Whitewater Rafting & Dude Ranches
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PREFER TO LIVE ON THE EDGE, we offer a selection of exhilarating experiences. Some of these have more strenuous activities built into the program, while others include free time with an opportunity to hike, participate in water sports, or otherwise experience the natural beauty or culture of that destination. Young Travel & Cruises has trips available year-round for walking, biking, and other types of soft adventure throughout the world.
This month we feature River-rafting in the American West
(or the Yah Yah Sisters Hit Westwater Canyon)
Sometimes we forget that we have some of the most magnificent natural wonders right here in the United States. When I decided to take a group of ladies from Georgia and South Carolina on a river-rafting trip down the Green and Colorado Rivers, the first reaction I got from family, friends and clients was "you've got to be crazy." Now, they want to know when we'll do it again. Our A&K trip began in Moab, Utah, at the fabulous Red Cliffs Lodge where, by the way, part of the movie "City Slickers" was shot. The lodge sits right on the Colorado River about a half hour outside of Moab and is surrounded by red rock buttes, spires and mesas towering up to a half-mile high.
Our three days on the Green and Colorado Rivers were not exactly "roughing it." At the end of the day, our river guides set up camp and cooked fabulous meals for us, complete with wine (albeit from a box) and the most amazing scenery. By bedtime, we were happy to hit the tents, roll into our cots, and stargaze through the screened opening in the roof of our tents until drifting off to sleep to the sound of virtually NOTHING. The rapids ranged from mellow that merely rocked the boat with a little push-and-pull motion to fast-pace rock 'n roll with water splashing into your raft and soaking everyone. I cannot say enough about our guides who did almost all of the work and maneuvered us through some challenging rapids. However, we must have used some muscles because by the time we passed through Westwater Canyon and returned to the ranch, a hot shower, a massage and a glass of wine (from a bottle) were a real treat.
The next couple of days were spent hiking and riding horses a la John Wayne in the canyons around Moab. Our trail guide, Aaron, regaled us with stories of the "Duke" visiting with his family when he was in the area shooting westerns. We explored an old home site, and I kept expecting to see the sheriff and his posse ride up looking for outlaws. Just about the time that the sun was straight up in the sky, Aaron and his side-kick Tracy led the horses to a shady clearing beside a beautiful little stream and served a picnic, this time without wine. Guess they were afraid we'd fall asleep and fall off our horses after eating so much.
The last day of our western adventure, we took a flight-seeing trip over Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. It as hard to believe that just a few days before we were actually floating down one of those majestic black and red canyons. That's a pretty empowering feeling!
This trip would appeal to all ages and groups, from families to couples to a group of friends looking for a little something different to do for a vacation. Oh, the bonds you can make and the stories you can tell . . .
