Looking for a real Texas vacation? Saddle up and head the finest working ranches complete with cattle, chuck wagons and cowpokes. Ranches in Texas cater to all types of customers, and city slickers among you are all welcome. With plenty of Western hospitality, our featured ranches offer you a chance to test your cowboy skills and a taste of authentic tradition.

Maybe it's the serene valleys tucked between rolling, cedar-studded hills or the abundant indigo and scarlet wildflowers of spring. Perhaps it's the cypress trees that line meandering river banks or the friendly small towns where time ticks at a slower tock. Then again, it could be the siren song of Austin's musical melting-pot. Whatever the appeal, the Texas Hill Country captivates fans the world over and is where you will find your dream ranch.

Geographically-and nostalgically-speaking, the region encompasses the heart of Texas, with terrain that varies from hilly to undulating to downright flat. Defined on the east and south by the Balcones Escarpment and bordered on the west and north by plains and prairies, the area incorporates both the geographical center of the state, at Brady, and the governmental core, in the capital city of Austin.

While fabled hills, clear-running rivers, spacious parks, hike-and-bike trails, and a wealth of lakes feed your fresh-air fantasies, you will find that the Texas hills are intellectually. If you appreciate good wines, there are vineyards and wineries galore to explore, while the shopper in you will relish the multitude of arts-and-crafts shops in the heart of the Hill Country.

And in Texas, the three R's are ropin', ridin' and rodeoin'. When it comes to intense, bone jarring rodeo action, there's no place like Texas. What was once a competition to test ranch skills is now one of the Lone Star State's most popular sporting contests. Rodeo is a year-round sport, and you can find the live, heart-stopping action of a rodeo somewhere in the state every single month. Family friendly, these destinations offer the perfect combination of relaxation and recreation -- cowboy style!