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Exotic and Beautiful Places to Ride Horses
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
In the beautiful Canadian Rockies sits Banff National Park – a park with a long history of horseback riding. Half- or full-day trail rides take you at a leisurely pace through some of the region's most beautiful areas, like the emerald waters of Lake Louise or the Spray River.
Los Cabos, Mexico
There's just something so romantic about riding a horse through the surf on a beautiful beach, and you can do just than in Los Cabos, Mexico. To really crank up the romance, plan your ride early evening, so you can watch as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean.
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
The colorful rock formations of Bryce Canyon National Park are Mother Nature's work of art thousands of years in the making, and while hiking is a popular option, horseback riding along the trails frees your attention to take in your majestic surroundings.
Estancia, Argentina
The estancia – the Argentinian word for "ranch" – is still very much a part of life in the countryside outside of Buenos Aires. Many of these ranches double as guesthouses, where visitors can experience a day in the life of a gaucho, including plenty of time enjoying the countryside on the back of a horse.
Acadia National Park, Maine
John D. Rockefeller Jr. donated a total of 45 miles of horseback and carriage trails – called the Carriage Roads --to Acadia National Park. That means you'll have plenty of options for exploring the park on hoof. Come during the autumn months for some truly magnificent leaf peeping.
Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming
Wyoming, the land of dude ranches, is one of the states most closely associated with horses in the nation, and a great place to hit the trail under big, blue skies. The numerous trails of Big Horn National Forest are some of the best places for high country riding around, and you can bet that the locals really know their horses.
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the world's most dramatic and diverse outdoor adventure destinations, and horses represent one of a plethora of ways to explore it. One of the best places to do so is along the banks of Lake Tekapo in the Mackenzie region, where you'll find yourself surrounded by turquoise waters and snow-capped alpine peaks.
Tuscany, Italy
Castles, medieval fortresses, sunflowers, wines and rustic Italian kitchens ... that's what you'll likely encounter on a horseback ride through beautiful Tuscany. Adult visitors can sample wines along the way, and the best part is, there's no need for a designated driver!
Coffee Triangle, Colombia
If you take a look at where your morning cup of joe actually comes from, chances are it's birthplace was somewhere in the Coffee Triangle of Colombia. The verdant hills of this beautiful region are dotted with coffee plantations, where the smell of roasting beans is enough to wake you up in the morning. Experience the beauty of the region while learning about the coffee growing process on a trail ride through the Coffee Triangle.
The Mongolian Steppe
Genghis Khan once led his army of horse warriors across China's northeastern grasslands - the Mongolian steppe - in an attempt to conquer the continent. If you yearn for wide open spaces, it doesn't get much better than the pristine expanses of central Mongolia – a place where horses are still the preferred method of transportation.