Above and Beyond our Expectations!

Our trip to Bar Lazy J was one of our most memorable family vacations ever and we take our kids EVERYWHERE! We traveled with another family and extensively researched about 6 ranches in colorado and montanna and were so happy we chose Bar Lazy J. We are vey picky travelers so if we were happy, you will be too! The best part of our trip was the authenticity of the experience. The staff did not dress up and “play” cowboy all day, then go home and put “street” clothes on.. they ARE cowboys (& girls!) and you are really living their life for the week. I also, so appreciated the intimacy of the setting. Capacity for guests at the ranch is 42.. we had 38 that week and it really lends to the whole expereince. By the third night, kids are eating dinner at an “all-kids” table, adults are sitting w/ new friends each night and an impromtu “happy hour at the pool” takes place! That is a difficult atmosphere to achieve when you’re at a high-rise resort w/ 800 guests (we like those vacations too, but again, this setting was perfect!) Following are specific details of varioius aspects:

Program: riding program was great.. my husband and i do not ride, my kids (ages 9 & 11 ride english) after an orientation ride, you get to pick amongst 3 different rides types/levels for an a.m. & a p.m. ride. These are real riding lessons, not just pony rides for photo ops.. although there is always a scenic ride offer as well, which is nice.. but all the rides are scenic! By the third day, my husband bought a pair of chaps/chinks (sp?) and i ditched my city-looking country club visor for a cowboy hat.. kids program is outstanding… riding incorprated w/ other “camp-type” activities, swimming, crafts, farm aninmal activities.. kids loved it, it was as structured as it was flexible. I felt completely comfortable being off on my own ride while the kids were back doing their stuff (& one of my kids is special-needs!) We also liked that as great as the program was, we were on a family vacation and i did want to ride with my kids so we arranged a private ride w/ our family and the the family we were traveling with.. just another example of how an intimate setting can accomodate special requests. One detail we learned while researching other ranches.. most start kids programs at 6 years.. our other family had a 4-year-old and there was one other 4-year-old guest as well.. that was a huge deciding factor for us, but beware, while other ranches claimed they could accomodate riders under 6, when pressed for detailsl, it ended up being glorified babysitting.. BLJ offers a true program for kids under 6, however; having said that, it would be my recommendation to hold off til kids are 6, even when we rode w/ kids, couldn’t go w/ little one.

Food - meals were great… everything was cooked to order.. never felt like i was eating mass-produced food… plenty of options at each meal.. we traveled w/ a vegetarian and her needs were met (with advance notice) the best was the breakfast ride.. rode into the mountains to a camp site where breakfast was made at a campfire.. it was as yummy as it was beautiful.. lodge is open 24 hours a day if you needed a drink or needed to raid the cookie box (cookies were made fresh daily!)

accomodations - we stayed in the ranch house. it is the house the owners lived in for a bit when they first took over the ranch. it was perfect for us.. no need to have all that space if you’re a single family (or couple) we were a group of 8 so it was great… it’s a full house so there was a kitchen, laundry, 2 full baths and plenty of living space.. never looked into the other cabins but each is unique, some larger than others.. but quaint and rustic.. no fridge, they provide coolers on porches and re-stock ice each day if you want to keep stuff cold.. location is a non-issue.. everything is located perfectly, you’re as close to the river as you are to the lodge as you are to the pool.. however; the ranch house is not on the river, i believe all the cabins are and i know people really enjoyed listening to the rushing river at night!

Entertainment - you were entertained and pampered western style, i love checking into the Penninsula as much as the rest of you, but again, the authenticity and rustic setting really lended to the whole experience, you still had housekeeping (although it was patchy at the ranch house, seemed just towels and beds, floor was not vaccumed and dishes never done, in their defense, maybe that wasn’t part of the gig and i forgot to ask??) your meals were served to you and your dishes were cleared.. of course there’s the one morning where owner, cheri, makes blueberry pancakes and you have to “catch” the pancakes (the size of my face, by the way!) w/ your plate!
evenings consisted of anything from line dancing, to campfires, pow wows and a rodeo “field trip”.. no tv’s,. thought i’d miss that, but it was so refreshing!

Staff - OMG, where to begin?? gotta start w/ Scott!!!!! i’ll never forget him.. was a great wrangler and leader and just plain ‘ol fun! Chad is outstanding as well, quite a compliment coming from me since i took a bit of razzing from him and wrangler, Katie, about my wearing lip gloss! (hey, i got rid of the visor!) Can’t mention everyone but rest assured, the entire staff was outstanding including those that worked with the kids. Owners Jerry and Cheri got “it” right… you will not be disappointed!

Our family and the family we traveled with were the only new families, all others were repeats, which makes quite a statement. We would love to return, only thing that would keep us away is my husband’s philosophy of always trying something new, hates to repeat, but we’ll see. (might have to plan a girls trip!)

p.s. - speaking of you girls: bring the jog bra, think twice about the thong!