Be My Guest Ranches Not Just For Cowboys And Dudes

Looking for a different kind of vacation experience?

Guest ranches are one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry, offering experiences ranging from rustic to luxurious. Some samples:

The Bull Hill Ranch and Resort, near Kettle Falls, Wash., has traditionally been open only to hunters but now offers ranching experiences from early spring through late fall.

Activities include horseback riding, cattle drives and overnight trail packs; prices are $175 per adult, per day, based on double occupancy. For information, call (509) 732-8903.

Hidden Creek Ranch, near Harrison, Idaho, features cabins with maid service, three meals a day, daily horseback rides, a barrel racing rodeo, hayrides, four-course meals, mountain biking, boat tours and a barrel racing rodeo.

Six-day programs begin at $1,375 per person, based on double occupancy, and include all meals and activities; kids are cheaper. For information, call(208) 689-3209.

British Columbia has a free guide to guest ranches in the province, ranging from working cattle ranches to luxury resorts. For a copy, call (800) 663-6000.

Short takes: Bits and pieces from around the Northwest:

The national convention of the American Volkssport Convention, the walkers’ association, is June 16 through 25 in Portland. It features 19 sporting events, as well as workshops and social events, all open to the public. For information, call (800) 830-WALK or (210) 659-2112.

The Army Corps of Engineers has launched its summer recreational craft schedule for navigation locks through the lower Snake River. For more information, call the Ice Harbor-Lower Monumental Project at (509) 547-7781 or the Lower Granite-Little Goose Project at (509) 843-1493.

Passenger rail service between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, resumed in May for the first time in more than 14 years. The high-speed train also has stops in Bellingham, Mount Vernon/ Burlington, Edmonds and Everett. Tickets are available from travel agents or by calling Amtrak at (800) USA-RAIL.

The annual Timberfest in Sandpoint is next Saturday, featuring logging-related competitions, equipment displays, dancing and music. For information, call the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce at (208) 263-2161.

Going north: CampAlaska Tours offers tent camping tours in Alaska throughout the summer, with prices beginning at $680 per person for a one-week tour.

Many tours also include trips on the Alaska ferry system, along with hiking, rafting and kayaking. Destinations include Denali National Park, the Kenai Peninsula and the Brooks Range. For information, call (800) 376-9438 or (907) 376-9438.

Close to home: Looking for a camping alternative on Lake Coeur d’Alene? The newly renovated Coeur d’Alene KOA, on Wolf Lodge Bay, features 65 acres of camping and RV sites, a beach, boat launch and camping cabins. It also offers bike, canoe, paddle boat and fishing boat rentals. For information, call (208) 664-4471.

B.C. biking: Two-wheeling opportunities north of the border:

The “Cheapskates Kootenay Bicycle Tour” covers a 250-mile loop in southeast British Columbia, with scenery that includes rivers, lakes, rolling farmland and mountain vistas.

Cyclists, who begin and end their trip in Castlegar, are accompanied by a support vehicle, are served picnic lunches, and average only 45 miles a day, allowing plenty of time for shopping and sightseeing.

The six-day tours, offered from late June through late September, cost approximately $385 U.S. per person, based on double occupancy and include breakfasts, lunches and lodging. For information, call (604) 734-1191.

Sea to Sky Cycling, based in Whistler, offers a variety of bicycle vacation packages in British Columbia and Washington state. Themes include sea kayaking, sailing, hiking, wine tastings, and train trips or helicopter rides. For information, call (800) 336-0788 or (604) 938-1233.

Discovery Voyage: Special Expeditions will run eight-day cruises between Sitka and Juneau, Alaska, throughout the summer. The 70-passenger expedition ships allow up-close exploration of Alaska’s Inland Passage. Naturalists on board provide insight on the glaciers, fjords, waterfalls and wildlife along the way.

Rates range from $2,860 to $3,980 per person, based on double occupancy. Contact a travel agent or Special Expeditions directly at (800) 762-0003.

Hike this way: British Columbia’s West Coast Trail wends 44 miles along the rugged coastline of Vancouver Island.

Fresh Tracks, an adventure travel planning company, will organize a trip lasting from seven to 10 days with costs beginning at $695 Canadian. Call (800) 667-4744 or (604) 737-4802 for more information.

, DataTimes MEMO: Send information about travel opportunities around the Pacific Northwest to: Travel Editor, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.