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    John Volken Academy Ranch

    4.3 (6 reviews)

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    MD Ranch

    MD Ranch

    4.2
    (34 reviews)

    What a fun experience! I booked the daytime horseback riding for both my husband and I. Wyatt led…read morethe experience and he was great. The trail was beautiful and the views were so serene. Making the reservation was very simple. I called in and made the reservation over the phone. They send you an email reminder and two text reminders leading up to your reservation. Upon arrival and paying the $7 parking fee, drive to the horse staging area. You'll meet the horses and complete payment there. This experience was very fun. They have other types of riding experiences as well on their website. Remember to support your local businesses!

    The Horseback Ride was as perfect as the weather today! My daughter and I have been wanting to do…read morethis for so long and we are so glad we chose MD Ranch to do it. The owner and tour guide Matt was warm, genuine, knowledgeable and personable. He made everyone feel at ease and comfortable. The horses each had their own personality and were gorgeous. He told us details about each one we were riding. He says he tries to pair their personalities w each rider he meets and I think he nailed it! I have never been to SanTan Mountain Regional Park before but definitely want to come back as it was absolutely stunning landscape and great hiking trails. Many friendly hikers said hi to us on our horses. The park has a very friendly vibe. MD Ranch was such a great experience. Thank you Matt and team for raising such wonderful horses and hosting us for such a memorable experience. I hadn't ridden a horse in 20 years and this was my daughter's first ride ever! You guys rock.

    Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch

    Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch

    4.5
    (91 reviews)

    I'm a new local and was looking up things to do. I really wanted to check out the Salt River. And I…read morewas able to find Summer tickets on Viator. I'm so pleased with the experience from Saguaro Lake Ranch. Parking at the ranch was included. Check in and getting set up in the kayak was really easy. They guide you through the whole trail. The Fox Tail Trail was calm this day. We saw tons of catfish and even saw horses at the end of the experience. For someone who's never been kayaking before, I highly recommend for anyone who wants to try it out. We spent a little over 2 hours on the water. One down side was that there were a lot of people listening to music and smoking. We were able to move through the crowds and get some quiet times. One surprising upside was the van that picked us up. The driver gave us a small tour on the way back and was very friendly and informative. He loaded the kayaks for us and gave us iced water bottles.

    Fun rustic getaway!…read more Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch offers a beautiful, nature-centric setting within easy reach of Phoenix. From the horseback riding to the kayaking and hiking, there are activities to fill numerous days. The launch site for those are all on the property, and there's a shuttle return for the kayaking, which keeps it simple and enjoyable. We also appreciated the close proximity of local recreation areas, for taking in views of the Salt River horses, and to Saguaro Lake (the Desert Belle wine cruise is great). The lodge itself is more of a four-star moment. It's understandable that the cabins are old (built for the construction of the Stewart Dam), but some general maintenance and a little TLC both inside and out would be helpful. For instance, a shower knob fell off in my hand, the curtain rods were crooked, a broken hook was on the door, the outdoor benches and chairs were dirty, and there were weeds and trash around the cabin perimeter. On the flip side, the staff is friendly, the main lodge offers homespun charm, the Bulldog rock formations are gorgeous, and the grounds in the main courtyard are an inviting place to indulge in the lodge's "easy living" motto. Beyond that, the food deserves its own special nod -- outstanding at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with rave reviews from all. That said, it would be nice to offer individual seating at dinner instead of the "single long table" ranch-style service. It can be awkward, or at least less relaxing, to sit across from strangers at each dinner each evening and make generic small talk. Overall, a wonderful getaway under starry skies!

    99 Ranch Market

    99 Ranch Market

    3.6
    (172 reviews)
    $$

    We finally made it to Ranch 99 Market in Chandler, and I can definitely see why it's such a popular…read morespot! The produce department was one of the highlights of our visit. The selection was impressive, with an incredible variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that you don't always find at a traditional grocery store. Everything looked vibrant, well-stocked, and reasonably priced, making it easy to leave with more than we planned. Their fresh seafood and meat department also stood out. There was a wide assortment of fresh seafood, specialty cuts, and products that would be perfect for anyone looking to cook authentic Asian dishes at home. Everything appeared fresh, clean, and well maintained. We stopped by later in the day, so many of the bakery items had already sold out--which honestly seems like a good sign! We'll definitely plan to arrive earlier next time to see the full selection. The hot food area smelled incredible, and while we didn't have a chance to try it this visit, everything looked fresh and delicious. There were so many prepared dishes to choose from that we're already looking forward to coming back just to sample the hot food. Located in a convenient Chandler strip mall with plenty of parking, Ranch 99 is a fun place to explore whether you're shopping for everyday groceries or looking to try something new. Great prices, an excellent selection, and plenty of reasons to return. Looking forward to our next visit!

    I've never been inside this place but walk by it often when I come to 85!…read more They have lots of Asian snacks and food! It definitely has a grocery store ambiance. I didn't realize that there were food markets inside and will definitely come back to get lunch here. My friends and I came around 1230 on a weekday. The parking lot here is alway pretty chaotic but it didn't seem too crazy inside. We all walked out with chips and cookies! The people who rang up our orders were nice.

    AzTrailRiding

    AzTrailRiding

    4.3
    (21 reviews)

    We never actually got to book a trail ride, the low rating is purely for the communication my…read morefiancé and I experienced trying to set up the booking. My fiancé reached out on Tuesday via text to both Mike and Shannon to set up a ride for the upcoming Saturday (my birthday). Didn't hear back so he called Mike on Wednesday. I texted Mike and Shannon myself on Thursday knowing it was a shot in the dark. We figured they were busy and surely someone would get back to us before the weekend, but we were wrong. I really wanted to go for a ride and had Monday off too, so I followed up on Saturday morning and finally got a response. After some back-and-forth over the weekend we finally got a ride set up for Monday, only for the ride to be canceled the night before due to some emergency on their end. While Mike was very nice on the texts exchanged (thus the 2 stars instead of 1), the amount of communication attempts necessary to get a response was really frustrating. If customers feel like they have to hound you to get your business, they're certainly not going to try again a second time much less recommend you to anyone else.

    Another reviewer had the same experience that I did. I asked for lessons for my granddaughter. 5…read moredays later after no response I asked again and got the "no availability" answer. Then an extremely rude response which I will share. Not a secretary?? How about an owner!!!Such an unprofessional washed out business... terrible! Too many places to choose from for riding why choose someone so angry and negative!

    Los Altos Ranch Market

    Los Altos Ranch Market

    3.8
    (161 reviews)
    $

    A really busy spot, which is a good sign. The inventory is great and I found what I needed plus a…read morelot more. If you need authentic Mexican groceries, this is a good place to shop. I bought some fresh flour tortillas and tortilla chips and both were very good. In addition, I reloaded our stock of mazapán treats and tried the Jarritos spicy gummies (pineapple, mango and tamarind flavors and not too much heat). If you like the Chef Merito seasoning like I do, they have a good variety. I remember when there was just one, but the lineup has expanded with meat-specific options -- the Pollo one is quite nice on simply grilled or beer-can roasted chicken. I need to come back for some pastries and fresh chiles and Mexican queso -- they have a counter with all kinds of options in addition to the prepackaged stuff. Parking can be a little challenging due to the popularity, depending on when you go, but we found a spot that wasn't too far away from the entrance.

    On a relaxing Sunday afternoon, we decided to get some great Mexican food and take it home to…read moreenjoy. First, we grabbed some cookies, cake, and conchas from the bakery spot as you walk into the store. Then we went to the counter where you can get hot food to eat in store or to take home. There was a line, of course, as others know of this great eatery, too. Usually, we would just get some street tacos and maybe a burrito, but this time we ordered a combo plate where you get rice, beans, a meat (we chose pollo), salsa, cilantro and onions, and tortillas. Under $20 and enough food to feed four. We hadn't ever signed up for their app, but because of their digital punch card which keeps track of the aguafrescas you purchase, we signed up. After grabbing our food, my wife got a 32 oz. cucumber and I grabbed a watermelon. So delicious. Already planning our next Sunday lunch.

    The Farm At South Mountain

    The Farm At South Mountain

    4.0
    (712 reviews)
    $$

    This feels like a hidden gem in Phoenix. It's the perfect place to come with kids! So much space to…read morerun around and spend an afternoon. There are animals around for the kids to look at and lots of grassy areas to rest. The restaurant can get busy and it's pretty pricey, but worth it for the convenience.

    2/28/26: it was disappointing eating lunch at The Farm. Years ago we had eaten at Quiessence and…read morehad a lovely time. Wanting to try another of their restaurants before the ungodly heat arrived, we decided to stop in for lunch. Parking: can be a bit nerve wracking, especially parking in the dirt lots east of the place. You have to walk across 32nd St & if you know Phoenix drivers, this can be dangerous. There is a pedestrian light now, though, so that helps -- but oddly enough, there's no "walk" signage. It's merely a blinking yellow light for north- sound-bound traffic so you have to pray to the universe drivers are paying attention & actually stop for you. Ordering: a bit odd. The main door we went in was more the middle door that didn't really take you to the beginning. There's a drink station then the food station. We skedaddled to the right of the main doors for the drink order, only to discover there's another door that people walk through to place orders. So we joggled w/ another customer trying to figure out who was there first. It honestly felt like a school cafeteria, a bit chaotic, as well as cramped. The patio was pretty large & well shaded, but it was also full -- and this particular day also the ONLY SHADE. We were left to sit at one of their many tables on the grounds with no shade. Food: not worth the $77 we paid. I get it's a working farm, & though we try to support local as much as possible, the food we ordered was not good enough that we will stop by again. The strawberry fields salad was a typical salad, no wow factor there. The Italian sammy was dry. There was a minuscule amount of some kind of dressing on it, but def not enough. Dessert: red velvet whoopie pie was so overpriced it's not funny. If it tasted great, I wouldn't complain...it did not taste great. The pecan pie was abysmal; not enough filling and very bland. Two "specialty" drinks, a salad, a sandwich, & two small desserts, for $77? No, sorry, not again.

    John Volken Academy Ranch - horse_boarding - Updated August 2026

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