What are you and your kids up to this summer? Registration for camps and other programs have been open since the beginning of the year, but if you haven’t committed to anything yet, hey, no judgment here. We’re lucky enough to live in an area that embraces education, adventure and confidence—you know, all those things that parents want for their kids—and we came up with a list of summer activities that are a little off the beaten path and worth looking into.
Hay day
Ashton Beebe first rode a horse when he was about 5 years old, and he was hooked. After high school he cowboyed his way all over the country, working with horses at different ranches and outfitters with a longtime dream of starting his own business.
“When I decided to come back here I saw that vineyards were really popping up, and I thought this would be a pretty cool niche to fill,” says Beebe, owner of Indian Summer Guide Service, which offers private, guided horseback rides all over Albemarle County.
Beebe guides groups on horseback through Albemarle County vineyards like King Family Vineyards, Glass House Winery and Veritas Vineyard & Winery, but just because there’s wine involved doesn’t mean it’s not family-friendly.
“Some of the vineyards actually end up being really family-friendly and beginner-friendly because a lot of them are flat,” Beebe says.
Groups also have the option of signing up for two-hour or half-day mountain rides. Beebe says his horses are desensitized and gentle enough that if parents are okay with it, he’ll happily take a group with kids as young as 6 “way up into the backcountry.” And unlike a lot of traditional horseback trail rides, Beebe says people can ride next to each other, which adds to the group experience and gives riders a sense of ownership and independence while they’re out there.
“We don’t do typical nose-to-tail trail rides,” he says. “Everyone has to be in control of their own horse, and especially for kids it really boosts their confidence when they’re able to control their own horse.”—L.I.
indiansummerguideservice.com