Compare Ultimate Old West: The White Stallion Ranch With Your Grandchild by Road Scholar

Day 1
Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Line Dancing
Tucson, AZ D White Stallion Ranch
Activity note: Walking a over even packed dirt terrain; line dancing

Afternoon: At 5:00 p.m. we'll meet in the Longhorn Room for our welcome reception and orientation.

Dinner: We'll have dinner in the Sunrise Room. The Ranch food is delicious, nutritious and healthy, and always gets rave reviews. Dinner is a often a buffet with the main entrées grilled outdoors. There is always a choice of two entrées and an ever-changing variety of side dishes. Delicious dessert options vary nightly. Special dietary restrictions, such as gluten free, low salt, and vegetarian are cheerfully accommodated.

Evening: After dinner, we'll work off some of those calories with country-and-western line dance lessons. Although these are optional, they're usually too much fun to resist.

Day 2
Trail Rides, Natural Horsemanship Class, Crafts, Star Gazing
Tucson, AZ B,L,D White Stallion Ranch
Activity note: Walking up to one mile over course of the day over packed dirt, even terrain; mounting and dismounting horse (mounting block available).

Breakfast: Our breakfast at the Ranch includes a cooked-to-order menu as well as an extensive continental buffet.

Morning: This morning we'll meet our horses. The Ranch horses are extremely friendly; if you stand by the corral fence, they'll gather round vying for attention. We'll have the same horses all week, and by the end of the program, they'll feel like old friends. We begin our day with an early-morning trail ride. After returning to the Ranch, we'll be treated to a demonstration on "Natural Horsemanship," learning about this effective technique for working with horses. We'll then watch an instructional riding video at the Round Up movie theater.

Lunch: Our daily lunch buffet allows us to dine inside or on the patio with a selection of two entrées, several side dishes and salads, plus a sandwich bar. Fresh-baked cookies and fresh fruit are always available.

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll enjoy a presentation on saguaro cacti, the iconic plants of the Sonoran Desert. Afterwards, we'll end the afternoon with a late-afternoon/early-evening trail ride.

Dinner: In the Sunrise Room.

Evening: This evening, we'll meet for tonight's "Star Party." We'll walk out to a selected area where we'll be able to view the heavens just as the early Native American residents of this desert setting did; far away from city lights, the stars, moon, and planets all stand out. With our local expert, we'll have the opportunity to view the magnificence through telescopes as well as binoculars (we'd encourage folks to bring some; even inexpensive ones can make viewing more pleasurable).

Day 3
Trail Ride, Ranch History, Horse Grooming, Penning, Hay Ride
Tucson, AZ B,L,D White Stallion Ranch
Activity note: Mounting and dismounting horse; walking over packed dirt terrain.

Breakfast: Trail ride breakfast. We'll ride out to a beautiful location for an al fresco cookout breakfast. (Van transportation is available for those who don't wish to ride. Restroom facilities available at cookout site.)

Morning: After returning to the Ranch, the White Stallion Ranch's owner, Russell True, or a member of his family will tell us how his family purchased the Ranch, how he learned to manage it and how his own children are planning to run the Ranch in the future. He'll also talk about the history of rodeos. The weekly exhibition rodeo has been a Ranch tradition for almost 50 years. After his talk, we'll enjoy a "behind-the-scenes" exploration of the operational facilities, including areas that most guests don't get to see, including the tack room, feed room and the all-important kitchen.

Lunch: Ranch buffet.

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll learn about the Ranch's "infamous" roadrunner. We'll then have a hands-on lesson on grooming our horses, and enjoy a team penning demonstration. After the penning demonstration, we'll climb aboard flatbed trailers for a hay ride.

Dinner: Ranch buffet.

Evening: Optional ranch "Wild West Show" on the patio.

Day 4
Paint A Pony, Ranch Animal Care, Critter Show
Tucson, AZ B,L,D White Stallion Ranch
Activity note: Walking up to one mile over course of the day on packed dirt, even terrain.

Breakfast: Ranch buffet.

Morning: We'll start the morning with a scenic trail ride. Then, after breakfast, we'll meet at the round pen for a lesson on how to groom and lead our horses. We'll then have a fun "Paint Your Pony" class: We'll paint our horses with Indian designs, braid their manes, and add feathers or flowers. Everyone really enjoys it as grandparents and grandchildren work together to see who can create the most beautiful horse.

Lunch: Ranch buffet.

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll learn about local geology, followed by some free time for swimming. We'll then go to the arena for the Exhibition Ranch Rodeo performed by the White Stallion Ranch staff.

Dinner: Ranch buffet.

Evening: This evening we'll meet some of the "critters" that live in this desert environment.

Day 5
AZ-Sonora Desert Museum, Art Class, Penning, Cowboy Songs
Tucson, AZ B,L,D White Stallion Ranch
Activity note: Boarding van; walking at the Desert Museum over paved and unpaved terrain; throwing a lasso.

Breakfast: Ranch buffet.

Morning: After breakfast, we'll board one of the Ranch vans and travel to Tucson to visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The museum exhibits more than 300 live animal species, including mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, hawks, bighorn sheep, and hummingbirds in natural habitats. Paths lead visitors through landscapes containing more than 1,300 species of plants indigenous to the Sonoran Desert region, including desert grasslands, cactus and desert gardens. A pollination garden complex shows interactions between insects, birds, bats and plants, and a fenceless enclosure allows javelinas to explore hillsides and take mud baths. A simulated limestone cave features a collection of regional gems and minerals. A display about how the planet has evolved with explanations of erosion, volcanic and seismic activity and plate tectonics also is featured. This is an absolutely incredible place to visit; kids and adults will be fascinated by the variety of exhibits and things to do. Following the visit, the vans will travel back to the Ranch for lunch.

Lunch: Ranch buffet.

Afternoon: We'll begin the afternoon with a hands-on art class. Using watercolors and ink, we'll create a little memento to take home with us. Our instructor is a wonderful teacher, and participants are often amazed at what they can accomplish. (All materials provided.) After the class, we'll go to the round pen for instruction on how to throw a lasso, then finish the afternoon with another trail ride or more team penning.

Dinner: Ranch buffet.

Evening: After dinner, we'll be treated to musical entertainment by cowboy singer Bill Ganz. We'll sit by the bonfire as he serenades us with a medley of western songs.

Day 6
Program Concludes
Tucson, AZ B
Activity note: Walking a block or two from housing area to dining hall and check-out area.

Breakfast: At the Ranch. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are departing today, please check out no later than 11:00 a.m. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please be in touch via the Road Scholar Social Network, wherer you can share memories, pictures, and comments. Best wishes for all your journeys!