A Georgia Ranch Trip
Southern Cross is a working horse farm in Madison, Georgia, about an hour east of Atlanta. One rate covers everything: the room, three meals a day, and two trail rides daily. Over four nights that adds up to eight rides each, on the same horse the whole time, with time in the barn before every one of them.
Flights
Atlanta is a nonstop from Lehigh Valley, which is the easy option. Philadelphia runs about $200 less per person if the drive down and the parking feel worth it. Either way the ranch is an easy hour east on I-20, and a car is worth having for getting into Madison during the stay.
| Routing | Service | Time | Per person | Subtotal, 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABE to ATLNonstop from Lehigh Valley, closest to home | Delta | About 2 hr 20 min | About $780 | About $1,560 |
| PHL to ATLNonstop from Philadelphia, about an hour's drive | Multiple carriers daily | About 2 hr 15 min | About $580 | About $1,160 |
| GroundAtlanta to Madison | Enterprise, recommended | About 1 hour | n/a | $360 to $371 |
Southern Cross Guest Ranch
The same family has run this place for thirty two years and there are more than 150 horses on the property. Travel + Leisure calls it one of America's best dude ranches, and Parade named it the best ranch for horse lovers. The days settle into a nice rhythm: ride in the morning, lunch at one, ride again in the afternoon, supper at six. In between there is a pool, a fishing pond, mountain bikes, hiking trails, horseshoes, a game room, and pastures full of horses to go say hello to.
| Room | Superior Luxe KingKing bed, sitting area, fireplace, deluxe bath with whirlpool tub, walk-in shower and double vanity |
|---|---|
| Plan | All-Inclusive |
| Included | Lodging, three meals daily, two horseback rides daily, unlimited soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages, fresh-baked cookies, fruit, snacks and desserts, WiFi, and a DVD library |
| Rides over four nights | Eight rides eachOne on arrival day, two on each full day, one on departure morning |
| Also on site | Pool, fishing pond, mountain bikes, hiking, basketball, horseshoes, game room |
| Nearby | Golf, tennis, boating, kayaking, skeet shooting, museums, historic tours, and shopping in Madison |
| Early September weather | Highs around 84, lows around 67 |
| Deposit | 30 percent at booking85 percent refundable more than 30 days out, 50 percent from 30 to 7 days, non-refundable inside 7 days. The most at risk is the deposit |
A hands-on riding program
You get matched to a horse based on how you ride, and you keep that same horse all week, which is really the point. Everyone helps groom and tack up before heading out, so the barn is part of the day and not just the trail. Groups stay small, four or five riders and never more than seven, sorted by experience, with room to trot and canter when the trails allow.
How the rides work
- Daily at 9:15am and 2:15pm
- Up to two hours each
- Small guided groups by ability
- Lessons available on request
Riding unguided
- Your first ride goes out with a guide
- After that you can head out on your own
- Always at least two riders together
- A guide is there for every ride if you want one
In the barn
- Groom and tack your own horse
- Same horse throughout the stay
- Horses for every level, beginner through experienced
- Wander out to the pastures between rides
A day at the ranch
| Arrival, Wednesday | Thursday to Saturday | Departure, Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00am | Breakfast | Breakfast | |
| 9:15am | Morning trail ride | Morning trail ride | |
| 10:30am | Check out, before the ride | ||
| 12:00pm | Check in | ||
| 1:00pm | Lunch | Lunch | |
| 2:15pm | Afternoon trail ride | Afternoon trail ride | |
| 6:00pm | Supper | Supper |
Estimated trip cost
| Ranch, 4 nightsRoom, all meals, and all riding | $2,516.00 |
|---|---|
| Tax | $347.08 |
| Ranch total | $2,863.08 |
| Flights, 2 travelers | $1,160 to $1,560Philadelphia or Lehigh Valley |
| Rental car, Enterprise | $360 to $371 |
| Estimated trip total | $4,383 to $4,794 |
Two easy ways to trim it
Nothing about the riding or the meals changes with either of these. It is the same trip, just a smaller number.
| Option | What changes | Roughly saves |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Standard King | A cozier room with a king bed, TV and private bath, in place of the Superior Luxe King with its fireplace and whirlpool tubSame plan, same meals, same rides | About $105 per night |
| Arrive Thursday | Three nights instead of four, checking in Thursday, September 2Still clears the three night holiday minimum, and still six rides each | About $715 |
A few practical notes
Holiday minimum
Labor Day weekend needs at least three nights. These dates run four, so there is no issue either way.
What to pack
Jeans and boots for the barn. Early September in Madison runs warm in the afternoon and cools off nicely by supper.
Meals
Three meals a day, family style, at set times. Snacks, cookies, fruit and cold drinks are out all day in between.
The last morning
Check out happens before the 9:15 ride, so the final morning still includes time on a horse before the drive back.