Ranching in USA - advice please!

[loobylolly]

We are considering spending 3 weeks in the States this August, including a week on a guest ranch and 2 weeks self drive.

Have decided not to do Arizona / Grand Canyon / Las Vegas etc this time (perhaps in april or October another year). There seems to be fantastic ranches in Colorado / Idaho / Montana / Wyoming, but there is too much information and I can't work out which would be best in terms of scenery, wildlife and a reasonable itinerary for the self drive bit, with plenty to occupy 2 kids aged 11 and 7... (I have a slight impression that Wyoming might be a bit too full of huge open plains, beautiful in the cinema but less exciting to explore - but this could be totally wrong.)

Any opinions or suggestions or general advice welcome! TIA.

Hmm. I'm hoping for a docile little donkey that's happy to plod around with me and won't expect anything in the way of guidance from me!

Are cowboys like ski instructors, all muscly and manly?!

In my mind they are better than ski instructors! Ski instructors don't look that hot on skis really. Wranglers on big flared nostril horses, with beads of sweat on their furrowed brow and plaid shirts with the sleeves rolled up. Yes please thank you very much. they are so manly and sat round the campfire swigging out of a little whisky flask, whilst telling stories of -buttsex- heroic rides out west. Lovely.

i misread this as 'Raunching'

As you were.

ooh goody lovely, sounds delicious! I shall be enjoying the - ahem - scenery in many respects then. [Thoughts of Brokeback Mountain firmly pushed aside.]

well eggy funny you should mention that..!!!

I had to not think of Brokeback Mountain a few times lol. Also on one ride the second wrangler was a 17 year old chunk of deliciousness. Barely legal. But oh my sainted aunt could he ride! (and I do only mean the horse.) (tragically)

There are girl wranglers too. Who are also unfairly pretty. So those whose husbands might not want to ride a horse for a week might change their mind when they get to the ranch. Lol.

Ok rainchung over. Back to my pile of ironing and Dutch language homework. Yay.

Rainchung? I meant raunching. Even my blackberry has come over all unnecessary

OK we've booked.

We're starting with a few days next to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, then up to Wyoming - a week ranching at Paradise Ranch (was the one recommended in the end by the UK company we're dealing with to fit with this itinerary - Triple J another year Wrinkly!) - then 4 days in Yellowstone staying in a "frontier cabin" by Lake Yellowstone, then a couple of days in Jackson then back to Denver.

Any more advice most welcome. Where best to go white water rafting e.g.? To give the kids riding lessons first or not? (I'm thinking not...) anything else?