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#1 of 5 hotels in Highland
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2022 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best
All Inclusive Four Season Family Resort in the Hudson Valley We’re more than just horses… We’re the most fun your family ever had! Nestled on a 500-acre spread in the heart of the scenic Hudson River Valley, Rocking Horse offers 4 seasons of activities for families of all ages. From our Winter Fun Park to Big Splash indoor waterpark, The Ranch provides the perfect backdrop for your family’s next big adventure. Enjoy three delicious meals daily, summer BBQ’s, afternoon chef’s tastings, pool parties, wine pairings and more. End the evening with our top-name family entertainment, featuring magicians, bonfire singalongs, comedians and jugglers. It’ll be the best family vacation you’ve ever had!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Archery
Boating
Babysitting
Valet parking
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Indoor pool
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Shallow end in pool
Fence around pool
Yoga classes
Fitness / spa changing rooms
Sauna
Bar / lounge
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Happy hour
Kid-friendly buffet
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Snack bar
Wine / champagne
Vending machine
Bowling
Canoeing
Game room
Hiking
Horseback riding
Mini golf
Ski rentals
Ski school
Skiing
Tennis court
Water park
Water sport equipment rentals
Billiards
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Karaoke
Patio
Table tennis
Water park offsite
Waterslide
Board games / puzzles
Nightclub / DJ
Books, DVDs, music for children
Children's playground
Children's television networks
Indoor play area for children
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids club
Kids pool
Kids' outdoor play equipment
Highchairs available
Free airport transportation
Free shuttle or taxi services
Shuttle bus service
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Facial treatments
Hot spring bath
Massage
Neck massage
24-hour security
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Gift shop
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Shared lounge / TV area
Shops
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
ATM on site
Doorperson
First aid kit
Infirmary
Umbrella
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Air conditioning
Additional bathroom
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Refrigerator
Cable / satellite TV
Bath / shower
Safe
Seating area
Telephone
Clothes rack
Laptop safe
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Mountain view
Pool view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Green
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Hotel links
Location
Contact
600 State Route 44/55, Highland, NY 12528-2259
Getting there
Car HireSee all Highland car hire
2350Reviews135Q+A100Room tips
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+1
This is the best place for a family winter getaway. I booked it as a Christmas present to my family and we went for a weekend in February. What an amazing experience for all! Horseback riding, tubing, skiing (teeny hill but it was perfect!), skating, wagon ride, laser tag and then when you wanted to warm up hot cocoa was everywhere and even an indoor pool area! I equate this to the resort in Dirty Dancing but more southwestern. Yes it’s a little pricey but everything is included. Good food too!! Entertainment and games too. You can head there before check in and enjoy all and even stay after check out and still use the included amenities. It’s worth it! We can’t wait to go back. Ps. I need all those candles I smelled everywhere. I already used mine up!!
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Come early to hang out there and use all amenities even before your room ready
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 2 weeks ago
Hi wanita36, Thank you so much for the kind words. We are so happy to hear that you had an amazing time with your family enjoying all of the included activities and meals. Again, thanks for the feedback and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Steve Turk-Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hotel's Favourite
Amazing experience! The place has so many various activities. Everything is walking distance and the place wasn’t overcrowded. We definitely will be back. Food is delicious and personnel is very friendly.
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Date of stay: January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 10 Feb 2023
Hi Irina, Thank you so much for the kind words. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to seeing you again soon! Steve Turk-Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Rocking Horse Ranch was above our expectations. The entire place is centered around the children with so much to do. The food was good and all included. The place was well staffed and very friendly. We felt that the children were safe the entire time. The only advice would be to get a second floor room if possible. We must have had some wild ones above us and it was loud. Probably just bad luck. We enjoyed our stay so much we booked a room for July.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 2 weeks ago
Hello Arrowhuntr, Thank you for sharing your experience. It is always our goal to exceed guest expectations, and we're glad we were able to do that for you. We look forward to seeing you again in July so you can experience Summer adventure here at The Ranch! Steve Turk-Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We love Rocking Horse Ranch! We went last year as a Christmas gift for my child asking for a horse :) kids have been talking about it since last year! We got to return. Last year we did all the activities, this year we relaxed more. Horseback riding: my 9yo went solo on intermediate rides as he is far better than us:) he enjoyed the rides. Swimming: 9 & 7yo both loved the pool, hot pool & water slide. They would stay all day if they could. Arts & crafts: kids enjoyed painting ceramics and staff was patient and understanding when my 7yo made a mess. Activities: whole family played BINGO each day, 7yo enjoyed the scavenger hunt, we watched juggler show, reptiles encounter, and magic show. I think magic was a huge hit! Kids enjoyed laser tag though it was often chaotic getting to play. This winter has been brutal for snow but kids enjoyed tubing before going home. Food: we are family with 3 people who have food allergies and RHR is a food highlight for my kids! The chef (I forget his name) ordered special food for my kids and everyone was so careful. We don't go out to eat often but RHR is the exception for them! My kids took full advantage and no one had reactions. Bar tenders were both very friendly and personable. Always had positive interactions. Drinks were good (from daily specials, tropical drinks, Irish coffees, hot drinks w/ kahlua). My husband & I enjoyed getting up early in AM and sitting in lobby by the fire to start the day. Kids liked reading or playing on tablets in lobby and having Jack the cat join was always a bonus. Lots of kids here! So you need patience both for yours and others, but it's such a fun place. Always clean. Already rebooted for year #3 next year and kids are already planning it out. :) thank you RHR for always providing a memorable stay!!!…
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Date of stay: February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 3 weeks ago
Hello Jcough, Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. It sounds like you had an amazing time experiencing all that The Ranch has to offer. We look forward to visit #3! Steve Turk-Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The first thing I have noticed was that 100% of gusts were families with kids, and this is, definitely, the typical gust at this resort. We have visited during the winter, but from what I could see on premise, this is a year-round high-activity attraction from children. The resort is great in keeping your kids busy. I would say that a 2-3 days stay would be great and the kids won’t feel boredom. There are many great activities – skiing (small slope, just for beginners), ice skating, ice tubing (also at night), horse and pony riding, laser tag, indoor pool (small) and hot spring (more warm then hot in my opinion). There are also arts and crafts, indoor activities in the lobby (e.g., Bingo) and a shooting range. Most are lots of fun and engaging. Of all activities I liked the least the shooting range (archery and air gun). First, there were multiple safety violations (especially handling the bow and arrows) and the staff on site just set board and unengaged. Secondly, the air guns were hard to handle (especially for kids) and since you can’t see if you hit anything, they got bored in less than 2 minutes. Food wise, there are 3 meals included per day and a coffee corner open around the clock. The food quality and variety were very good with a few minor exceptions. Pasta dishes were just inedible. They were over coked and tasteless. This was especially true for the kids dishes (mac and cheese) but also for adults pasts. Maybe other people like it, but my entire family just could not stand it. Second thing was the coffee which was burned. It was drinkable, but defiantly not pleasant. Still, all-in-all food was defiantly good. Rooms are very specious, comfortable, and clean, yet somewhat old (especially bathrooms). Bottom-line, my family had a great time and the kids loved it. It is definitely worth a stay.…
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 3 weeks ago
Hello Adventix, Thank you for your feedback. It sounds like you had a great time overall with your family! With regards to our BB gun & archery range, our staff undergoes a lot of training, much of which is centered around safety. We will certainly review training with all of our staff, as safety is our top priority. In addition, please note that we always have managers available throughout the resort, including in the dining room, which would have been happy to address any concerns about your meal immediately. Again, thanks for the feedback, and we hope to see you again soon. Steve Turk-Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
First of all. People are SO NICE and very hospitable. We had all amazing encounters with everyone. When you book this you know you’re spending a hefty amount of money but the experience was so worth it. If you planned it all individually elsewhere + meals you’d spend this and more so it’s definitely fantastic. They give you the value and then some. Truly all inclusive (minus alcohol) the food was wonderful. I have celiac disease and they really went above and beyond. During buffet meals the chef made me separate food and brought it out to me. At dinner he even made me a gluten free apple crips/pie thing that was SO GOOD. The food at your meals is endless so enjoy! And the chefs tasting hour was fantastic! Great for a mid day snack attack after being out doing so many activities. You pay for nothing except alcohol, arcade and any shop goodies so all the ski and skate and tube rentals are included! Horse back riding too! There’s so much to do you won’t ever be bored. The salt water hot spring is 95-98 degrees and very relaxing. The little waterpark is super fun for kids! My husband even loved the big waterslide. Even the teens there seemed to have fun! Nightly entertainment will have you laughing and there’s things to do all day! Bingo, scavengers hunt, karaoke, jeopardy etc! Seriously. You’re really going to have a family vacation to remember! And there’s so much more in summer! 10/10 do it.…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 3 weeks ago
Hi Nicole, Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It is always our goal to exceed guest expectations, and we're glad we were able to do that for you. Thanks again, and we hope to see you again soon! Steve Turk-Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We just visited the Ranch this past President’s Day weekend, there was a total of 16 people in our party which was 3 different families staying in 3 different rooms. We spent a total of 4 nights and well over $25,000 for the weekend! We were all very excited to spend time together and have all the cousins be together and having fun! When we arrived, we had a great meal and Jason who is an amazing waiter then we went to the nightly show and had a great time! After the show we went to one of the rooms for a few minutes to say goodnight and hangout before going to bed. Another guest knocked on the door and asked if we could keep it down, we apologized, and all went to our own rooms for the night. Normally the dialogue would end there but not at Rocking Horse Ranch! The manager came to our table the next day during lunch to continue bringing up the complaint, again, we apologized and said it would not happen again as we were just excited the first night to be there! You would assume all was well after that encounter but nope, not at the Rocking Horse Ranch! The next night after we did our daily activities and had dinner and watched the nightly show, we were exhausted from the day everyone went to sleep and wind down in our own rooms!!! My sister-in-law happen to run to her car that night to grab a few things and she noticed a security guard listening close to her door and our other family member’s door. When she confronted the man, he confirmed that they received another call about noise and had to check on it. Instead of knocking on the door he invaded their privacy and quietly snooped around and confirmed he did not hear any noise!! When we brought this harassment up to the day manager CJ she insisted on speaking very loudly in the hallway, almost so everyone else can hear the conversation. In addition to these incidents throughout our stay we noticed most places we went there was a surprise pop up from a manger or security to “check” on us and to their surprise we were being the respectful and responsible guests like everyone else! It was obvious they were following us and targeting us even the older kids with us felt uncomfortable which is unacceptable! A child should never feel like someone is following them and staring at them making them uncomfortable in a place that is supposed to be fun and for making good memories. We were targeted and harassed because we are Hispanic and it’s a shame because if this is how they treat high paying minority customers then how do they treat their minority staff? We had some great encounters with amazing staff members like Theresa at the Saloon, Joe and Samantha during the games at the Saloon, Jason, Jonathon, Yolanda and Doreen in the dining room and Travis in maintenance couldn’t do enough to help! It’s unfortunate and embarrassing that such a nice resort still has some archaic ways of thinking and running a business that they would treat successful high paying minority customers this way. Honestly if they offered a free stay, we wouldn’t even take it because of the way we were treated and how we felt uncomfortable.…
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Date of stay: February 2023
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: DO NOT stay in the Oklahoma building! The rooms are small, outdated and the floors are terrible...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 3 weeks ago
Hi MJP, We appreciate you sharing your kind words about our hardworking team, but upon reading your review, we did want to confirm your family’s spend with us, which totaled just under $13,000 for 4 nights, 3 rooms, and 16 people. That would be about $200 per person/per night for an all-inclusive stay. We also see that you spent nearly $700 in the gift shop on your day of departure. The noise complaints we received throughout your stay were from multiple nearby different guestrooms, and we handle every noise complaint following the exact same procedure. Your acknowledgment of being excited with your group after the first complaint was accepted graciously, and you were in fact apologetic to CJ, our General Manager, with regard to how loud your group was, but the noise continued again well into the 3rd day of your stay. In our nearly 65 year history, we have never been accused of targeting anyone, and as mentioned, would handle the situation precisely the same, regardless. I am quite confused as to why you’d spend the amount you did in the gift shop, right before you left, if this is truly how you felt about Rocking Horse. Steve Turk, Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Another just perfect weekend away with our 4 children at Rocking Horse Ranch ! This is our 5th time and rebooked again for summer and next winter ! We are never disappointed and each one of the kids ages btw 4-14 years old kept busy and had an amazing time! The older kids , rode the horses on the trails while the little ones rode at the junior wranglers . We all enjoyed skiing and tubing and the outdoor /indoor pools ! We had fun times ice skating and family laser tag ! It was a magical winter wonderland weekend . Thanks for the memories and we look forward to our next visit .
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 5 weeks ago
Hello Liza, Thanks so much for sharing your experience. We are thrilled to hear that you and your family had another wonderful stay. We look forward to visits 6 & 7! See you soon. Steve Turk-Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is our fourth visit to the ranch and once again it has been excellent! All the staff are so very kind and friendly, Isaac, CJ, Jasmine, and Samantha (runs the games), but I need to make special mention about Scott, who my 9 year says “He is the kindest person she has met, he is special to me”. Thank you Rocking Horse Ranch for doing what you do!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 3 Jan 2023
Hi Alexander, Thanks so much for the feedback. Your compliments will be shared with Isaac, CJ, Jasmine, Samantha and Scott We're thrilled to hear that you had another "excellent experience" and look forward to seeing you again soon! Steve Turk-Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Incredible customer service and activities for EVERYONE! My wife and I booked a short holiday break stay with an emphasis on winter sports and horseback riding. Our boys are older (19, 17, 15) so we were worried they might not have a good time. Despite some grumbling when we arrived, the boys all enjoyed themselves. Our oldest son has Down syndrome and was able to participate in EVERY activity! The staff was understanding and inclusive. If you have kids with unique or special needs, bring them to Rocking Horse! I especially want to mention some staff- Cindy and Vinnie in the main dining room were fantastic servers. Abby in winter sports was patient and taught our son with Down syndrome how to ski (even if he only did if for 15 minutes on the beginner hill, it was a major milestone for us to see him on skis). Abby was amazing. Anthony and Mia in the stables ensured our son was safe on his two horseback riding sessions. The only two people who I didn't get names were the woman who ran karaoke on December 28th (she was GREAT) and the singing cowboy by the fireplace on the evening of December 29th (he was also fantastic). Next, the entertainment. The two entertainers (yo-yo and comedy the first night and juggling and comedy the second night) were a hit! Well done. Ok, you want to know about the food. The food was unbelievable! I had a New York strip steak the night we arrived. It was cooked to perfection! It was a midtown New York quality cut of meat, tender and juicy! My wife and the kids all enjoyed their meals. Finally, I want to thank General Manager, CJ. Your surprise for us at dinner was the icing on the cake. To the staff at the Rocking Horse Ranch, you made a repeat customer out of our family. We can't wait to come back and bring along others! Thank you, THANK YOU, for such an amazing time!…
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Date of stay: December 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Special needs friendly
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Steve Turk, Owner at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Responded 2 Jan 2023
Hello Benjamin, Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We like to say that the staff here at The Ranch is our #1 attraction and we're glad you agree. We will certainly pass along your compliments to Cindy, Vinnie, Abby, Anthony, Mia, Samantha, Gary and CJ. It sounds like you had a wonderful time and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Steve Turk-Owner
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ALSO KNOWN AS
rocking horse ranch hotel highland, rocking horse hotel, rocking horse resort
LOCATION
United StatesNew YorkCatskill RegionSullivan CatskillsHighland
NUMBER OF ROOMS
113
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Claim Your ListingROCKING HORSE RANCH RESORT: UPDATED 2023 Reviews, Price Comparison and 1,012 Photos (Highland, NY) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Which popular attractions are close to Rocking Horse Ranch Resort?
Nearby attractions include Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park (7.8 km), Walkway State Historic Park (5.5 km), and Locust Grove Estate (7.5 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort?
Yes, free parking and valet parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Rocking Horse Ranch Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include Lola's Catering and Cafe, Rosticceria Rossi and Sons, and Mill House Brewing Company.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool, a fitness centre, and a sauna during their stay.
Does Rocking Horse Ranch Resort have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Rocking Horse Ranch Resort offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Rocking Horse Ranch Resort have airport transportation?
Yes, Rocking Horse Ranch Resort offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Rocking Horse Ranch Resort offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and a banquet room during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.