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!!

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!

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 :)

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!

$30 for each regular rider, and $15 for those that are too young to ride alone. Book ahead during…read morethe summer months because they fill up fast! These stables are right up the road from my parents house, and we have always driven past them as we go into Concan/Leaky. We finally decided to book a ride with Elm Creek Stables and are happy that we did! They made sign-in very easy, the ride started on time, the horses were well behaved and nicely groomed, and our guides were very sweet. The gentleman leading the ride stopped along the way to pickup old horseshoes and let my little kiddos keep them as souvenirs. They were so excited. The ride itself gives very beautiful views of the valley, and they have added cute faces to trees and signs along the trail to give it that "touristy trail ride" feel. After the ride ended, the kiddos got popsicles and we walked around and took a look at the other animals. They had a newborn miniature pony, a pig, a blind axis deer, bunnies, and many many horses. We will definitely be back again in the future.

This place is really great. When we first called for information, the woman on the phone was very…read morehelpful. My boyfriend and I were able to come a little early, so the guides could take us on a more advanced ride at a higher elevation. Morgan and Allison were great guides considering how young they are (14 and 15). They easily navigated a beautiful path that they hadn't gone on in about a month. The views were gorgeous, and much of the trail was shaded. The horses were calm, but definitely have their own distinct personality. The ride was about 90 minutes long, and very affordable for the 2 of us. Overall, we were pretty lucky we got to go on such a beautiful ride with just the 4 of us--a very memorable experience. I look forward to visiting Elm Creek again on our next family vacation to the Frio.

Such a cool experience! I have never been on a horse before and it was actually pretty easy! My…read morecousin invited me since she had already been here and really enjoyed it. We went on a very rainy day and got soaked but it was still really fun. The owner gave my bf some tips and what to do when the horse stops and stuff like that so it was really cool! I can't wait to come again.

Great ride, Great staff. The trail was well beginner and I…read morefelt like a real cowboy I can't wait to ride again next time .

Its been nearly 6 months since I last got a chance to stop on by sticker trails due to my tight…read moreschedule and to this very day I still think back to what an incredible experience it was. The horses were very tame, gentle, and accommodating to the riders comfortability and experience. Both gentlemen directing the trail ride added to the experience with their down to earth and personable approach throughout, establishing a welcoming environment for each and every person attending. I cant say enough about this hidden gem, its something everyone should experience themselves to get the full aura of

This was a great trail ride. One hour is perfect if you haven't been on a horse in a while. We…read morehad a wonderful time however, the only reason why I don't give it 5 stars is only for my own vain reasons. 1) It would have been nice to be able to get a photo of my wife and I together. Or at least to stop somewhere and get a photo either with us on horse back or holding the horse. 2) Also there are some beautiful areas as you climb the top of the hill. Lots of things to look at, deer trails and the view is beautiful. This would have been nice to have the small group (like we did at the fallen tree) gather at the top to get a few photos. 3) And speaking of vistas one side of the hill over looked an area with homes, some very beautiful homes, however I think, I don't know this for sure, but if we could have gone to the other side of the mountain if just a bit, I'm sure there would have been a beautiful untouched vista. Now I did enjoy the story by the tree but a few (just two maybe) more stops like that to tell about the work being done, the wild life, something and (with his accent and ability to tell a story) it would have been nice to have him gather the group (if more than two) and tell them a story of something historic or just a even a fable regarding that area. Now I can go on forever, but I would have thought a small outpost where riders could unmount and get a drink, feel like they were on a real trail ride. Would have been really cool. But that's not his fault, that's just wishful thinking on my part.

This is a great little gym. They have a good amount of weights, a circuit of weights, row machine,…read moretreadmills, etc. There is also a room with 2 walls of mirror, a ballet bar and tv to do floor exercises. The price is really good as well, $35 a month and $75 to sign up. This is a great place to go,

I love this little gym! Ms. Wendy helped me set up a membership w/ them and it's has all the things…read moreyou might wants and for a good price. so thankful for this gym all the way out in Comfort!