The second night of our Wild West weekend, the ranch hosted an outdoor BBQ, complete with cowboy steaks, ranch beans, corn on the cob and baked potatoes. Desserts ranged from chocolaty brownies or hot apple cobbler. We enjoyed our evening meal surrounded by lush cottonwood trees and the easy strumming of a cowboy singer playing familiar western tunes. Afterward, we joined the country dance lessons being offered by one of the staff. It was a great way to end the day and our last night at the ranch.

Bright and early, we mounted up to join in the ranch's signature breakfast ride. Joanne and I decided to join the children's ride with Kirin. The ride wove us through the perimeter of the ranch's acreage for about 1 ½ hours ending at a stone walled house high in the hills above the ranch. We could smell breakfast wafting in the air as we dismounted, tied up our horses and partook in griddled cooked blueberry pancakes, ranch eggs, bacon, sausage and hash brown potatoes. Thoroughly satisfied, we mounted up again and rode back to the ranch. Having passed my "lope check" on the second try the day before, I joined for one last ride before we checked out. The lope ride was everything that I hoped it would be and the feel of the wind while loping with the horse was exhilarating.

I don't really remember not wanting to check out of somewhere before but we didn't want to leave the ranch. It amazed me how much the ranch felt like home rather than a hotel or bed & breakfast. All the activities that Joanne and I participated in during our stay enabled us to get to know the other guests. Joanne and I learned that many of the guests have stayed at the ranch previously. A fellow guest, Jim from Chicago has been to TVR a total of sixteen times. A family from London, England, told us at one of the family-style lunches that they are staying over eight days. Newlywed couple, Lindsey and Anthony, from Salt Lake City, chose to spend part of their honeymoon at the ranch because Lindsey had stayed at the ranch when she was younger. It is a tribute to the magic and allure of the ranch that draws guests "back home" to experience the sheer excitement of being either a cowgirl or cowboy. I know that the ranch offers incredible hiking and even spa options, but we only rode horses. Whether you are newcomers like us or returning guests, Tanque Verde Ranch is not only a place that anyone can go to get away but also a place one can call "home."