Horses were once considered man’s best friend, but after the invention of the dog, the horse was rebranded as man’s eccentric, oat-obsessed uncle. Take a journey with the kindest of kinsmen with today’s Groupon to Hilltop Ranch Inc in Jamesville. Choose between the following options:
- For $30, you get a 30-minute sleigh ride for up to three people (a $60 value).
- For $12, you get a one-hour horseback ride (a $30 value).<p>
The equine experts at Hilltop Ranch Inc guide guests across the countryside on horse-drawn sleighs or horseback while the Adirondack Mountains stand sentinel in the distance. During the winter, trios bask in the alpine glow as they pile into horse-drawn sleighs and slide silently across the soft snow. Vistas of nearby peaks and valleys enrapture travelers as they ride over well-groomed trails and powder-filled meadows, keeping an eye out for turkeys, coyotes, and bio-luminescent reindeer.
Cowpokes can ramble on horseback through the foothills of the Adirondack wilderness with an experienced guide who doubles as an interpreter for any talkative eagles or foxes that saunter onto the path. Helpful riding tips and a photo gallery of the ranch’s plethora of activities await inquisitive patrons on the website.
Double R Ranch
Clasped between Saguaro National Park and the Ironwood Preserve, Double R Ranch appears as though it were plucked straight from the frames of an old Western movie. The windswept grounds stand as a gateway to the thousands of untouched acres that quietly stitch together the Northwest side of Tucson. The ranch gives visitors a chance to explore that land with horseback rides and birthday parties. It also offers weekend getaways and RV hookups to city-dwellers in need of an escape from the crowds and door-to-door minivan salesmen that come with urban living. Double R also accommodates guests who have their own horses with overnight stabling services.