When most people think of spring break, they picture beaches, sun, and umbrella drinks; not rivers, mountains, and spurs! I prefer the later, which is exactly how we ended up spending most of my sons spring break at the Vee Bar Guest Ranch in Laramie, Wyoming.
I have been missing the mountains so I knew that I wanted to go somewhere that included the breathtaking views that always have given me a sense of tranquility (which to be honest I really could use at this moment in my life). I focused my search on anything within a days drive from Omaha since we would be stopping there first, and a couple “googles” later I located the Vee Bar. The Vee Bar is located in southeast Wyoming and about 20 minutes outside of Laramie. I knew a spring vacation in Wyoming is a bit of a risk with the weather but there was plenty to do to occupy us no matter what the weather ended up being. I contacted the ranch and was thrilled when I booked 3 nights in a place that looked like I could spend a lifetime there.
That is how I ended up sitting in this chair, in the corner of the rustic lodge writing this very blog. The hardwood floors creaking with every step someone makes, and the boys clicking across the floor in their little cowboy boots. Roughcut timbers serve as the structure for the lodge, and local wildlife decorate the walls. To my left is a nice cozy fieldstone wood burning fireplace that is lit every morning when we come in to enjoy the breakfast portion of the B&B package I booked. Outside you can see other structures of the ranch within view and some nice bench swings surrounding a fire pit. Today everything is covered in snow, but that is life in the foothills. It is peaceful and so quiet you can almost hear the snowflakes landing on the trees and the river.
The ranch was originally a stage stop in the 1880s before it eventually became a working guest ranch. In 1994 the Vee Bar Guest Ranch was opened by the Cole family and has been operated by generations of Cole’s since. The current owners are Brett and Kari Kilmer, who both made us all feel like we were part of the family. How lucky are the guests of the ranch to truly experience this beautiful setting and this welcoming family!
We stayed with our two boys in the Riverside Suites and did the Bed and Breakfast style stay. The suites were literally right next to the river. They had a nice patio area and a riverside boardwalk that would take you up to the main lodge. The patio had chairs on it, and I would have LOVED to spend hours listening to the river and reading a book but it was still a bit chilly out for that. (Next time if my butt is not on a horse, its going to be in those chairs). The suites had a queen bed in one room with a sitting area and a nice gas stove/fireplace. In the next room were two twin beds, ideal for kids (that stay in their own beds all night..eyeroll since my kids don’t sleep) or for other adult guests. The bathroom had a shower, his and her sinks, and bonus….a washer and dryer!!
Two things to be aware of when staying in the suites; one, there is no microwave so do not plan on heating things up or cooking anything in the suites. Two, there is no TV so if your family is a TV fanatic bring a tablet with movies (which is what we did for the kids, and they watched that at night). If you don’t care about a TV (like me) bring a book or five! As a side note, if you are desperate to cook something in the cabin, you can use your coffee pot and heat up water to make those little ramen noodle cups. I did this for lunch each day for the kids. There is also a refrigerator so you can bring sandwich fixings etc. Please note that there are no camp stoves/grills allowed at the ranch.
Speaking of food, I think I gained weight enjoying the amazing daily breakfasts in the lodge. The cook prepares breakfast for the guests daily. When we were the only guests there it was served to us right at the table. On the one day we were with other guests it was buffet style. However, this is not the status quo food you find in a hotel breakfast buffet. This was GOOD homecooked food. We had fruit smoothies, juice, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and fruit. Each day was a little different but everyday was delicious! You can purchase packages that also allow you to enjoy dinner in the lodge as well. If you do not eat the ranch Centennial has some restaurants about 10 minutes down the road, otherwise it’s about 30 min to Laramie which has lots of options. We ate at Wyoming Rib & Chophouse one night and it was very good!
The highlight was of course the horseback riding. I had signed my oldest and myself up for riding and it was his first time, so he was a bit nervous. We hung out with the horses out by the barn while Cuppy and Brett got our horses ready for us. Before you arrive, you will get sent a waiver to complete about your riding abilities and comfort level so they can match you up with a horse that is a good fit for you. Wyatt rode Cj, who was very nice and well-tempered and we think who actually dozed off well plodding along! I rode Captain and our wrangler (Cuppy) rode his own horse. Cuppy did a great job explaining things to Wyatt about riding and making him feel comfortable during his first experience. We rode for about 2 hours and all over the pastures at a pace Wyatt was comfortable with. We even got to head out to the cow herd and see all the mama’s and babies! Wyatts favorite part was when he and Cj got to lead us across a wooden bridge and go first! If you decide to ride when at the ranch there are lots of packages and options as well. Wyatt has decided he is a pro wrangler now and next time wants to ride up the large plateau by the ranch or do the ride up in the mountains. It had been my first time back on a horse in quite some time and I thoroughly enjoyed the relaxing ride while taking in the beautiful views.
When you are not riding, or reading, or enjoying the scenery, there are other things to take part in at the ranch as well. One that we did not get to do but would if we were back when it was warmer would be to fish! The Little Laramie River that’s right outside your door? That’s right, it has trout in it! You can bring your own fishing supplies or use the poles at the ranch. You can fish alone or book a guided experience. There is also a stocked pond on the property you can fish in. You can also go tubbing in the river or relax in the hot tub! There is a saloon on the property that you can hang out in and play games. In the winter there is the Snowy Range Ski Area close by that is decent priced and some of the other guests had come to the ranch just to ski! Whether you want to relax or be adventurous there is always something to do at the Vee Bar!
A couple last things to note…
Plan your trip out. Take the time to talk to the ranch before you book to make sure you get the package you want. They are awesome to work with and will help you decide what to do if you are unsure.
The ranch life does not stop because of the weather so be prepared. Bring clothes to keep yourself warm and dry no matter what time of year it is.
Lastly, enjoy! The scenery is amazing and there is plenty of activities to do! I know my family all enjoyed the trip and we will definitely be going back to the Vee Bar!
Wandering Momma 