Multigenerational Vacations

Multigenerational Family Vacations at Three Bars Guest

 Ranch

Multigenerational family vacations are on the rise and so are family adventure vacations. A multigenerational vacation at Three Bars Guest Ranch offers a great combination of both types of trips. As the adventure ranch of the Canadian Rockies, Three Bars Guest Ranch has hosted many multigenerational family vacations. It’s an excellent choice for families of all ages.

Readers have enjoyed our Q&A blog posts with Tyler Beckley, Three Bars’ Ranch Manager and Owner. We took some time with Tyler to find out more about why multigenerational vacations at Three Bars Guest Ranch work so well.

  1. Why is Three Bars Guest Ranch a top choice for multigenerational vacations?

We see a lot of families and multigenerational groups visiting Three Bars Guest Ranch because the elders in the family visited a guest ranch when they were kids. They want the next generation to share the same type of guest ranch experience that they had.

Fifty years ago over 75% of the population grew up on a farm or ranch – or they had strong ties to a rural lifestyle. Today, less than 1% of the population is involved in ranching or agriculture of any kind. The gap between today’s population and nature is becoming larger and larger. The older generations are concerned about that. They want their kids to have the strong connections and experiences with nature that they remember having.

The experiences guests have at Three Bars Guest Ranch give older generations and younger ones common ground. Grandparents and grandchildren can talk about the first time they went horseback riding, the first time they caught a fish, and much more. These kinds of shared experiences help to bridge the gap between the generations and create strong bonds.

  1. Offering flexibility, variety and activities for all ages and interests is very important for successful multigenerational vacations. How does Three Bars Guest Ranch meet this need?

That’s actually one of Three Bars’ biggest assets. Part of what makes a great vacation is doing things you love and enjoy. A dude ranch vacation often involves doing some things on your own and other things together. At Three Bars Guest Ranch, family members get the chance to have fun both together and apart. They get to have “me” time and “family” time. We take care of all the planning.

This kind of vacation experience also creates some interested splits. Maybe a dad and his daughter don’t usually do things alone together, but they both really want to go river rafting while the other family members ride or do something different. As part of their Three Bars family riding vacation, family members have the chance to do just that.

It’s also important to remember the guest ranch setting. Even when people go off and do things without the family, they’re only gone for a short while. Then everyone comes back together for meals and group activities. Sharing stories and experiences at the end of a day are an important part of the dude ranch experience.

  1. Do families and multigenerational groups have specific goals when they come to the ranch?

I think the goals people have when they book a family riding vacation are often different than when they leave. I would say the biggest goal that multigenerational families have is to spend time quality time together. They also want to share experiences and make great family memories.

To me, spending quality time as a family involves doing things together that you will be able to talk about for years. Sometimes though, we have to facilitate a certain process for that to happen. A mom telling dad to stop reading his emails, or a dad telling his son to stop playing his video game does not create that experience. We have to create an atmosphere where all of those things happen naturally – without anyone noticing. The experience can then be shared by engaged members. It doesn’t happen automatically, but it definitely happens.

  1. How do multigenerational vacationers measure the success of their trip?

Guests come to Three Bars Guest Ranch for the first time because they like the amenities, or our activity program, or something else about our riding vacations catches their eye. They come back to Three Bars for a different reason, though. I believe my older guests crave that connection with the younger generations – and there’s a need to get to a place where that connection can be made. It’s not on Facebook. I now realize that many of my older guests know that this connection is possible – they have almost waited for it to happen. It is a very cool process to watch. Guest ranch vacations here are special that way.

I measure the success of our program not by our ability to take technology away from our guests – we don’t do that, but by our ability to create an environment that it is not needed. I can tell you from firsthand experience that when a 14 year-old girl leaves her phone in her room to go explore, her parents and grandparents know that their vacation has been a success.