Invigorating Adventure at Rustic Horse Ranch

More than a hundred years after the area’s main road carried the last prospectors to British Columbia’s gold-rush towns, the 20,000 acres The Hills Health and Guest Ranch sits upon remain ever verdant, dotted with fields of towering evergreens that nuzzle against infinite stretches of sky. Afternoon hikes lead wayfarers through the territory’s trails that stretch more than 100 miles (150 km), past lakes, elevated vistas, and wildlife. The land’s spoils unfurl from elevated viewpoints during trail rides and private lessons atop the stable’s western-saddled equine companions. Come winter, the glistening land provides cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and snowmobiling that bolster expeditionists with awe-based warmth.

Wafts of solace perfume the area around the property’s 26 hotel-style rooms set into a hillside where tiers of wraparound wooden balconies hug two rustic lodges, each overlooking pine valleys and distant mountains. Each chamber bolsters wanderlust-weary guests with sturdy cherry-wood furnishings, including a gliding rocking chair and disco-pumping player piano. Before settling in for the night, ranch residents can gather around a roaring campfire or unwind in one of the three lounges, including the quiet tea parlor, the family-lounge game room, and the adults-only saloon.

A year-round slate of salubrious activities thrives at the ranch, where experienced instructors lead a fitness-and-wellness schedule that includes up to 10 daily classes. Sinews stretch during yoga and Pilates, and the earth-entrenched relieve gravity of its commitments in Aquafit water activities. Once the body releases its captive energies, experienced massage therapists and aestheticians balance body wobbles with choices of more than 30 healing and rejuvenating spa treatments, from a 50-minute french manicure to a 25-minute mini facial.

Cariboo Region: Wilderness Touched by Gold-Rush History

At the heart of British Columbia, the Cariboo region’s lush forests and wind-swept prairies still bear the traces of 1860s-era gold fever. The Cariboo Wagon Road, built to replace a mule-width mountain path, stands studded with old mile-marker roadhouses that grew into thriving communities. The so-named town of 100 Mile House proudly displays a leather-trimmed BC Express stagecoach, a testament to its once-bustling wagon traffic, as well as the reputed world’s largest pair of cross-country skis, towering nearly 40 feet (12 m) into the air at the 100 Mile House Visitor Centre. From the Visitor Centre, guided walking tours are available, as well as access to dozens of surrounding lakes.

Back at the ranch, echoing bellies can lose their hungry resonance in one of two on-site dining rooms. At The Trails End, chefs whip up gourmet fare such as free-range chicken breast stuffed with a crab-and-smoked-salmon love letter to taste buds ($25.95). The intimate, 24-seat 1871 Lodge Agnus McVee Dining Room serves a rotating range of sizzling meats atop hot rock slabs, as well as dippable delectables such as the fondue chinoise of beef, veggie, and potato bites. Though breakfasts vary according to the chef’s choice, a hearty ranch option such as french toast always squares off against a healthier spa option such as yogurt and fruit.