Think a dude ranch is something out of "City Slickers" or just for kids? Look again.

Horses and ranching are as much a part of the Texas Hill Country as cedar trees and red tail hawks, but you don’t have to be a cowboy, or even a rider, to enjoy them. Dude ranches (also known as guest ranches) come in many guises, and you’ll find one to suit your tastes and interests in the "Cowboy Capitol of the World" - Bandera, Texas.

For those who want a general vacation that includes horses, The Mayan Dude Ranch and the Flying L Guest Ranch offer lots of activities in addition to horseback riding. The Mayan has been catering to families for fifty years. Days are filled with an ongoing agenda of planned activities, from cookie-making to family Olympics. There’s a swimming pool, and a swimming hole on the Medina River complete with rope swing. Evening entertainment may be fireworks, a dance, a floorshow (with audience participation), a cowboy singer, or a band. You get a 50-minute ride each day at an easy walking pace, and the horses know the route, making it perfect for beginners. The accommodations are simple and rustic, the meals are sumptuous and plentiful, and snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine are available at no charge most of the day.

The Flying L is more like a resort than a ranch. The daily trail ride takes you at an easy walk through very pretty terrain that includes crossing a creek or two, and when you’re not riding you can get fishing poles and try your luck in the river. There’s an 18-hole, par 72 golf course with a pro shop that includes the latest in computerized tools for analyzing your stroke. And while you’re on the golf course or relaxing by the pool your kids can have their own fun in the day camp. Evenings feature campfires with s’mores. The accommodations at Flying L are top of the line. The bungalows are spacious and roomy, and the newer condos have full, well-equipped kitchens, washers and dryers, and living/dining rooms with leather cou ...

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