Family Vacation Critic Favorite Award Winner 2017

Rocking Horse Ranch is a little slice of the West, right on the East Coast — just a 90-minute drive from New York City. But this all-inclusive resort isn’t your typical ranch resort. While this family-friendly destination centers on horses and horseback riding, there’s such a wide range of activities available (and nearly all included in the price) that even the most jaded city slicker can have a blast here.

With only 113 guestrooms, Rocking Horse keeps their guest count low. Pair that with the massive slate of activities available and you’ll find that even during the peak seasons of summer and winter, you won’t have to wait in long lines.

The resort is a family owned and run business, which has been managed by the Turk family since it was founded in 1958. Toolie and Gloria Turk bought an abandoned 19th century hotel, Friedman’s Shady Lawn Rest Hotel (a prominent gang hangout during Prohibition), and built the old hotel into a family-friendly resort and ranch, slowly adding new amenities over time including indoor and outdoor pools, snow skiing and water skiing

-Lisa Milbrand