Living the Cowgirl Life

Destination: Laramie, Wyoming

| Activities: Hiking, Horseback Riding, Dude Ranch

Tucked away high up near Wyoming's Snowy Mountains is VeeBar Ranch, an historic dude ranch. The ranch is a place of peace and quiet, a retreat that combines time in the outdoors with comfortable lodging and hearty meals at night, away from cell phones. The air is crisp and invigorating, and you find yourself relaxing within minutes of your arrival. You can choose to be busy all day, going for long rides, learning or improving your fly fishing, hiking in this spectacular rugged land, and joining in every activity we offer. Or you can decide to put your feet up on the front porch and read a good book, in between soaking in the hot tub. Or you might sometimes choose one and sometimes the other. All these are possible- it's completely up to you. Maximum group size: 16

Highlights

Enjoying the peace and solitude of Vee Bar Ranch
Riding on well-trained horses through wide open pastures and rugged landscapes
Walking around the ranch and hiking in the Snowy Mountains
Enjoying hearty meals in a gorgeous lodge
Soaking tired muscles at night while gazing at more stars than you ever knew existed

Departures and Prices

September 04 to September 11, 2021

$3350.00 - FULL

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Inclusions

An experienced AGC group leader and multiple local guides depending on group size
Seven nights lodging (all in single rooms except for the first night)
All meals from breakfast the first Sunday through breakfast the last Saturday, except for one lunch
Round trip transportation from the Denver, CO (DEN) airport
All activities on the itinerary
Customary gratuities (15%) and taxes (6%) for ranch and staff

Not included: Travel to and from Denver, alcoholic beverages (can be purchased at the ranch), one lunch, guide gratuities, and travel insurance

Details

These are suitable for any woman who regularly walks at a brisk pace 3 to 4 days a week for 35 - 45 minutes. There are typically 3 to 5 hours of daily activity.

We have rated this trip as 1, 2, or 3 because of the wide variety of options available every day. You might choose half-day horseback rides with afternoons spent reading a book or soaking in the hot tub; or you might ride as much as possible each day with fishing and hiking taking up the rest of your time. The level of activity is up to you. For trips that are rated 2, participants should be walking regularly at a brisk pace 3 to 4 days a week for 35 - 45 minutes prior to trip beginning. Rating: 1 [2] 3 4 5.

The main draw for this trip is horseback riding. You will be matched with a horse at the beginning of the week that is appropriate for your level of experience and different levels of rides will be offered. In addition to riding, you can learn the basics of fly fishing and then practice in the nearby river or stocked pond. For women interested in some hiking, the nearby Snowy Mountains offer a variety of well marked hiking trails and a couple of hikes will be offered during the week. There are also opportunities to try your hand at skeet shooting, pasture golf, archery, and horseshoes.

There are two cabins and six 2-bedroom Riverside Suites; everyone will get her own semi private bedroom and share a bathroom. Bedrooms are connected by a common door in the middle of the cabin, with separate entrances. The suites are located on the banks of the Little Laramie River, with a porch that invites you to sit and relax while you watch the river go by. The cabins are more secluded and have a somewhat different layout. Both are described here. The first night of the trip is spent in Denver at the Marriott Airport Hotel. Accommodations included in the cost of the trip are double occupancy for that one night. If you prefer a single for this night, the additional cost is $80.00.

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Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.

DAY 1

Arrive anytime today at the Denver airport. We'll be staying at a nearby hotel with an airport shuttle so you can arrive whenever it's convenient. Our first formal get together will be tomorrow.

DAY 2

We'll meet each other Sunday morning for breakfast and to start getting acquainted. We'll then get on our private shuttle for the 3 hour drive up to Laramie, stopping along the way for lunch (not included) and the opportunity to visit a cowgirl store where you can purchase western wear, boots, hats and any forgotten items as well as those must have ones! We'll get to the ranch about 2:30 and will have time to settle in, before meeting with our host for the week. We'll learn about the history of the ranch (it's third generation) and then get a tour of the ranch and buildings. Obviously knowing where the hot tub is located will be of prime importance! We'll then enjoy the first of many hearty and delicious dinners, home-cooked from scratch and served buffet style. Our western or gourmet meals are supplemented with fresh salads, fruit, homemade breads, pastries, and desserts at every meal. Obviously if we're going to eat like ranch hands, we'll need to exercise like them! After dinner we'll meet for an orientation to the ranch and our activities for the week.

DAY 3

We'll start our week with a "Meet and Greet" - with our horses for the week! We'll learn a little about how horses think and how we can out-think them, setting our week-long relationship on firm footing. We'll get our saddles fitted, learn trail etiquette, and receive some riding instruction that will stand us in good stead whether you're new to riding or an experienced rider. After this introduction, most of the rest of our rides will be based on experience level and everyone will have the chance to improve her riding skills. Each day will be full of riding, fishing, hiking - and relaxing. Every evening we'll review our options for the next day and everyone can choose what sounds good to her. There will be lots of flexibility each day.Horseback riding is one of the main delights here. The horses are well cared for and well trained. You will be matched to a horse at the beginning of the week that is appropriate for your experience level, and you will have the chance to improve your riding skills over time. We'll split into groups based on experience; nose-to-tail rides are minimized and loping rides are available for those who are interested. The terrain varies greatly: at the beginning of the week we'll leave directly from the ranch, ride through lush meadows in the river bottom and up onto high plateaus. Later in the week we'll head for more mountainous country. There will be morning and afternoon rides offered each day and at least one day we'll have the option for an all day ride up in the mountains. All rides are adapted to any level of experience. In addition to trail riding, once we are comfortable with our horses we'll get to try team penning, learning how to get cattle to go where we want. The Vee Bar's horses are turned out to pasture each night and rounded up each morning. If you want to meet the wranglers at the barn in the morning to help groom and saddle your horse, and/or help unsaddle and turn horses out, you are most welcome to. And you are equally welcome to leave your horse with your wrangler and go back to your cabin for a hot shower.
There will be also optional activities each day for those who choose not to ride or only ride half the day. The Little Laramie River flows right through the ranch and is perfect for fly fishing, and there is also a stocked pond which is ideal for learning. Those who are interested can attend a demonstration from a local guide who will teach the basics and cover topics such as techniques, equipment, flies, and fish. And those who are really interested in improving their skills or going for guided expeditions can hire him- he's always on call.
For those who want to do some hiking, the nearby Snowy Mountains offer a variety of well-marked trails. And for those who want to relax, you can go for a quiet walk on ranch property, read your book while listening to the river, soak in the hot tub, and take naps.
Other activities to look forward to include horse drawn buggy rides, happy hour with live music, outdoor barbecues, evening campfires, roasting marshmallows (yes!) and singing wranglers!
After a full day of activity, we'll gather for a relaxing drink at the John Wayne Saloon or in the lodge in front of the large river rock fireplace. We'll enjoy a delicious hearty dinner, served buffet style. Our meals are cooked from scratch and supplemented with fresh salads, fruit, homemade breads, pastries and desserts at every meal. And before going to bed, you can sit outside in the hot tub, soak well-used muscles, and gaze up at the stars that may be brighter than any you've ever seen. At night, snuggle into your comfortable bed and listen to the sounds of the night.

DAY 4

Yup, more of the same (see Day 3)

DAY 5

Yup, more of the same (see Day 3)

DAY 6

Yup, more of the same (see Day 3)

DAY 7

Yup, more of the same (see Day 3)

DAY 8

The week is over way too quickly! We'll pack up this morning, eat our last breakfast, and then get a shuttle back to the Denver airport. We'll be back by 1:00 PM and you can plan to fly out anytime after 3:00.

Trip Summary

Packing List

*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "Did this trip meet your expectations?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.

wish the weather had been better but overall the trip was what I expected.

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/5/2020-9/12/2020

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

The riding experience was great. Liked the flexibility the trip provided to take part (or not) in lots of activities.

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

High level of staff interaction, trying to accommodate diverse needs Obviously incredible environment, but program allowing exposure to several aspects, not just one

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

This is the 4th time I've been on the Living a Cowgirl Life....have a lot of fun on this trip

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

This was such a great trip with the best bunch of girls. There was so much to do, or if your choice, do nothing but relax.

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

The highlights...The riding experience was fantastic. Wranglers were very helpful (

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

Learning to fly fish. Practicing trap shooting. Hiking in beautiful scenic locations.

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

Great ranch - the staff is amazing! The mountain horseback rides were the highlights for me.

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

The owners and wranglers could not have been more pleasant or helpful. For me the highlight was the wagon ride and the family atmpsphere.

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

This year I got to canter to my heart's content! I got matched with a perfect horse. I think the food this year was not as good as last year. Loved getting golden horseshoes the last night. That was sweet.

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

I was very impressed with how the ranch gave so many activities to choose from!

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

Loved the cattle drive, field trip to the Wyoming FederalPrison when I couldn’t go riding. The hospitality of the Ranch, the wagon ride with live music

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

Each year I go on this trip, I can hardly wait to get on the wonderful horses at the ranch.

Living the Cowgirl Life 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

I was impressed with the Vee Bar's entire family. The family involvement (especially the children) in our activities was extra special. The entire experience was so authentic and genuine.

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

The riding experience was phenomenal. It was great to not have nose-to-tail rides. All the activities available were fun and interesting and having the option to do nothing was also appreciated.

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

Enjoyed the various activities and especially all the special attention the owners, wranglers, guides, and cook gave us. From watching the horses come in at 7 to the wagon ride or sheep dog demo in the evening they were so good to us. One of my favorite evenings was swinging alongside the campfire and listening to Brent sing and play his guitar and we all had a good time and laughed.

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

I was on this same trip in 2017, and I had such a wonderful time, I just had to come back again. Riding a horses every was a dream vacation for me! Plus,this was a wonderfully cohesive group of women this time around, and we all had a great time together.

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

Riding horses every day! Flexible schedule.

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

The Vee Bar Ranch was very organized and took care of all my needs and desires. I just needed to sign up for the activities I was interested in and show up! Kari, Brent, and the entire staff were extremely friendly and accommodating; they truly made us feel like family. The cabin was lovely and it was very convenient to have a washer and dryer in the cabin. The food was also excellent. I looked forward to every meal. The evening entertainment, especially the three nights of music, were a highlight as well.

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

Loved this trip! Hard to say what was the best because I loved every minute of it! The riding and horses were amazing, the guides were great, I want to go again!

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

Variety of activities Mainly fly fishing

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

Loved the ranch staff and all the riders nf

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

loved the horseback riding. Staff was very accommodating for my physical limitations.

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018

Learning to ride a horse and lope!

Living the Cowgirl Life 9/1/2018-9/8/2018