In the 1991 film "City Slickers," Patricia Wetting, an actress, gave her sad on-screen husband Billy Crystal the advice to travel to a dude ranch in the West with other New Yorkers. Mitch, the character played by Crystal, was going through a midlife crisis. Barbara encouraged Wetting, "Go and find your grin." Before audiences returned to scheduling their PTO in paradise or chic city getaways, fish-out-of-water humour and life lessons were learnt.

However, as real-life city slickers flock to the great outdoors in pursuit of happiness, staying at upscale lodges, posh campgrounds, working ranches, farms, or vacation rentals amidst pastoral splendour, the Oscar-winning film's once-unique comic structure has become standard.

We have observed a renewed romanticism with the Old West, according to Piper Singer, public relations & media manager for the Wyoming Office of Tourism. "Travelers want to explore without the crowds as a result of COVID-19, and recent big pop culture moments like the "Yellowstone" series or Beyoncé's Ivy Park Rodeo clothing line," she told TripSavvy. "The West, especially Wyoming, has inspired travellers' sense of curiosity and nourishes their creativity once they are here," according to the author.

Whatever you want to call them—cowboy-cations, giddy-up getaways, or digital detoxes—these types of get-your-hands-dirty trips involving horseback riding, clay shooting, fly fishing, cattle roping, canoeing, off-roading, mountaineering, glamping, and line dancing in states like Wyoming, Arizona, Texas, Utah, and Montana aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

There are a number of plausible explanations for why everyone is so eager to join this bandwagon right now. Of course, there is Hollywood, a sector of the economy that has long functioned as a Wild West travel agency. For instance, Monument Valley became a popular tourist destination thanks to John Ford's renowned 1930s and 1940s Westerns. Cowboy cosplay is encouraged in current works like "Westworld," "The Power Of The Dog," "The Ranch," and "Yellowstone," which is the most watched cable series for the second year in a row. Tours of filming locations for the latter have even begun to appear and serve as inspiration for itineraries.

According to Drew Bigda, senior director of sales and business development for The Resort At Paws Up in Montana, "the Yellowstone effect is definitely real, for better or worse, and has raised general awareness of how pretty and incredible Montana is." He also credits a widespread trend toward experiential travel.

It's a rare pandemic silver lining, according to some sources. According to Courtney Frazier, executive director of the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association, "we've lately seen a further uptick in interest and reservations because to COVID-19 and the demand for outdoor vacations and, more recently, families wanting to make up lost time for reunions." "Many want vacations that are more real than your average beach cruise,"

Others, like Tess Leach, the business development manager for Ranchlands, a family-run livestock operation that prioritises conservation and manages a number of properties, including Zapata Ranch near Great Sand Dunes National Park, believe that urbanites who are burnt out and in need of a retreat and a chance to "reconnect with nature" are more likely to be the target audience. The purpose of their visit is to escape the stress of daily life. They are incredibly curious and want to know what we are doing for the land, the animals, and the ranch, according to Leach. Since the pandemic ended, this curiosity has continued to rise. Hope there's a change in consciousness!

Long-standing companies in this market, such as Paws Up, Alisal Ranch in Santa Barbara, and Ted Turner's Vermejo Reserve in New Mexico, have increased capacity, opened new locations or concepts, as well as adding services, activities, or themed weekends to satisfy rising demand. In the past three years, reputable glamping firm Under Canvas has introduced a number of new camps, the majority of which are located close to national parks like the Grand Canyon, where visitor counts have also drastically increased during that time. ULUM, an outdoor resort brand with a safari-inspired aesthetic that Under Canvas debuted last month, will debut its first location in Moab, Utah. These actions were frequently driven by new rivals that rode into town.

We like to think that our ingenuity has kept us one step ahead, Bigda remarked. "But I also firmly believe that all ships are raised by a high tide. There is more interest in this experience the more frequently these comparable qualities arise (especially when done properly). Additionally, visitors to our country don't just come on one or two occasions a year to see us all."

Bigda asserts that the fact that no two trips are the same helps the bottom line by promoting repeat business. Depending on the type of accommodations, the drastically varying seasons, and the activities they select, the same visitor may return repeatedly and have drastically different experiences, he claimed. And people typically don't want to get off a horse after they've gotten on one.

Planning ahead is essential for anyone interested in enjoying a cowboy vacation, especially if they're travelling in a sizable group or are representing a company. "Due to the high cost of land and the higher startup costs for dude ranches today than they were 40 to 50 years ago, there is a much more demand than there is supply. While there is some progress, it is slow "Frazier stated.

In some areas, taxes are levied even on bookings for rental properties. An Expedia Group press statement provided to TripSavvy states that between September 2021 and August 2022, demand for VRBO houses in Western regions climbed by more than 30%.

Still itching to strap on the waders, mount the horse, and sing a fire-ravaged nation? Go to these temporary residences where buffalo still frequently wander.

How the West Was Fun: What's Behind the Continued Rise Of the Western Getawayhttps://t.co/KmIe2LHLx9 pic.twitter.com/plTQvZknmE

— TripSavvy (@TripSavvy) December 15, 2022

A Green O
The owners of Paws Up put this adults-only, romantic cluster of design-focused cottages (and one truly excellent restaurant) to a pine-dotted portion of their 37,000 acres in mid-2021, and Rihanna and Justin Timberlake soon became frequent visitors. If you can get yourself out of your hot tub, check out the banjo musician and cowboy poet at the chuckwagon dinner, drive a herd of 800-pound animals, find your inner Katniss, or climb rocky terrain on an e-bike, ATV, or dog sled.

The Escalante Yonder
This Southern Utah glamping resort, which opened in 2021, features rebuilt vintage Airstreams, individually designed mini-cabins, and RV sites. The front desk can arrange you horseback tours around the Bryce Canyon National Park and can direct you to fantastic hikes through slot canyons. When you return from your adventure, there are gourmet meal kits, live-fire cooking courses, s'mores over the various fire pits, and a John Wayne classic in the drive-in theatre on the site.

Ladder
Of Ted Turner's numerous, huge reserves in New Mexico, this one is the smallest and one of the newest. However, when you spend some time exploring this lovely oasis, where four Rio Grande tributaries may be discovered, size doesn't matter because you never know when you could see bison, nearly extinct tortoises, or Mexican grey wolf puppies.

Arizona Cowboy University
During three- or five-day intensives, you can hone your ranching abilities, such as riding, penning, roping, and equitation, while also having a good time at the bunkhouse at night. You can alter lessons to suit your needs.

Ranch Lazy G
This cheesy ten-room "Old West Escape," which is available for rent through Evolve, has a reconstructed Wild West town with a saloon, a post office, a barbershop, and more.

Under Canvas' ULUM
The first resort in the new safari-themed outdoor resort brand from Under Canvas will be located just a few steps from the iconic Looking Glass Arch. Beginning in March of next year, stressed-out visitors can take advantage of free wellness activities, run local rapids, or ride on top-notch bicycle paths. In June 2023, Under Canvas plans to expand its portfolio by acquiring North Yellowstone-Paradise Valley. The ranchlands, high mountain plains, and Yellowstone that are featured in the Costner movie also surround this camp.

Ranch Triple Creek
This Relais & Châteaux member, who has been in the hospitality business since the 1980s, is included on the list because it is close to the actual ranch that is used to portray the Yellowstone-Dutton Ranch on television. A few years ago, the new Logging Camp became the new location for all frontier activities like crosscut sawing, branding, and hatchet throwing. The resort is also hosting cowboy hat-making demonstrations and custom shaping with a local craftsman this winter. Just remember not to commit the beginner error of placing it on your bed like Jimmy. It makes the ideal memento.