THIS VACATION IS ABOUT RENEWAL
The Elkhorn Ranch guest ranch vacation experience surrounds you with Tucson, Arizona’s turquoise blue sky by day and dark starry skies by night. The Miller family and their crew welcome you to a home away from home to savor time alone and the chance to discover new friendships. Day-to-day life and ranch activities plant you outdoors where horseback riding, hiking or bird watching fully occupy your mind and body.
Contact the Miller Family to arrange a week or longer vacation during the ranch’s 80th guest season between November 16, 2025 and April 26, 2026. Rates are all-inclusive and friendly to solo travelers (no single supplement) and families (reduced rates for kids).
GUESTBOOK VIDEO
Part 1
DIGITAL DETOX
Part 2
HORSEBACK RIDING
Part 3
FRIENDSHIP
Erin is from Portland, Oregon and currently lives abroad in Portugal. In her words, “I came to Elkhorn because my parents came last year and they had such a good time that when they got back they immediately rebooked and invited me to come along.” So the trip has been “a year in the making”.
Erin explained that she didn’t know what to expect from the experience. Her parents warned her that, “there’s not much wi-fi so even though you work remotely you’re going to really want to have this week blocked off.” Erin was glad she did. “This trip was one of the few times that I felt I was able to disconnect … I felt very off grid.” She enjoyed the break from television and technology and the chance to “truly just be” here at the ranch.
“Falling in the schedule of being here” contributed to the experience. One of the best parts was her cabin, Tower, which she found to be relaxing and “so quiet”. She said, “I haven’t slept this well in a really long time”. Visiting the ranch was a “unique experience”. She didn’t know that places like this existed and described it as a “pleasant surprise”.
Erin did not come to the ranch with horseback riding credentials in hand. She explained that, “I rode as a kid … on family vacations, but the last time was when I was 10 or 12 years old.” Once again, she wasn’t sure what to expect. She found getting back on a horse after 20 or so years to be “a pleasant surprise”. She attributed her comfort largely to the ranch guides. They were “clear with instructions … all about safety … and gave pointers.” She felt like she “improved drastically” thanks to the instruction she was given. Most of all, the guides were “always watching … to help you have a better riding experience and become a more confident rider.”
The friendship experienced at the ranch was another surprise. Erin said that her parents kept saying, “you’ll see” when you get there! The social experience started Sunday night at the meet and greet party before supper. Meeting the other guests happened “organically” with the help of shared interest in doing outdoor activities. Erin and her parents talked about the idea that, “as an adult it gets harder and harder to meet new people and make new friends.” A big part of the ranch experience was meeting “so many amazing people just by being here.” She enjoyed the exchange of phone numbers, email addresses and photos and found it “so lovely that people really look out for each other during the week to help everyone have a good time.” She left her vacation with “a bunch of new friends from all over the United States”!
Horseback riding outdoors where she found herself “paired with new people every day” nurtured these friendships. She rode some with her parents but also with all the other people at the ranch that week. “Sharing a beautiful landscape” provided a great opportunity to get to know each other.
Another unexpected source of camaraderie was a shared love of books and reading and talking about books! Erin found the ranch to be a “readers paradise because it is so quiet and tranquil.”
Erin and her parents booked again for spring 2026 and we look forward to welcoming them back!
Excerpts from a conversation between Mary Miller and Erin J, April 2025
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