For anyone who has been dying for an excuse to break out the old Stetson for a day, look no further than Bennett’s Riding Stable. Since 1942, the family-owned business, located in Lake Luzerne, New York, has been offering western-style horseback rides through the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains for those in the mood for a rustic excursion.
“We take trails that have been in use for 67 years,” says Bonnie Bennett, who along with her husband Lawrence is the second-generation owner of Bennett’s. The wooded trails, which cover thousands of acres in the southern Adirondacks, are lined with wildflowers and foliage throughout the spring and summer. On each leisurely ride, trained guides lead beginners and longtime riders alike through forests, past streams and up mountainsides full of wildlife and spectacular landscapes.
While the stable offers half-hour and hour-long rides for young visitors and longer trips for adults, Bennett suggests taking the reins and heading out on the Sunset Dinner Ride, one of the most popular outings the stable has to offer.
“It’s a sunset ride up to Mt. Beech that we’ve been doing for eight years,” says Bennett. “Once at the top we have fresh-cooked barbecue steak, baked potatoes, corn and bread.”
The reservations-only dinner ride is three hours long and worth every minute. While kicking up their boots and savoring an open-range-style dinner, visitors enjoy the breathtaking views of Lake George, Lake Vanare and the beautiful Adirondacks at dusk — the perfect end to a day in the saddle.