Interest in unplugged travel has grown steadily in recent years. We’ve observed that first-hand on the Ranch, but recent studies suggest that roughly one in four travelers are trying to disconnect more on vacation, and about 15 to 20 percent actively seek experiences that limit screen use. Families, in particular, are driving this shift.

The Rise in Screen Free Travel

Parents are increasingly aware of how much time their children spend on screens and are looking for opportunities to reset. Vacations are inherently designed for people to step away from daily routines, try something different, and gain a fresh perspective. More and more, families are choosing destinations where screens are not the center of the experience.

Nature based travel, horse retreats, and destinations like dude ranches in Colorado have all seen increased interest. These rustic environments make it easier to unplug because they offer something more exciting to focus on. A luxury dude ranch setting allows families to step into a fully immersive and comfortable experience without the distractions of regular life.

Why Families Are Seeking to Unplug

A Desire for Real Connection

Families often return from traditional vacations realizing they spent much of the time side by side but not truly together. Phones, tablets, and televisions can quietly pull attention away from shared moments. Research shows that over 80 percent of families say travel helps them feel more connected with each other.

It’s not a surprise that screen free settings create space for conversation, laughter, and presence. Whether it is around a table at our dude ranch or out on the trail, families have a better chance to engage with each other in a more meaningful way when phones aren’t around.

Reducing Digital Fatigue

Both parents and children are feeling the effects of constant connectivity. Notifications, social media, and endless content can leave people, young and old, feeling overstimulated and distracted. Surveys indicate that more than half of adults are actively trying to reduce their screen time, reflecting a broader sense of digital fatigue. It’s true. Kids are not as eager to reduce their screen time, but if you really ask them, sometimes they’ll admit they are looking for a reprieve from their devices, and healthy adult modeling has a huge influence on teens as they graduate into adulthood.

Stepping away from screens, even for a few days, can feel like a reset. Many of our guests describe a sense of calm that sets in quickly once on the Ranch. At an all inclusive guest ranch, the structure of the day makes it way easier to truly disconnect.

Creating Lasting Memories

Travel experiences that require full attention tend to be the ones that stay with us. Riding a horse for the first time, spotting wildlife, or learning a new skill becomes far more memorable when it is not filtered through a screen.

Families are increasingly prioritizing these kinds of experiences over passive entertainment. Activities like horseback riding and hiking naturally bring families together in a way that feels active, fun, and memorable.

What a Screen Free Vacation Looks Like at Vista Verde

On the Ranch, unplugging happens naturally. As an authentic Colorado ranch experience, the focus is on connection, in nature, and with each other. While guests are welcome to stay connected via WIFI if needed, the rhythm of an all-inclusive dude ranch encourages a different pace.

Mornings begin with a beautiful, hearty ranch breakfast, which might be followed by a horseback ride through open meadows full of wildflowers or a guided hike in the mountains. Afternoons offer opportunities for fly fishing, mountain biking, or simply relaxing on a quiet porch. Evenings bring everyone together for shared gourmet meals, conversation, and time together under a wide-open Colorado sky.

Children quickly find themselves immersed in outdoor activities and newly forged friendships. Without the usual digital distractions, they engage more fully with their surroundings and with each other. Parents often comment that conversations seem to flow more easily and that time together feels richer when they are here on the Ranch.

The Benefits Families Take Home

The impact of a screen-free vacation often extends well beyond the trip itself. Families leave with stronger connections and shared memories that continue to shape their relationships. Many return home with a new perspective on how technology plays a role in their daily lives.

Experiences at a dude ranch often serve as a reset. Even small changes, like setting aside device-free time or prioritizing outdoor activities each day, can extend the benefits of the Vista Verde experience.

Is a Screen Free Vacation Right for Your Family

There’s a unique and quiet rhythm that settles over Vista Verde every morning.

Before the horses get saddled. Before the Great Room fills with conversation. Mist rises off the pasture as the day is just beginning.

It’s in those early morning moments, with hot coffee in hand, that life finally seems to slow down.

The first quiet hour of the day. The pause between rides. The warmth you carry with you long after you leave. Moments we ranchers don’t take granted.

A COFFEE ROASTED IN THE MOUNTAINS

Coffee has always been a staple of Western cowboy culture. Traversing the frontier required early mornings, long hours in the saddle, and cowboys needed something to warm the soul and give them energy for the arduous work ahead of them. Not only was coffee essential to keep cowboys (and gals) going, but it was a way to take pause and share a thought or a laugh over a warm fire.

At Vista Verde, great coffee starts our days and sets the rhythm of every guest’s stay. Brewed early and refilled often, it’s the backdrop to the most meaningful moments and conversations.

Recently, we asked ourselves,

“Could our coffee be as memorable as the moments it’s part of?”

That led us to create our own new coffee collection for the Ranch and for your home – one that reflects the same way we approach hospitality: thoughtful, intentional, and elevated. Not just another cup of everyday drip coffee, but a premium collection of different blends, roasted fresh weekly in the mountains. Because around here, coffee isn’t just coffee. It’s a way of life.

Each blend is exquisite and tied to a specific moment at the Ranch.

MEET THE BLENDS

Our coffee is roasted with patience, precision, and craft, resulting in flavors full of clarity, natural sweetness, and real notes you can taste.

For many guests, it’s the small moments that stay with them long after they leave. Not the trail rides or the gorgeous views, but the feeling of being at Vista Verde.

Now, it’s something you can take home with you.

You can leave the Ranch, but your mornings don’t have to.

We have a new smiling face to welcome into our Vista Verde family!

Rochelle Latka joins the front office team as our new Director of Sales and Hospitality. Rochelle brings with her not only a deep love for the guest ranch lifestyle but also a wealth of experience shaped by adventure, service, and a lifelong commitment to meaningful hospitality. Her passion for dude ranching first began while studying at the College of William and Mary, where she spent her summer breaks working at guest ranches out West, quickly turning into something far more lasting—a calling she knew would be part of her life for years to come.

After graduation, Rochelle stepped away from ranch life briefly to pursue another dream: serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania. For two and a half years, she lived in a small village, working alongside residents on projects focused on malnutrition, HIV/AIDS education, water management, and community-based income initiatives. That time instilled in her a powerful sense of connection, leadership, and care—qualities that align with our own personal mission here at Vista Verde.

Rochelle eventually returned to the American West, spending six years living and working at a guest ranch in Wyoming while continuing to satisfy her adventurous spirit through travel and exploration. Her love of horses and endurance took her across the globe, including remarkable experiences competing in the Gaucho Derby across Patagonia and the legendary Mongol Derby across Mongolia.

After returning from her global adventures, Rochelle founded her own horse training and rehabilitation business in North Carolina, working with a wide range of horses and expanding her expertise even further. Now, as she returns to the guest ranch world, we are excited for the energy, warmth, and new perspective she brings to Vista Verde.

Rochelle will be stepping in as our beloved Director, Roxy, prepares for her next chapter, and we are confident she will continue to elevate the exceptional hospitality and heartfelt welcome that define Vista Verde Ranch. Please join us in welcoming Rochelle. We are so happy to have her here!

’Tis the season for gratitude, wonder, and indulgence. This Christmas Eve, we invite you to celebrate with a culinary experience as rare as it is unforgettable.

Our Food & Beverage Director Jonathon Gillespie, in partnership with Regalis Foods, will host a special one-night 7-course White Truffle Christmas Eve dinner. Decadent white truffles from Northern Italy will be the highlight of each dish, offering guests a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience that captures the winter season in each bite.

We also know that your curiosity and appetite won’t wait until December 24th, so here’s a “sneak peek” at the decadent menu.

Christmas Eve White Truffle Dinner

December 24, 2025

Amuse

Crispy Potato, Osetra Caviar

Cauliflower Gratin, 80 Month Parmesan, Shaved White Truffle

White Truffle & Brie Stuffed Brioche, Cultured Butter

Tajarin Pasta, White Verjus, Cultured Butter, Shaved White Truffle

Oxtail Fagotini, Bone Marrow Jus, White Truffle

Squab Breast, Celeriac-Potato-Truffle Pave, Madeira Jus

Brillat-Savarin-White Truffle “Napoleon”, Brioche, Fermented Truffle Honey

Truffle Tiramisu

This is more than a meal, it’s an experience. If your mouth is watering, you’re not alone. This special event will only be available to guests staying at the Ranch during the Christmas week. Book your holiday stay to experience this one-night culinary celebration and share in the joy of the holiday season.

There’s more to the horse you ride here at the Ranch than meets the eye. Over the past few years, we’ve been quietly building a “youth movement” — raising and training young horses right here at Vista Verde. Doing it this way means we get to be part of their story from day one.

What makes me the most proud is being able to tell guests that this ranch is the only home this horse has ever known. ~ Ben Martin

We help with their development, hurdling over any barriers, familiarizing them with riders, and shaping them into the confident, kind partners for our guests’ adventures into the Routt National Forest.

This season, we’re thrilled to welcome three new additions: Hondo, a three-year-old gelding from Wyoming who’s just beginning his training with KP, and two sweet weanlings from Idaho who are still in their “eat and grow” stage of life. For now, their biggest jobs are to get stronger, learn trust, and soak up all the love our staff and guests can give them.

Though in their early years right now, these youngsters will one day carry you through mountain trails, accompany future riders, and even raise the next generation of Vista Verde horses. It’s a privilege to watch them grow and to welcome them as the newest members of our ranch family.

Oat Bran Banana Muffins

Chef Melissa’s oat bran muffins bring the warmth of the ranch kitchen to your morning table — a refined balance of wholesome and decadent. Infused with ripe banana, Greek yogurt, and a hint of spice reminiscent of fall, they’re the kind of simple luxury that makes every day feel like a golden-leaved fall getaway.

Like most of my recipes, this is just a foundation that can be changed to make a myriad of variations. Notice the various changes that can be made before you start! ~ Chef Melissa

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups oat bran (not the cereal, just bran)

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon (or ginger, nutmeg, change it as you prefer!)

1 medium ripe banana

8-12 oz plain Greek yogurt (sour cream works too.) Use less with fresh fruit, more with dry.

3 eggs

¼ cup light olive or vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

Fruit: fresh berries, raisins, craisins, etc. Rinse dried fruit in hot water and drain before use.

Directions

• Heat oven to 400 (350 convection – with a fan)
• In a mixer bowl with the paddle, measure out the sugar and add the banana. Beat on medium speed until the banana is smashed.
• Add eggs, vanilla, oil and beat well
• Add in yogurt and beat again
• Whisk together all the dry ingredients
• Take the mixer bowl off the mixer, pour in the dry ingredients.
• Fold together about ½ way with rubber spatula, add the fruit and finish mixing. JUST until mixed. If you mix too long they will be tough and rubbery.
• Portion muffin batter into cups, about ¾ full
• Sprinkle with sunflower seeds, coarse sugar, etc.
• Bake 16-20 minutes until golden
• Let cool at least 20 minutes before removing from the pan

NOTE: To make gluten and dairy free, substitute your favorite GF Flour blend for the wheat flour, and use dairy-free yogurt in place of the regular yogurt. Baking time may be a bit longer.

Here is another fall breakfast or anytime treat by Melissa: Sweet Breakfast Pumpkin Bread

Every wrangler brings a unique story to the saddle. KP, our Director of Horse Operations, shares his special connection to the centuries-old Paniolo tradition of Hawai‘i – a heritage defined by patience, respect, and deep partnership with the horse. His roots run through the red dirt of the islands and the open ranges of the American West, blending two cultures that honor the quiet wisdom of the horse.

“When you’re able to feel your horse, they can feel you in the same way—both physically and spiritually.” 

The Paniolo tradition in Hawai‘i dates back centuries. What values or practices from that heritage do you carry with you in your work today?

Ho‘o ponopono means “to make what is wrong right again.” I bring that philosophy into my horsemanship every day—not just from the human perspective, but from the horse’s point of view as well. Horses don’t lie; what you see is what you get. Many carry “baggage” from past experiences, and part of my role is to help them release it. I try to let each horse tell me their story, and from that moment on, the process of ho‘o pono pono begins—helping reshape and heal the horse through understanding and patience.

Ha‘ola, the “breath of life,” reminds me that every living being carries value and energy. There’s a physical and spiritual awareness to this; an understanding that harmony exists when both horse and rider can feel one another. When that connection happens, training becomes more than mechanics. It becomes a shared rhythm, grounded in respect and trust.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve also come to deeply appreciate the classical vaquero style of riding and training. It was the vaqueros who first came to Hawai‘i to teach the Hawaiians how to cowboy, which is a legacy that continues to guide me in my own horsemanship journey.

How does the Paniolo way of working with horses and cattle compare to what we see in the American West, and how do you bring those influences together here at Vista Verde Ranch?

The Paniolo and Western traditions share a deep respect for the horse, but the paniolo style often reflects the old vaquero way; slow, steady, and patient. It’s about giving the horse time to learn, to understand pressure and release, and to discover the right answer on their own. At Vista Verde, I blend that Hawaiian patience and mindfulness with the practical skills and traditions of the American West, which I like to think creates a bridge between cultures that honors both ways of life.

What lessons from Paniolo horsemanship do you think resonate most with guests when they’re riding or working with horses at the Ranch?

Ho‘o ponopono—the practice of making things right—is one of the most meaningful lessons guests take away. Horses, like people, make mistakes, but holding a grudge doesn’t serve anyone. Every ride is an opportunity to start fresh, to listen, and to build trust. That mindset transforms not only how we ride, but how we approach relationships in everyday life.

In leading the horse program, how do you weave your paniolo background into the guest experience so they feel a sense of that history and culture?

Storytelling is a huge part of my horsemanship. My father was a wonderful storyteller, and I learned that stories carry wisdom in a way that instruction alone can’t. Whether I’m talking about a lesson learned from a horse or sharing an old paniolo tale, those stories help guests connect more deeply with the horses, with the culture, and with themselves.

What excites you most about sharing your Paniolo roots with guests in Colorado, and how does it deepen the unique character of Vista Verde Ranch?

For me, it’s the connection between what I do here and what I grew up doing as a young Paniolo. Every day with horses is a chance to learn about them and about ourselves. Being able to share that philosophy with guests, to help them find both joy and growth through horsemanship, is what excites me most. It’s part of what makes Vista Verde so special. It’s a place where tradition and learning come together in the saddle.

At Vista Verde, horsemanship is more than skill; it’s a story passed from hand to hand, rein to rein. Whether it’s through the rhythm of the ride or the quiet wisdom of a horse, our guests can discover that the lessons of the Paniolo live in the heart of Colorado’s high country. Learn more about the history and preservation of the Paniolo traditions here. 

Imagine an afternoon full of laughter, smiles, and a little bit of family-fun chaos. A snapshot in time where parents are nothing but proud of their child’s achievements, confidence and courage for trying something new. The Kids’ Rodeo is an experience that every kid should have the opportunity to experience.

Why? Well, it first brings so much joy and excitement when they get to do the activities that cowboys and cowgirls do daily.

What is it that they actually do? Well, there’s barrel racing, cow pinning, tug of war, water balloon toss, relay races, and of course, getting pied in the face. After doing all the fun rodeo activities, kiddos get to jump into our freshwater pond for a quick swim to clean up before dinner time. Ranch life at its finest.

The Kids Rodeo is held once a week on Thursday and parents get to spend the later afternoon watching their little ones show off what they have learned during the week. This is the day where young ones show what they know how to do in their saddles. They get the true cowboy experience. And while they might not be a true-to-life cowboy back at home, they will never forget the cowboy experience that they had Vista Verde Ranch.

Vista Verde Ranch is honored to be the featured in Modern Luxury Magazine‘s story highlighting the rise in cowboy culture in America. Vista Verde is dubbed a “Colorado original” offering “a true Western experience wrapped in rustic refinement.”

Nestled in the Elk River Valley just north of Steamboat Springs, Vista Verde Ranch (vistaverde.com) offers a luxurious take on the classic dude ranch, where the horses are plentiful (114 and counting) and the log cabins cozy. Spend days on the 540-acre working ranch on horseback, fly-fishing in local streams, mountain biking on rugged singletrack or hiking trails lined with wildflowers.