Transfer Option:

Our summer temperatures are way below those of Phoenix and Tucson. It is exceptional - what else? The winters are pleasantly warm during the day and chilly at night. They can get a dawn frost, yet in sheltered places petunias bloom all winter long. Spring and autumn are outstanding - lots of swimming and sunbathing, yet cool enough for riding, hiking, and exploring .

But it is the summers, which are surprising. Because of the elevation, it is much cooler than Tucson and Phoenix and the summer temperatures rarely exceed the mid 90's Fahrenheit, which with the dry air, makes it extremely pleasant. The summer is an overlooked but truly magic time in the high desert - a time more people should enjoy!

The accommodations at Grapevine are first class, very comfortable, spacious and with individual furnishings, so that no two are alike. All accommodations have numerous amenities for your convenience. These include: coffee pots for coffee or tea, refrigerators, hair dryers, pool towels, bathrobes.
All accommodations are both air cooled, and heated, although generally you need heat in the evenings only. The casitas are free standing, while two of the cabins are a duplex. All buildings are secluded in groves of shady oaks and manzanita. 
  --- Due to the water shortage we will no longer have laundry facilities on the premises.

Casitas
Casitas are approximately 600 square feet (55.7418 m²) in size. Some are divided into two separate areas - a sleeping and a living area. Others have two definite rooms divided by a lockable door, allowing the living room to be used as another bedroom. Two of the casitas have a king-sized bed, the others have queen beds. The casitas all have bathrooms with showers and bath tubs. For privacy, the bathroom is accessible from each side. Casitas can sleep up to five people.


Chaparral Casita – a deluxe accommodation, perfect for that honeymoon, anniversary celebration or just plain self indulgence! The Chaparral has a spectacular view, facing the wilderness of Grapevine Canyon, with no other buildings in sight. Its unique position allowed us to place a spa/hot tub on the back deck, where you can soak to your heart’s content in total privacy. Inside, enjoy the special touches of a south-western lodge pole bedroom, minibar, refrigerator, coffee pot and all the fixin’s, as well as a spacious living area, the whole totaling 700 sq.ft.

 

Cabins
Cabins are spacious single rooms. They sleep two people comfortably, with a queen-sized bed and a hide-a-bed sofa. The bath has a stall shower. Cabins: Manzanita, Rocking A, and Adobe.


Due to the water shortage we will no longer have laundry facilities on the premises.

Lodge
The lodge has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and two sitting rooms, as well as a large porch and a very large screened Arizona Room with a ping pong table. It is suitable for a family or group, and will sleep up to nine persons. We call it the Faraway because it is the furthest from the main ranch complex, so affording lots of privacy to family or business groups.

What about the food?
The meals here at Grapevine are delectable, to say the least and everything is home made, from the scrumptious, fresh bread, baked daily, to the delicious desserts and ice creams.  As quite a few of our guests stay for several weeks, we offer a six-week rotating menu. Breakfast is the only meal ordered from a menu, and offers a wide selection of various egg dishes, such as plain, Mexican or cheese omelets, the normal selection of eggs, bacon or sausage, delicious pancakes, and, for the light eaters, a fabulous breakfast parfait of no sugar granola layered with low fat yogurt and fruit, just to mention a few. Various sweet breads such as fresh made banana, blueberry bread, pineapple or pumpkin breads are offered daily, together with a selection of fruit juices. Breakfast is served from 7:30 am during the autumn, winter and spring months, and from 6:30 am during the summer months. Here's just a taste of what you can expect when you visit us. These are certainly meals to plan your vacation around!

All meals are accompanied by a side dish (e.g., rice, potatoes, pasta), one or two vegetables, homemade bread, and a salad, with a fresh, tempting dessert to follow. All our meals are home-cooked and prepared in our kitchens, including our ice creams and breads - with the exception of the sandwich bread. Lunches vary, but always include a hot entree, cold meats and cheese for those who prefer a sandwich, and a full scale salad bar for the health-conscious eaters. We are happy to accommodate vegetarians, but do let us know when you make your reservation! It helps if we know of special requests at least a week in advance as we are eighty-five miles from our suppliers.

Buffalo Room
The Buffalo Room is a fun place for evening entertainment with a pool table and table tennis. The Buffalo Room joins the Video Room with television, video players and a large film library.

Cook Shack
The Cook Shack dining room is for your use, at meal times and otherwise. It has an old fashioned potbelly stove for those cool mornings.

Longhorn Room
The Longhorn Room has a wide selection of magazines and books, as well as a wealth of material on Grapevine; its history, bird life, and geology. There is a large stone fireplace to sit around on cozy winter evenings. And our many-volumed scrapbook collection with photographs and letters from our guests is quite interesting and available for browsing.

The Swimming Pool 
For those guests wanting some sun with their fun, there is a heated swimming pool (April through October) in a lovely spot near the Cook Shack. A rustic arbor provides welcome shade - and an inviting nook where you can enjoy a summer meal. A hot tub waits nearby for anyone wanting to relax after an energizing day in the saddle. Pool hours are 8:00a to 9:00p. There is no lifeguard on duty.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

The Horses
We have horses for all levels of experience, from the total beginner to the eventer or show rider, and indeed, over the years, many of our guests have come from the ranks of professional riders, here on a “busman’s holiday”. 
However, it is the beginner rider who perhaps benefits the most, by discovering the beauty and nobility of the horse. No need to be apprehensive – we have riding lessons, from basic to advanced, for those who want to learn more, and each new rider, whatever his or her experience level, is given an orientation lesson before the first ride. But it is the horses who contribute the most to the rookie rider – they are kind horses, because they are well treated, well fed and rested, and so they are ready to be their rider’s friend – and what better way to see this fabulous country than from the backside of your new, four legged buddy!

And so, meet the Horses of Grapevine Canyon Ranch…
Firstly, let us say that they are generally pretty happy horses. They have a strict routine of work and play – they work five days or fifteen hours, whichever comes first, and then get a day off in the corrals. After five weeks, they get a week off to run free on the “vacation pasture”, about a 200 acre spread, where they can graze, play, fight, run, and jump around – and be - just horses. Our veterinarian tells us that this week of freedom is very good for them not only to get their heads in order, but also to stretch out their backs and work out any twinges or cramps they may have acquired in the days under the saddle – better than a chiropractor, he says.

They are mostly Quarter Horses, with an Arab or two thrown in, some horses with Thoroughbred blood, a few Appaloosas – but mostly they are that reliable, even tempered, hardy and cow conscious breed, the Quarter Horse, the cowboy's partner.

Their colors go from a rare Cremello (a creamy light yellow with blue eyes - now a registered color breed) to buckskins, sorrels, bays, loudly colored Appaloosas, Paints, grays – and all are honest, people loving, sensible and hardy. They can take you on trails you would never think a horse could negotiate, hardly breaking a sweat – carry you to rugged peaks with 50 mile views – deep, hidden canyons inhabited only by deer, javelinas, coatimundis and rabbits – or teach you how to work cows. They really enjoy cattle work, and you can see how the love of it is bred deep into their blood. You can trail ride them, lope them if you are qualified, climb mountains, or trailer them to distant trail-heads. They are obedient, lively yet sensible, and above all, honest.

Some of them have been with us for many years and are now retired, roaming the cattle ranch pastures by day, returning to their stall at night to eat special Senior sweet feed, happy until the day they're ready for the pasture in the sky. We feel we owe those that have worked here so long and so honestly, a happy retirement, and a dignified departure when the time comes. In 2005 four horses went to their rest, aged 34 to 39 – good, long, useful and contented lives! We still mourn them, but are comforted by the knowledge that their days were happy, tranquil and rewarding. What more can one ask of any life! 

Ranch Riding Options

Trail Rides  -  We'll guide you through some of the most beautiful country you've ever experienced, where the extraordinary scenery changes every few minutes. These trail rides are for all levels of rider skill, besides being marvelous photo opportunities for those wanting to capture the beauty of the desert on film. Morning rides are long enough to truly enjoy the scenery, with as many rest or photo opportunity stops as the riders desire, with stories of nature and local history shared by the wranglers. All guests take a morning Trail Ride as an introduction to their horses, western riding techniques, and the desert-to-mountain terrain - which varies from soft sand to colorful Arizona limestone - before joining other rides in our program, afternoon and sunset rides are shorter in duration.

Advanced Rides  -  These rides cover more difficult trails, and offer the rider several opportunities to "lope" (or canter) through this amazing country. After their introductory morning Trail Ride, guests may be lope checked in the arena to demonstrate their ability to sit well and control the horse at an increased speed before signing up for the Advanced Ride the following day. Remember - not all the time on these rides is spent loping - there are times when the terrain presents enough of a challenge!

Seasonal Cattle work  -  Ride with one of the cowboys and help them check fence, pack salt - or gather a few cows. Available on Monday and Wednesday mornings, and usually 2-3 hours in duration. You must be lope checked before riding the range, as there may be a need for speed at times. There are also three opportunities to participate in seasonal cattle work.

Adventure Rides  -  Extended distance rides, on easy or difficult trails, both slow and fast, depending on the trail in question. In some Adventure Rides we trailer the horses to the trail head, as these are all in more remote areas. The outings take most of the day, with the riding time being anywhere from 5-7 hours. Adventure Rides differ week to week, as we want to vary the riding as much as possible, and you would have to stay at the ranch for over a month before one would repeat.

Riding Instructions
Suggested for Beginners...  Monday through Friday

What you will learn in a group riding lesson:

• Proper seat and riding position in a western saddle,
• Correct use of legs and hands,
• Basics of sitting the trot in a western saddle, and
• Basics of stopping and turning your trail horse.

Lessons are available 8:00 - 8:30 am and are $15 per person. Private, one on one riding lessons are available by arrangement with the barn boss and are ~$45 per person.

Lessons Can Be More Than Just Riding

We offer:

• Riding
• Saddling
• Roping
• Bits and bridles
• Horse conformation
• Veting
• Tack
• Trailering (loading horse correctly)

Cost: ~$45 per person for approximately 1 hour – We suggest scheduling in advance to guarantee time for your lesson.

Tack:		Western
Horses:		Quarter horses
Pace:		Beginner walking rides to advanced cantering rides, 3 - 7 hours/day | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(1 to 4 out of 5)    All riding levels
Age:		Min 12
Weight:		Max 230 lbs
Riders:		Min 2 riders	Max 8 riders (per riding group)	Max Capacity 30

The Horses
We have horses for all levels of experience, from the total beginner to the eventer or show rider, and indeed, over the years, many of our guests have come from the ranks of professional riders, here on a “busman’s holiday”. 
However, it is the beginner rider who perhaps benefits the most, by discovering the beauty and nobility of the horse. No need to be apprehensive – we have riding lessons, from basic to advanced, for those who want to learn more, and each new rider, whatever his or her experience level, is given an orientation lesson before the first ride. But it is the horses who contribute the most to the rookie rider – they are kind horses, because they are well treated, well fed and rested, and so they are ready to be their rider’s friend – and what better way to see this fabulous country than from the backside of your new, four legged buddy!

And so, meet the Horses of Grapevine Canyon Ranch…
Firstly, let us say that they are generally pretty happy horses. They have a strict routine of work and play – they work five days or fifteen hours, whichever comes first, and then get a day off in the corrals. After five weeks, they get a week off to run free on the “vacation pasture”, about a 200 acre spread, where they can graze, play, fight, run, and jump around – and be - just horses. Our veterinarian tells us that this week of freedom is very good for them not only to get their heads in order, but also to stretch out their backs and work out any twinges or cramps they may have acquired in the days under the saddle – better than a chiropractor, he says.

They are mostly Quarter Horses, with an Arab or two thrown in, some horses with Thoroughbred blood, a few Appaloosas – but mostly they are that reliable, even tempered, hardy and cow conscious breed, the Quarter Horse, the cowboy's partner.

Their colors go from a rare Cremello (a creamy light yellow with blue eyes - now a registered color breed) to buckskins, sorrels, bays, loudly colored Appaloosas, Paints, grays – and all are honest, people loving, sensible and hardy. They can take you on trails you would never think a horse could negotiate, hardly breaking a sweat – carry you to rugged peaks with 50 mile views – deep, hidden canyons inhabited only by deer, javelinas, coatimundis and rabbits – or teach you how to work cows. They really enjoy cattle work, and you can see how the love of it is bred deep into their blood. You can trail ride them, lope them if you are qualified, climb mountains, or trailer them to distant trail-heads. They are obedient, lively yet sensible, and above all, honest.

Some of them have been with us for many years and are now retired, roaming the cattle ranch pastures by day, returning to their stall at night to eat special Senior sweet feed, happy until the day they're ready for the pasture in the sky. We feel we owe those that have worked here so long and so honestly, a happy retirement, and a dignified departure when the time comes. In 2005 four horses went to their rest, aged 34 to 39 – good, long, useful and contented lives! We still mourn them, but are comforted by the knowledge that their days were happy, tranquil and rewarding. What more can one ask of any life! 

Ranch Riding Options

Trail Rides  -  We'll guide you through some of the most beautiful country you've ever experienced, where the extraordinary scenery changes every few minutes. These trail rides are for all levels of rider skill, besides being marvelous photo opportunities for those wanting to capture the beauty of the desert on film. Morning rides are long enough to truly enjoy the scenery, with as many rest or photo opportunity stops as the riders desire, with stories of nature and local history shared by the wranglers. All guests take a morning Trail Ride as an introduction to their horses, western riding techniques, and the desert-to-mountain terrain - which varies from soft sand to colorful Arizona limestone - before joining other rides in our program, afternoon and sunset rides are shorter in duration.

Advanced Rides  -  These rides cover more difficult trails, and offer the rider several opportunities to "lope" (or canter) through this amazing country. After their introductory morning Trail Ride, guests may be lope checked in the arena to demonstrate their ability to sit well and control the horse at an increased speed before signing up for the Advanced Ride the following day. Remember - not all the time on these rides is spent loping - there are times when the terrain presents enough of a challenge!

Seasonal Cattle work  -  Ride with one of the cowboys and help them check fence, pack salt - or gather a few cows. Available on Monday and Wednesday mornings, and usually 2-3 hours in duration. You must be lope checked before riding the range, as there may be a need for speed at times. There are also three opportunities to participate in seasonal cattle work.

Adventure Rides  -  Extended distance rides, on easy or difficult trails, both slow and fast, depending on the trail in question. In some Adventure Rides we trailer the horses to the trail head, as these are all in more remote areas. The outings take most of the day, with the riding time being anywhere from 5-7 hours. Adventure Rides differ week to week, as we want to vary the riding as much as possible, and you would have to stay at the ranch for over a month before one would repeat.

Riding Instructions
Suggested for Beginners...  Monday through Friday

What you will learn in a group riding lesson:

• Proper seat and riding position in a western saddle,
• Correct use of legs and hands,
• Basics of sitting the trot in a western saddle, and
• Basics of stopping and turning your trail horse.

Lessons are available 8:00 - 8:30 am and are $15 per person. Private, one on one riding lessons are available by arrangement with the barn boss and are ~$45 per person.

Lessons Can Be More Than Just Riding

We offer:

• Riding
• Saddling
• Roping
• Bits and bridles
• Horse conformation
• Veting
• Tack
• Trailering (loading horse correctly)

Cost: ~$45 per person for approximately 1 hour – We suggest scheduling in advance to guarantee time for your lesson.

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.