17 summers. That’s the gut-wrenching reality - you get 17 summers with your kids. 17 falls, winters and springs for that matter. So, how do you make them count? For me, it’s creating family memories both for myself, and hopefully for my kids to look back at fondly as adults.
Have you ever had a family vacation or outing that seemed to be a bust - whether it be bad weather, sibling fights, illness or anything in between - but after the fact, everyone remembers it as “such a great time?” This is generally how things go in my family. Most recently, the crazy schedule of my teens and pre-teen, coupled with the gap in ages of my four kids, had me wondering if planning something for us to do as a family was worth it. I knew there would be eyeball rolls and complaints. In fact, we had one who started out just plain refusing to go! But considering all of that, I also couldn’t shake the nagging emotion about how little time we had left together. My oldest (who tried to put his foot down and refuse to go), is only with us 2 more summers - and my youngest, who is 8, still has all this magic that she wants to share with her siblings. So, I searched and I searched for a mini-vacation that would give us some much needed (by that I mean I needed) family time, but also a great deal of fun that my kids could cherish for years to come.
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This article is neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort. As a member of the media, our family received a discounted rate for our stay. All views and opinions expressed are solely our own.
Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in Highland, NY came up a clear winner. First of all, it’s an all-inclusive resort, which makes sticking to a budget easy - after booking you need only factor in some cash for tips and any alcoholic or speciality beverages you may want from the bar. Second, it’s driveable. Just one hour and 45 minutes from Morris County! Third, they have so many activities that it would be impossible for any of our family members not to be able to find something to do. When we arrived I was immediately impressed by the grounds - they are impeccably maintained with the most gorgeous landscaping. You won’t be able to help but appreciate all the work they must put into it! All the buildings, walkways and attractions are clean, well kept and modernized. It’s clear this resort takes pride in updating the resort so that it never feels “old.”
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The hands-down favorite activity for my whole family was the banana boat ride. We truly couldn't get enough! Weather permitting this activity is open everyday and rides are unlimited. In addition, the ranch offers horseback riding (you are guaranteed at least one ride each day of your stay), mini golf, fishing, rock climbing, a harnessed trampoline for extra high jumps and tricks (where my 8-year-old spent much of her time), mountain tubing (who knew tubing without snow could be such a thrill), archery, a shooting range, a baseball/kickball field, ping pong tables, cornhole, beach and water volleyball, two outdoor waterslides and a small (but still very enjoyable for my youngest and the pre-teens), indoor waterpark. If you want to laugh as a family, you can’t miss the indoor laser tag arena - we had more than one “friendly” competition during our visit! There is also an outdoor playground and a mini-zoo. On top of the permanent attractions, there is a daily schedule of activities such as bingo, scavenger hunts, contests and several options for shows (on our visit there was a reptile show, a magic show and a yo-yo show). If you opt to visit in the wintertime, you’ll enjoy ice skating as well as a small ski hill.
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Because this is an all-inclusive resort, all of the above-mentioned activities are included, as are all of your meals, coffee, soda and juices. For breakfast, you’ll be treated to a generous buffet of baked goods, french toast, pancakes, eggs, assorted meats, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, fruit and yogurt. You can also order omelets from the kitchen. Lunch during the warmer months consists of an outdoor barbecue at the picnic pavilion. The offerings change daily, but we enjoyed BBQ chicken, burgers, hot dogs, tacos, pulled pork plus a salad bar and a variety of sides such as potato salad, coleslaw, french fries, mixed vegetables and baked ziti. Of course there is a dessert station with cookies, brownies and an ice cream freezer! Late afternoon, from 3-4:30 you'll appreciate the Chef’s Tasting. Adults can sip on a complimentary drink of the day and everyone can partake in the snack buffet - with items ranging from empanadas, mini tacos, soft pretzel bites, cheese and crackers, vegetable crudité and more! Dinner is a sit-down affair with a rotating menu of options that are made-to-order. Salad and rolls are served family-style and then you’ll have an assortment of appetizers and entrees to select from. Everything was absolutely delicious and the staff will happily accommodate any special requests or dietary restrictions you may have. The flatiron and strip steak were amazing, as was the truffle mac and cheese. We also enjoyed beef brisket, haddock with a lemon butter sauce and a burger that was to die for (definitely not your standard, mass produced cafeteria burger!). For kids, they offer chicken fritters, grilled cheese, hot dog and pasta with marinara sauce every night. You are welcome to sample as much from the dinner menu (sample dinner menu) as you like, and the portions are unlimited. The dessert buffet after dinner was also a highlight - plenty of cakes, pies, cookies and a soft serve ice cream machine and a full sundae bar. What’s not to love about that! Should you be hungry or thirsty at any time, there is a small snack station off the lobby and drink machines in the dining room are available 24/7.
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Sleeping accommodations were generous and well appointed. We had a room with two double beds and a set of bunk beds. Since our teens cringe at the thought of sharing a bed, we also brought a blow up bed and there was plenty of room for it. Although sharing a bathroom with 6 family members is tough, RHR has thought of that too and the room included an extra sink outside of the bathroom. The room also contained a mini-fridge and plenty of storage space. After a day filled with numerous activities, everyone slept very soundly in the comfortable beds!
We’ve done just about every local-ish indoor water park resort in the past few years, and what we loved most about the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort was the variety of activities that are outside - obviously some are seasonal and weather permitting - but we never felt trapped inside the resort and enjoyed having ample opportunities to meander the grounds. The resort is big enough to not feel claustrophobic after a few days, but small enough that you can feel comfortable letting your kids wander a bit. Although the resort was fully booked during our stay, it never felt crowded as guests spread out throughout the day. There are activities that you can do as a family, and ones you can send your kids off to do while you relax by the pool.
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I also have to give a shout out to the staff at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort. It feels as though we’ve become accustomed the past few years to accepting bad service and poor attitudes from hospitality staff - but every single employee we encountered at the ranch was upbeat, positive, had a smile and was eager to help. We witnessed many staff members who went out of their way to tell a guest about something (a fun fact, pointing out certain things in the landscaping, the proper way to throw a curveball, just to name a few) and everyone seemed genuinely interested in ensuring that guests were all having a great time. We also recognized that many staff members must be long-time employees, as they were catching up with guests who visit the resort annually and it was apparent that they truly enjoyed seeing the familiar faces.
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Speaking of visiting annually, we heard so many stories from guests at the ranch about how they had come on vacation as kids and were now visiting with their children and even their grandchildren! The ranch has been family owned since 1958, and is clearly a favorite repeat destination for multiple generations. I’m pleased to say that our family has now joined the ranks of families who will excitedly call the Rocking Horse Ranch an annual summer vacation spot!
