Best of the West

Where: Guests are transported to the “west” — 90 minutes north of New York City at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in Highland, N.Y. Families at the AAA Three-Diamond property pay one all-inclusive rate for accommodations, three meals per day, late afternoon chef’s tastings, snacks, entertainment and activities. A recent multimillion-dollar investment has added new attractions as well as facility and guestroom refurbishments and an enhanced dining experience.

Guestrooms: The 120 guestrooms are located in the main lodge, with rooms attached to all indoor facilities, or in the Oklahoma building 30 feet from the main lodge. Families with kids will like the guestrooms that feature bunk beds and an extra vanity outside the bathroom. Guestrooms are fairly basic, but soft goods upgrades and renovated bathrooms, plus flat-screen televisions, refrigerators and free Wi-Fi add to the comfort level.

Fun for Kids: Open year-round, Rocking Horse Ranch has activities designed for kids of all ages. There is unlimited horseback riding with trail rides for ages 7 years and up and pony rides for the little ones. The new Big Splash Indoor Water Park features a 250-foot flume water slide and more. Scheduled family activities include scavenger hunts, pie-eating and limbo contests, arts and crafts, bonfire sing-alongs and much more. Evening entertainment includes juggling and illusionist acts. A supervised children’s program runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for kids up to age 12.

Hot Tip: Fall stays feature the super-scary, best-for-older-kids Haunted House which is open on weekends in October. All ages will enjoy trick-or-treating the weekend closest to Halloween, plus bobbing for apples and pumpkin carving. Fall Fest provides treats for parents, such as local wines, cheeses and apples. Nearby farms also offer apple picking. www.rockinghorseranch.com