. The Tabata classes from both Karen & Doc were always interesting, challenging and really helped burn the fat. Regular nutrition classes expanded my knowledge for foot prep and portion control of the RIGHT FOODS. The added wonderful BONUS of visiting weekly with Naturopathic Dr. Kulisz enlightened me to truly healthy alternatives for my life. Restorative yoga with Cheryl A. gave me a totally new view of yoga that benefited both my flexibility and breathing. I appreciated the rest of the RC crew's welcoming attitude. Wrangler's Buster and Bill, Housekeeper Sheila, Maintenance Foreman Fermin, and Cooks Martha & Pat (thanks for the tasty food!) were all gracious to me. General Manager, Cheryl B. is Wonder Woman - to be commended for all the many hats she wears. Handling bookings and check-ins, as well as inventory and constantly answering phones and pitching in to help with cooking, Chery's "git 'er done" attitude keeps RC running efficiently. If anyone reading this review is tired of being overweight and is willing to work hard, KNOW that the Fitness Program at Rancho Cortez CAN work for you.

We spent a couple of days here for spring break. It was a wonderful, relaxing experience…read more This place is a combination of cabins, bed-and-breakfast, and animal sanctuary. The grounds have lots of friendly animals to interact with. The location feels like it's in the middle of nowhere, yet you're only a few minutes away from Boerne. We enjoyed feeding the goats, donkeys, and pigs. We also participated in a giant tortoise interaction and got to feed and pet him. We were even welcomed by a dancing cockatoo! The bed was super comfortable, and the cabin had everything we needed. The hosts responded quickly whenever we needed anything. We're looking forward to returning to the spot again the next time we need a getaway that feels far away yet is still fairly close to San Antonio.

I'll start this by advising everyone to read the reviews thoroughly and believe them. I read the…read moregood and bad and decided to ignore the bad and hope for the best. Lesson learned. A few days prior to our arrival, Vicky calls and says that VRBO overbooked the "Lodge" where we had booked our reservation. Hmm, never heard of vrbo overbooking before. She offered our choice of two of the smaller cottages plus a bottle of wine as bonus. I said that we were not interested in the smaller ones and wanted the lodge that we booked because it was bigger. She then offers the Main House, which was much bigger than our original rental, and I thanked her and accepted. The day before we leave, I haven't heard anything on the address or access information. I texted them and finally received a response at 10PM. Great. Now at least we know where we are going and that we can get in. Upon arrival, you drive into the gate and up a gravel drive. Then you are left to find the cottage that is yours. We couldn't so we called and Micky told us where to find the house. It was attached to two smaller cabins (or anexed as Micky explained). Our "neighbors" were a group of 21 year old boys + their girl friends. That's fine and we greeted them and they were polite enough. They mentioned they had been "partying" on the deck of the main house for the last few days.... The main house is REALLY nice!! Beautifully decorated inside with Texas memorabilia and has everything you need for a super comfortable stay. Except grilling utensils, but not a huge deal. We made due. If it was just the house for this rental, we would have been thrilled. BUT the deck of the house is huge and there was no indication that anyone had cleaned the deck or furniture in months. Covered in dust, beer bottle tops (see above partying), and dirt. We cleaned the table off ourselves and I used the broom to make it somewhat acceptable. But even that's okay. The major turn off was from the moment we arrive, Micky learns that we are having our brother out for dinner that night. He immediately texts back that our reservation was for 2 people only. Never have I rented a place that had a per person surcharge or where the owners literally harass you about having a guest. Finally, I was like, Fine - send the invoice, I don't care what the charge is if it makes you happy and you will leave us alone. Our family has a 400 acre ranch in Fredericksburg and we know Texas ranches. If Micky and Vicky don't like to deal with people, don't have it set up as rentals. We won't be back again which is a shame because we rent in the area 4-5 times per year to be close to family. Also, fyi - We saw no indication of the "gourmet" restaurant or "cowboy" bar. As I mentioned at the open, there are good and bad reviews here. You could have either experience, I guess. Just be informed.