From Portland to Patagonia: How One Family Found Their Home Away from Home at Circle Z Ranch - Circle Z Ranch

A busy single dad from Portland, Oregon, with a demanding tech job and two young children, Julien was in search of a spring break destination for his family. When a friend mentioned the idea of a “dude ranch,” Julien was intrigued. A concept he never heard of before, he began searching locations through the Dude Ranch Association website. Circle Z Ranch in southern Arizona quickly rose to the top of his list and he decided to try something different as a family and booked a stay.

He wasn’t sure what to expect that first trip, when his children were just six and eight. “We weren’t horse people,” Julien recalls, “but the moment we arrived, something shifted.” Surrounded by Arizona’s sweeping desert and mountain landscapes, the family unplugged almost instantly. Julien laughed when he realized he didn’t have to beg the kids to turn off their iPads. They didn’t touch their devices once the entire trip. Instead, they roamed freely, learned about riding and caring for horses, and found adventure in long rides through the wilderness.

Circle Z became much more than a vacation. It became a tradition—and eventually, a second home.

Today, Julien and his kids return every year—sometimes at Thanksgiving, sometimes at Christmas and this year it happens to be both. With their immediate and extended family still living in France, a trip overseas isn’t always an option. Circle Z is their home away from home, especially during the holidays. And now their French relatives have started making the trip from France to Arizona to experience the magic of the holiday at the ranch.

What began as an experiment has turned into an annual ritual filled with milestones and documented with an annual photo outside the turquoise door of the haciendas. “It’s our version of the first day of school photo,” he says, showing how both kids have grown up with Circle Z.

“We’ve all become good riders now,” he says proudly. “We never miss an opportunity to ride.” His children, now 10 and 13, look forward to customized rides that are thrilling, never the same and always safe. The wranglers know them well and have helped grow their confidence and ability over the years. They are progressing in barrel racing and cattle herding, learning what it means to be a cowboy.

For Julien, the Circle Z experience is about more than horses. Mornings often start by the fire, chatting with George, one of the ranch managers, before heading out for a ride. His kids have their own rhythm—up before sunrise, claiming the pride of being the first at breakfast, then out for adventures that feel like childhood the way it used to be. The way it’s meant to be.

“I’ve put the kids in other horse camps and we’ve tried another ranch – but nothing compares. Circle Z creates an authentic experience for kids, not one watered down. And they do it in such a way that my kids have connected with nature and with one another.”

What makes Circle Z so unique, Julien believes, is the freedom it offers. Unlike other ranches, Circle Z encourages exploration: day-long rides to hidden mine shafts, holiday cookouts in the forest, and private wrangler-led adventures where families set the pace. The landscape itself is endlessly varied—riparian forests along Sonoita Creek, wide-open savannahs, rugged desert, and grasslands that feel untouched. “You’re never seeing the same thing twice,” Julien says. Along the way, deer, javelina, wild turkeys, and countless birds remind riders they are guests in a truly wild place.

Holidays at the ranch offer a unique experience. The late morning ride on Christmas day is his favorite. They get a later start and ride out to a chuck wagon meal with guests, the staff at their ranch and their own families. There’s even small gifts for everyone. Thanksgiving attracts even more families and a full table of friends and homemade dishes. For Julien, both seasons are cherished, with good food and good company.

At Circle Z, Julien and his children have found more than a vacation—they’ve discovered a place where time slows down and family bonds deepen with every ride. What began as a different idea for Spring Break, has become a cherished part of their story and one that calls them back year after year. For them, Circle Z isn’t simply a destination; it’s a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected adventures become the places we call home.