Has anyone been to Tanque Verde Ranch (Tucson, AZ) ???

[kashkdz]

Hi--

My wife is planning to book a few days next year at Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, AZ (part of the Concierge Collection). I see that all meals and activities etc., are included. Since we are new DVC members, with Saratoga Springs being our home resort, I was wondering if point-wise a stay at the ranch is worth it.

Thanks ahead for your response.

---> I'm sure this has been asked, but since I couldn't find it myself, I gotta ask.
Also, how do you do comparisons with one resort to another. Since all resorts are not priced the same, and not all resorts cost the same number of points per night, how do you figure which resort is the better deal. Is there some type of point or cost per night calculator that would translate your points to per night dollars, so that you can deteremine how much the room is costing you; this way you can decide if the nightly stay is using too many points, it would be better to pay cash.
---<

 

[Mdtigger99]

We went there a few years ago and loved it. The people were all great and the food and accommodations were very good. Our daughter used to ride quite a bit and she was in heaven there. Since everything was included, she was riding all day, every day. My wife and I rode everyday but not all day…please. Even if you don’t ride there is enough to keep you active for three or four days. Since my daughter doesn’t ride any longer, I would probably not return but that is in no way a reflection on our experience with this ranch, we loved our stay.

 

[AZKathy]

I live out here and wanted to give you good times to travel here. Currently it is nice and sunny outside around 63 degrees; comfortable enough for light sweaters. I would come out in fall like later October time or spring time before April. The weather between can be hot hot hot and not comfortable for horseback riding. The spring is nice to see all the desert wildflowers in bloom.

It is a short day's drive up to the Grand Canyon if you want to include that in your visit to Arizona. Oh, then another day drive to do Disneyland if you need your Disney Fix!!!

 

[cheyita]

Originally posted by Mdtigger99
We went there a few years ago and loved it. The people were all great and the food and accommodations were very good. Our daughter used to ride quite a bit and she was in heaven there. Since everything was included, she was riding all day, every day. My wife and I rode everyday but not all day…please. Even if you don’t ride there is enough to keep you active for three or four days. Since my daughter doesn’t ride any longer, I would probably not return but that is in no way a reflection on our experience with this ranch, we loved our stay.

How old was your daughter? Is there a minimum age for riding? I'm sure there is, I'm just wondering what. My 7 yo has been asking to vacation on a ranch. Is she too young? And are there activities for a 5 yo too?

Also - like your Vette 50th clip. We have a '72 and an '02, and just stopped in Bowling Green on our way through coming home from Disney last weekend!

 

[Cruelladeville]

I would like to know what kind of activities they have at Tanque Verde Ranch. You mentioned horseback riding--just riding, or do you corral cows, or do the trail ride with the food type of thing? I would like to go and be a pampered cowboy, but I don't plan on sleeping with bugs and snakes. I am kind of interested in going too, but I am not sure at $10 per point, if cash or points is the better deal.

 

[AZKathy]

Check out

www.tvgr.com

Hope this helps some.

 

[kashkdz]

Thanks for all the info this seems like a great place to go...
I'm just trying to decide if the point value is worth it.

You guys are the best !

 

[Mdtigger99]

Originally posted by cheyita
How old was your daughter? Is there a minimum age for riding? I'm sure there is, I'm just wondering what. My 7 yo has been asking to vacation on a ranch. Is she too young? And are there activities for a 5 yo too?

Also - like your Vette 50th clip. We have a '72 and an '02, and just stopped in Bowling Green on our way through coming home from Disney last weekend!

A wave to fellow Vette owners! I was thinking about going to Bloomington Gold this year. If you go to any events maybe we’ll meet you.

Our daughter was probably about 10 when we went but she had been riding since age 5 so she didn't have any problem demonstrating her proficiency and was included on all levels of riding (unlike her parents ). I don’t remember how old you had to be, better to contact them directly for up to date requirements on that.

Their dinning hall put on a wonderful buffet three times a day. You could either be seated at the next open table and eat with others or request a separate table for yourselves. We always took the next table, it was great meeting different people each time. Many guests come from other countries so it was a lot of fun.

They also had a trail breakfast once or twice a week that you had to ride to and they had all the eggs bacon etc. cooking out on an open fire. That was lots of fun. Also a dinner cookout with music once a week.

They also had nature walks with a naturalist, seminars from professors from the Univ. of Arizona (I went to one about star gazing). They also had tennis and a pool.

You may also want to spend a day or two at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix to sooth those sore muscles after a few days on the “trail”.

Since we went, the Ranch also bought out another nearby “working ranch” if you wanted a more realistic taste of cattle herding and life as a cowboy. This I believe you need to have a higher level of riding skills to take part.

I hope this helps but getting current information would be suggested.

 

[cheyita]

Thanks to AZKathy for the link and Mdtigger99 for the more detailed info. I think it looks like a great place, but I'm thinking we should wait until our younger daughter is 7 so that both girls can be in the Wrangler group.

Seems like we're saying that about a lot of trips...we want to wait a couple years for the cruise so the younger one is able to snorkle; we want to wait until she's older to go to Hawaii so she can ride a bike for Downhill Maui; etc. I guess that's why it's good we get our fill of WDW and MK while they still enjoy things like Small World and Winnie the Pooh. In a few years we hope to enjoy snorkeling, horseback riding and other fun activities!

 

[dairyou]

After reading the original OP, we think we are interested also. It would be nice and close for us in California. Much closer than WDW...

It sounds like great fun, but I have one question. My boys 10 and 11 have never ridden before. Do they have beginner lessons or trails? What if they don't like it? Is there enough for them to do without the horseback riding? It seems like the kids activities are based mostly on riding.

Thanks!
Deb

 

[trainfun]

We went to Tanque Verde for 4 days in August and enjoyed it. There was something for everyone.
Nature walks for the 19 year old and I. We saw a rattlesnake, another variety of snake, numerous types of birds, a very interesting walk) The Pool. (It was HOT!)
Horseback riding for my wife and the 16 year old.
Evening barbecues with singing cowboy.
Evening programs that were really interesting -- one on rocks and minerals (I'm a science teacher and was fascinated by this, the presenter had a truly infectious enthusiasm and even young kids enjoyed this) and one on falcons and other birds. (Yes, the birds were in the room!)
Three filling, good meals each day.
A fitness center.
The Sonoran desert right outside the rooms, we watched javelinas, tarantulas and a skunk go by.
If we went again, we'd go during a cooler time of year. Temperatures were in triple digits everyday. One day the humidity went up to 21% (very low by NY standards) and the employees were complaining about how humid it was. Compared to Ny summer it was not even slightly humid.
Overall, a very good time!

There have been other threads describing Tanque Verde including an excellent one by Shontell Crawford (I think the last name is right.) She gives a good description of the horseback riding.
Search and there is lots of info.

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by trainfun
If we went again, we'd go during a cooler time of year. Temperatures were in triple digits everyday. One day the humidity went up to 21% (very low by NY standards) and the employees were complaining about how humid it was. Compared to Ny summer it was not even slightly humid.
Overall, a very good time!

Didn't anyone tell you that we don't venture out of the air conditioning in August? And, yes, August is part of our "rainy season", so the humidity gets up there!!!!