Tanque Verde Ranch

Several miles east of Tucson, the Tanque Verde Ranch has one of the best locations in the West for guests who want to experience the rustic ranch life while enjoying a luxe resort. Horseback riding and the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert are Tanque Verde’s calling cards, along with upscale accommodations and top-notch service in everything from the riding lessons to the communal meals.With the dramatic Rincon Mountains and Saguaro National Park East on one side, and the Coronado National Forest on the other, there’s room to stretch out and explore here. The ranch alone comprises some 60,000 acres, making it the largest in North America. With nature so near, it’s easy to experience its wonders all day long, which is what Tanque Verde is all about. Trails can be explored on horseback, with different rides available for beginners and more advanced riders. Wranglers also offer riding lessons for various skill levels.Along with serene horseback rides into the desert, the ranch also offers guided hikes and mountain bike excursions. One of the highlights is a morning horseback ride to a remote breakfast camp, where a hot meal is served up outdoors. A barbecue cookout with bonfires and steak, beans, and all the fixings is also held weekly. Three meals a day are served communally in the vast dining room. Live country music and dancing are part of the scene at the lounge in the evenings.Tanque Verde educates guests about the desert with a Nature Center that houses critters such as rattlesnakes, scorpions, and other venomous creatures. For those who want to laze about and enjoy the stunning surroundings, the rooms are quiet and private with patios facing the desert. An indoor pool, outdoor pool, several Jacuzzis, and tennis courts offer more ways to spend time. At the end of the day -- and the ranch makes the days full by scheduling activities from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily -- everyone comes together for dinner to share trail stories while watching a spectacular Arizona sunset.

The Tanque Verde Ranch is located about a 50-minute drive from the Tucson International Airport, several miles east of the city in the foothills of the Rincon Mountains. Saguaro National Park East and the Coronado National Forest both border the ranch. The setting is remote. No shuttle service is offered.Tucson is the second-biggest city in Arizona and perhaps its most culturally rich. Though officially founded in 1776, Tucson was first settled in the late 1600s by Spanish missionaries (most notably at the beautiful Mission San Xavier del Bac, the region's most iconic structure), and 4000 years earlier by Hohokam Indians. It is said to be one of the longest continuously-inhabited cities in the USA, known since its inception as the "Old Pueblo."Sitting at 2,400 feet in a broad valley between five different mountain ranges, Tucson enjoys on average 350 sunny days per year and an arid climate that produces one of the most diverse desert environments in the world. The Sonoran Desert features the stately saguaro cactus, which is celebrated at Saguaro National Park on the city's outskirts, and many other varieties of cacti and unique wildlife including a few notable desert dwellers, such as rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, and Giant Desert Hairy Scorpions. There was even a 2009 sighting of a rare jaguar. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has wildlife and flora on display, and is the best place to learn more.With all that sunshine, Tucson is an outdoor lover's paradise. Scores of golf courses dot the city. Hiking possibilities are limitless and year-round in the Santa Catalina and Santa Rita Mountains nearby, with Sabino Canyon Recreation Area being a local favorite. Mountain bikers come to Tucson by the thousands for the miles of single-track trails in the desert. Bird-watchers can explore some of the richest avian populations in North America in nearby secluded canyons. And there's even a ski area among fir and pine trees atop Mt. Lemmon, which has an elevation of more than 9,000 feet.Tucson's Hispanic community is woven into the fabric of everyday life in the city, and is reflected in the Mexican restaurants, the Spanish place names, and the arts and culture that play a large part in forming Tucson's identity. The arts abound in Tucson in dozens of galleries, such as the Etherton Gallery or DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun (celebrating the work of Tucson artist Ted DeGrazia). The University of Arizona houses the Creative Center for Photography, the nation's largest repository of photographs by notable artists such as Ansel Adams and W. Eugene Smith.As a desert city, Tucson gets hot in the summertime with temps ranging in the 100s from May to mid-September. Winter is the busy season, when many visitors succumb to the temptations of 75-degree days and pleasant evenings around a fireplace. Summers can be enjoyable too, by sticking close to a pool or indulging in shopping -- just remember to pack extra water and avoid exertion in the midday sun. Locals might suggest taking a siesta -- "nap" in Spanish -- during midday hours.It's important to realize that freeways are nonexistent in Tucson, save for I-10. Driving times can vary depending on time of day, as rush hour creates a twice-daily snarl on surface streets.- 50-minute drive to Tucson International Airport

• 5-minute drive to Saguaro National Park East
• 35-minute drive to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
• 40-minute drive to the The Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona
• 40-minute drive to Reid Park Zoo
• 40-minute drive to the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
• 40-minute drive to Pima Air and Space Museum
• 45-minute drive to La Encantada shopping area
• 60-minute drive to Mission San Xavier del Bac
• 60-minute drive to Old Tucson Studios
• 60-minute drive to the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum
• 60-minute drive to Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley
• 150-minute drive to Phoenix

With 70 rooms scattered across its large property, the Tanque Verde Ranch offers privacy and quiet amidst the natural desert surroundings. Several rooms are housed in the original ranch bunkhouse, while others are newer stand-alone units called casitas. Decor is ranch-like, with brick walls, wrought iron headboards, and rough-hewn wood furniture. Bathrooms include decorative Mexican tiles and red tile floors. There is free Wi-Fi, but no TVs -- though the lack of TVs may help enhance guests' connection to the great outdoors.- No TVs

• No in-room safes
• Some standard rooms feature lovely views of the mountains.
• Suites include private patios and fireplaces; some offer Jacuzzi tubs.
• Coronado Casitas are stand-alone units featuring fireplaces, patios facing the desert, and separate sitting areas.

• Horseback lessons and trail rides in the desert
• Mountain biking and hiking on beautiful nature trails
• Indoor pool area with heated pool, Jacuzzi, and many windows that let in natural light
• Lovely outdoor pool deck with heated pool, waterfalls, Jacuzzi, and striking mountain views
• La Sonora Spa offers interesting array of treatments, with ingredients such as wine, chocolate, and coffee beans.
• Five outdoor tennis courts; nighttime lighting available
• Outdoor basketball court with nighttime lighting
• Tiny game room has ping pong table, but no video games.
• Small fitness center with treadmills and weight machines
• Nature Center with desert creatures on display
• Catch-and-release fishing excursions
• Live music in the evenings
• Many kids’ activities, such as games, arts and crafts, and trail rides
• View Full List of Amenities

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served up daily in the dining room. Meals are communal and included in the hotel rate. Food is served buffet-style and includes American fare with a Southwestern twist.
• Weekly indoor and outdoor events include the Old Homestead Breakfast Ride (a hot meal is served up in a remote camp reached via horseback), Mexican Fiesta Night, and the Cottonwood Grove Ranch Barbecue with live entertainment and bonfires.