San Antonio Travel and Leisure Guide 2008 - (Page 36) Texas-Sized Thrills DUDE RANCHES The town of Bandera, about an hour’s drive from San Antonio, calls itself the “Cowboy Capital of the World” for good reason. Dozens of dude ranches and hundreds of real cowboys and cowgirls call Bandera home. Many properties are working ranches that offer horseback riding, fishing, cookouts, hayrides and Western entertainment. Tour a working longhorn cattle ranch at the LH7 Ranch, or take a wildlife tour through the 9,000-acre Flying A Ranch featuring exotic and native species. Many ranches and stables offer horseback tours by the hour or half-day trail rides in the scenic Hill Country. (The Bandera Texas Convention and Visitors Bureau has a full listing.) Rodeos are held at least twice weekly from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, but you can also catch cowboys practicing their roping skills at private arenas just about any time of the year. A good example of a classic dude ranch is the Dixie Dude Ranch, which dates to 1937. Guests can explore 36 VISITSANANTONIO COM O. 725 acres on horseback, stay ranch, horseback ride overnight in cabins or a lodge, in Bandera – “Cowboy Capital of the World” hike nature trails and enjoy and Mi Tierra Restaurant. an authentic ranch experience complete with a cowboy breakfast cooked outside. Experience the Old West only 25 minutes from San Antonio at Enchanted Springs Ranch. This 86-acre working ranch has rugged, natural beauty, exotic animals and a Western town right out of the 1800s. Originally designed for Western movies, the town provides a handson experience of Texas heritage. IF YOU GO (as referenced in text) Bandera Texas Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-364-3833, banderacowboycapital.com Dixie Dude Ranch, 830-796-7771, dixieduderanch.com Enchanted Springs Ranch, 800-640-5917, enchantedspringsranch.com Flying A Ranch, 830-796-4750, flyingaranch.net LH7 Ranch, 830-796-4314 For complete listings, visitsanantonio.com From left to right: Dude http://banderacowboycapital.com http://dixieduderanch.com http://enchantedspringsranch.com http://flyingaranch.net http://visitsanantonio.com http://visitsanantonio.com
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