Arizona’s Family-Friendly Hidden Meadow Ranch

Other posts by DesertMama

Where do I begin…Hidden Meadow Ranch is located on 150 acres in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona and is one of hidden-meadow-ranch-those locations that you say, “You just have to go to really understand how wonderful it is.” But today I will try my best to give you a glimpse of this bit of paradise.

Service. My husband and two tots were kindly invited up for the weekend by Hidden Meadow Ranch and we knew immediately that we were somewhere special when we checked in and were offered homemade lemonade. From that moment on, we found the service and kindness of every employee to be impeccable, or as my husband described, “The service was first-rate every time.”hidden-meadow-ranch-435

Sweet Accommodations. Our two-story rustic cabin was absolutely charming. We stayed in the Elkhorn (each cabin has a unique name and theme). It has a wood burning fireplace, a stocked (soda, water, and juice) mini-fridge, board games for the family, a master suite downstairs and loft bedroom upstairs. Even the shower/bath has a cowboy soaking tub.

Unplugged. For a truly unplugged experience, this is it. There isn’t a “guest office” temping you with the internet every time you walk by. In fact, it wasn’t until we left that I realized hidden-meadow-ranch-363there weren’t TVs in the cabins. There is a TV in the Ranch House loft and rooms do have wireless internet but I didn’t feel the need to check email or look for the remote, none of us did, as we were all completely distracted by the fact we were in a log cabin in the mountains.

No worries. When we travel with the kids there is rarely such a thing as 100% relaxation. We’re always concerned the kids might wake up our hotel neighbors or are we’re on guard because we’re playing on the beach or by the pool, but this time was different. At Hidden Meadow Ranch we opened the back door and let the kids run around gathering treasures (pinecones, wildflowers, and rocks).

Relaxing Options. Speaking of relaxing, if you want to put your feet up, but don’t want to stay in the cabin, kick back in one of the many hammocks on the property (I did!) or hit the outdoor hot tub.

playgroundKids’ Paradise. In the center of the ranch is a huge sprawl of grass with a bucket of balls, a large made-from-logs swing set and an amazingly huge log teeter-totter – even I became a kid again.

All Inclusive. I’m a huge fan of all inclusive properties for several reasons, but mainly, it’s just a simple way to vacation. You don’t have to dig into your wallet every meal and the staff gets to know your preferences (and the kids’). (FYI, alcohol, gratuities and tax are not included. You also have the opportunity to leave more than the 15% gratuity, which we did, and even single out special employees) There are two packages at Hidden Meadow Ranch, one includes activities and the other doesn’t, which brings me to…

hidden-meadow-ranch-217

Outdoor Adventure. You can be as active as you want at Hidden Meadow Ranch, but if action is your scene, activities include horseback riding, mountain biking, archery, fly fishing, hiking…and even leather crafting and woodworking (the kids left with awesome birdhouses).

Fantastic Food. I’m not exaggerating when I say the food here is superb. My husband and I agreed every dish at the Ranch House was the freshest we have ever had. Donkeys The filet mignon melts in your mouth, the cream of corn was obviously fresh off the cob, the blueberry pancakes and the made-to-order omelets were divine. The menu changes with the season.

Thistle and Iris. Next to the playground is a pen where the ranch donkeys, Thistle and Iris, hang out.  They’re kind of like the ranch mascots, everyone loves them.

hidden-meadow-ranch-350Wildlife. It’s hard to be in nature and not run into wildlife. We saw numerous bird species, including a blue jay, but the  absolute highlight of the trip was seeing the two local elk who came down to the pond at sunset.

Personal. Every evening during turn-down service, in addition to melt-in-your-mouth chocolates, the housekeepers leave a handwritten note or poem on each bed. Each morning the “Hidden Meadow Harold” is delivered, left on each cabin’s front doorknob. The Harold wishes a personalized “fond farewell” to the day’s departing guests as well as a schedule of the day’s events, activities, weather and meal times.hidden-meadow-ranch-153

Other Fun Highlights. Saturday afternoon we sat outside and enjoyed a BBQ lunch. That evening, after dinner, we made  s’mores and sipped snifters out on the Ranch House deck with other guests. Sunday morning we were greeted with a hardy, and quite tasty, Cowboy Breakfast at the Fire Circle and took a carriage ride around the grounds with “Tom” the carriage horse.

Lovely Every Season. While our trip was over the summer (and the weather was absolutely perfect as well a great escape from our Tucson heat), Hidden Meadow Ranch is a year-round ranch which means you can head up this winter to play in the snow, enjoy the crisp autumn or colorful spring. Besides, I don’t think one visit to Hidden Meadow Ranch is enough. If you go, please let me know how much you love it – because believe  me, you will!

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July 15, 2009 | Filed Under Family Travel, Luxury Travel 

Comments

7 Responses to “Arizona’s Family-Friendly Hidden Meadow Ranch”

  1. Arizona’s Family-Friendly Hidden Meadow Ranch | travelr.info says:
    July 15, 2009 at

    [...] [Via] [...]

  2. Grace says:
    July 15, 2009 at

    This sounds like an awesome place to “get away” for a few days. How long did it take for you to get there from Tucson?

  3. DesertMama says:
    July 15, 2009 at

    Hi Grace! It was a four-hour drive from Tucson, gorgeous ride through the canyon.

  4. Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer says:
    July 15, 2009 at

    This place reminds me of El Capitan outside of Santa Barbara in Goleta. The place is amazing and I love that you are totally isolated from technology!!

  5. Gena says:
    July 15, 2009 at

    Beautiful! I am ready to go!

  6. Donna Hull says:
    July 16, 2009 at

    Looks lovely, Beth. I’m hoping to get up there this winter to play in the snow. Can’t wait!

  7. yuliana says:
    September 25, 2009 at

    A person’s wedding is one of the most memorable, important, and high points in an individual’s life. At a time when a man and a woman want to make the ultimate commitment to spend the rest of their lives together, the desire to have personalized vows is certainly understandable. This is one of the most unique and special days in a person’s life, so if you want to speak your own personal wedding vows, than by all means, you should go for it!

    Writing your own vows can be intimidating. Wedding days always add pressure to even the most mundane of tasks, and certainly writing the vows you want to say to your significant other in front of all your friends and family is no small matter! Still, don’t let fear cause you to go along with some basic commonly used wedding vows if you really want that personalized touch. Just follow a few basic tips, and this will help you be on your way to writing the tips your future spouse deserves!

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