by Samantha Giving

Created on: July 28, 2008   Last Updated: September 27, 2008

It is February and the northern population are hopping planes to frolic in the sun and water of the tropical south. You are in the minority; the thought of spending an entire 7 days applying SPF55 and removing sand from the crevices of your bathing suit just is not appealing. Or, perhaps you simply can not sit still that long.

There is an alternative! An escape from snow shoveling can be in your future. Welcome to Rancho Wendy! (www.ranchowendy.com ) Centrally located in the beautiful mountain town of Bonao, 45 minutes from Santiago International Airport, or 2 hours from Puerto Plata, Rancho Wendy is outdoor adventure galore! There will be no sitting by the pool drinking fancy drinks with pretty umbrellas; you will be active and happy!

Not only will you be happy to leave the chilly north, your pocket book will be too. For it's extremely, and I mean extremely reasonable prices, you can afford this vacation! Now brace yourself, Rancho Wendy's is a ranch and not a resort, so you won't find the same amenities there, but you will find water, fun and adventure. What more could you ask for?

Here is a sampling of what you can get for 6 nights and 7 days from a mere $518pp US$:

* A full day each of white water kayaking, a rope obstacle course and zip lining, and a beautiful horseback ride up Killer Trail.
* It also includes a 3 night/4 day horseback ride and hike up to Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean.
* 3 meals daily
* Water front rooms by the stream, and all tents when camping on Pico Duarte;
* Access to the ranch pools and games.

And this is only a sampling there are so many tours that you can mix and match from to make your vacation perfect for you!

Your accommodations are a choice of a dormitory bed for $7 US, a tent for $5 or a deluxe private room for $30; all US dollars per person per night. Food is a mere $13 per day for three meals, or $3 per day for breakfast.

Be original! Don't just laze on the beach smothered in sun block; get out there and be adventurous at Rancho Wendy's! Oh, the host appears to love M&Ms, so pack a few bags for him. He also encourages you to bring musical instruments to play at the nightly bonfires, but suggests you leave your pianos at home. See you there!

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