Dude Ranch Vacation Rocks!

Here is a picture biography of our recent family vacation which, by the way, we have decided should become our annual family vacation! We want to invite our extended family to join us and spread the word about this extremely fun and yet very relaxing family vacation.

The Flying L Ranch is about 40 miles northwest (slightly) of San Antonio, TX, which brags at hosting the countries' biggest waterpark, Schlitterbahn (actually in New Braunfels), the Alamo, Sea World, the Riverwalk (shops, restaurants, and hotels on the banks of a winding river), Fiesta Six Flags, and lots of upscale and popular shopping outlets.

So, here we are with the many pasttimes available at the Flying L Ranch. Not to be ignored are the local river for fishing and tubing, a delicious 'old school' diner with real saddles to sit on at the bar and an old record playing juke box (the kids loved that), as well as 2 great restaurants on-site at the resort with real down home cooking.

Without further ado:

the waterfall in the resorts waterpark

critters at the waterpark

reading, which we did lots of (and game playing)

waterpark cooled us off every day

the GHOST TOWN saloon (and jail and other old buildings)

They had cook-outs and line dancing out here at night...

a classic old store front

golf (and basketball, sand & water volleyball)

tennis (introduced the kids and hoping to make it a family sport)

ping-pong; another fun family activity (planning to get one for home in the future)

nightly 'hay-ride' seeing hundreds of wild gazelles, deer, jack-rabbits, foxes, etc.

big bucket dumping water every 5 minutes

learning to shoot a BB gun (Nick won the entire group at the bulls-eye)

fishing (we will bring poles next time!)

popsicles and cheap snow cones daily at waterpark

relaxation and meditation (by the meditator of our family) :)

waterslide!

unique condos with kitchens, fireplaces (for winter?), and laundry rooms

we want this one ALIVE

playground the kids loved morning and dusk

Nick chose this literal "nook" to sleep in over the pull-out bed!

sling-shot shooting in ghost town; it's much harder than it looks!

Deep in the Heart...

Covered wagon slide

meeting and petting a live buffalo brought by bison-lover to meet guests each week

this is what we call a vacation!!!

this took us on the hayrides; luckily no hay, but nice cushioned seats; pulled by a John Deere tractor which we have photos with also.

Nick went to greet Jellybean, the pony, morning and night. They also had a big bunch of horses for horseback riding, learning how to saddle and shoe the horses, etc. Fun!

Every night they had entertainment by the firepit; when it was kareoke the mom and Maddie team did a few songs and one duet; disco, of course. Then they brought out the never-ending supply of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackes. We had s'mores every night before the hayride. The kids (and I) loved this!

So, anyone want to visit this dude ranch?! http://www.flyingl.com/

Condos, apts, houses. Timeshare tradeout or regular reservations.

Always something to do at the resort--not to mention all the country music you ever wanted to hear in your life :) We have never been big fans, but it really gave the trip a cowboy feel as well as a laid back ambiance. We loved the 'cowboy capital' of Bandera and it's old soda fountains (haunted they say) shop, antique shops, hand-crafted items, and general old fashioned, country feel of the town just outside of the Flying L Ranch. Adios amigos!