Clips

Valentine’s Day. A time of romance and intimacy. A time to reconnect with your partner and remember why you fell in love. Unless you have kids; then it becomes a time of cutting hearts out of construction paper, managing candy overload and madly labeling little cards for every child in your child’s class.

Maybe this is the year where you get away for a night with your partner. Has it been so long that you don’t know what to do? Here are a couple ideas for a romantic February getaway.

For the history buff
Garnet Ghost Town is one of Montana’s premier ghost towns. It was named after the gemstone because of the garnet rock outcrops in the area, but it was gold, copper and silver that brought the miners who established the town.

Rent one of the wood-heated log cabins ($30/night) and spend a night among the ghosts. It’s a three or four-mile ski or snowmobile ride to Garnet (depending on the route you choose) and there are 116 miles of ski and snowmobile trails to play on once you get there. There is no electricity or indoor plumbing, but there is a propane stove to cook on. Find out more at garnetghosttown.net.

For the romantic
Dashing through the snow, under a sky filled with stars, snuggled under a blanket—sounds perfect, doesn’t it? The 320 Ranch in Gallatin Canyon offers a “Winter Wonderland” package ($200/two people) that includes a sleigh ride, dinner at their steakhouse and a night’s lodging for two.

The hour-long sleigh ride follows the Gallatin River to a warming tent and bonfire. Rides that begin at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m., known as the appetizer rides, include chili, cheese and crackers and hot drinks. The 9:00 p.m. dessert ride is the same except hot cobbler replaces the chili. Have dinner before or after the ride. The horses usually get Sundays off, but this year they are working on Valentine’s Day. Slide over to 320ranch.com for more information.

Montana Parent
February 2010

By the time December rolls around I’m ready to don my cross-country skis and head out into the snowy woods. There may or may not be enough snow around Bozeman for Nordic skiing, but luckily you can always count on plenty of powder in West Yellowstone.

There are lots of ski trails around West Yellowstone but one of my family’s favorites is the Riverside Trail. Actually two loop trails, the Riverside Trails are easy enough for a beginner skier, but scenic enough for anyone. Another bonus is they are often partially groomed and you an easily pull a ski trailer with your little one. (There are a couple short, steep hills, but they are walkable.)

The trails start on the east side of Boundary Street between Yellowstone and Madison Avenues. Look for the trail sign through a gap in the snowbank.
From the trailhead ski east along the power line. At 1 mile you’ll reach a junction.

Downriver Loop: Veer left and head down the hill toward the river. At 1.25 miles from the junction look for a sign that reads “Cutoff”. By turning left here, you’ll have a nice hill to practice Telemark turns or a shortcut to the west section of the trail. If you ski past the cutoff, continue for 1.3 miles until the trail loops back to the top of the hill. Watch for the orange markers on the trees. It is 1 more mile to the Access Trail.

Upriver Loop: Ski to the right on the road briefly, looking for the trail through the trees on the left. Wind through lodgepoles on a bench above the river. At about 0.5 miles drop down a steep 60 yards. In another 0.3 miles you’ll reach the Madison River. Follow the river downstream to the end of the loop and a mellow climb back to the bench.

The two loops can be combined into a 7.3-mile bigger loop (including the Access Trail).

After skiing drop by Wild West Pizzeria to warm up with pizza and beverages.

What you need to know before you go:
Check in at Free Heel and Wheel, 40 Yellowstone Ave., 406.646.7744, www.freeheelandwheel.com for more information or to rent skis.
Wild West Pizzeria, 14 Madison Ave., 406.646.4400, www.wildwestpizza.com

Montana Parent
December 08

Summer makes me want to hit the road, and one of my favorite things to do is explore Montana. Red Lodge is just a few hours from Bozeman, so it makes a perfect overnight getaway.

Day 1: Drive: Take the scenic drive to Red Lodge, arriving midday.

Hike: It can be hard to choose a place to hike since there are so many great trails just outside of town. A few miles from Red Lodge, along the banks of the West Fork of Rock Creek, is the Silver Run Ski Trail system. These trails are pretty flat, scenic and can be linked together to create whatever length outing your family is up for. (From Red Lodge drive south and turn right on West Fork Road. Stay straight at 2.8 miles. Drive another 1.6 miles to Silver Run Road and turn left. Drive across the bridge and park.)

Explore: Stroll down Broadway and—if you have older kids—pop into the Red Lodge Clay Center to check out the newest exhibition. (redlodgeclaycenter.com) Kids of all ages will enjoy Magpie Toymakers where you’ll find toys powered by imagination—not batteries. Don’t forget a stop at Montana Candy Emporium, an old-fashioned candy shop.

Download a self-guided historic walking tour map (redlodge.com > adventure > self guided tours) and discover Red Lodge’s heritage while you walk.

Eat: End the day with dinner at the kid-friendly Red Lodge Pizza Company. (thepizzaco.com)

Day 2:
Mine the past: Follow Hwy 308 east. Just a few miles from town you’ll see the coalmines of Washoe and Bearcreek. Markers offer geologic and historic details, including the story of the Smith Mine Disaster of 1942.

Go Wild: Visit native animals at the Beartooth Nature Center, a refuge for animals that cannot be released into the wild. Meet bobcats, coyotes, bald eagles, mountain lions and other wild critters. (beartoothnaturecenter.org)

Know before you go

Find out about lodging, camping, rafting, horseback riding and a million other things to do in Red Lodge at redlodge.com.

Or contact the chamber at 406.446.1718 or 1.888.281.0625, email: rlacc59068@gmail.com or redlodgechamber.org.

Montana Parent
Summer 2009

With fall in full force and winter peaking its head around the corner, the season for hot springing has officially begun. The many hot springs—both natural and developed—in southwest Montana provide respite, relaxation and recreation for families.

One of our family’s favorite hot spots is Norris Hot Springs. This geothermal delight can be a destination in itself or a relaxing end to a day of fishing, hiking, floating or cross-country skiing. We like to load up the dogs and head for Bear Trap Canyon on the Madison River. After a mellow hike along a mostly flat trail we point the truck west to Norris Hot Springs.

The “Water of the Gods” flows from the ground and into the wooden pool where it is cooled to about 105 degrees, warm enough for a cold day soak, but not too hot for little bodies. As you are bobbing about or dunking your kids, keep an eye on the hillsides and wetlands for deer, pronghorn and moose. Eagles, hawks, Sandhill cranes, waterfowl and other birds are likely to make an appearance as well.

The folks at Norris Hot Springs will rent you a swimsuit and towel if you forget yours or if a soak in the hot springs is a last minute decision. If your kids aren’t ready to take the plunge sans floaties, they can borrow one of the life vests hanging outside the changing room.

When the kids’ tummies rumble, take advantage of the local and sustainabley grown snacks at the No Loose Dogs Saloon. You can check out the distance particular foods traveled to get there by clicking on their website. The greens are even grown on site; you can’t get more local than that.

Older kids might enjoy listening to live music while they swim. Bluegrass, acoustic tunes, alternative music, Celtic melodies or other music fill the air around the pool, and combined with a microbrew or a glass of wine, creates the perfect atmosphere for mom and dad, too.

What you need to know to go:
www.norrishotsprings.com 685.3303
.25 miles east of Norris, Mont. on Hwy 84
October-April: Wednesday-Friday 4pm-10pm, Saturday & Sunday 2pm-10pm.
$5 per person, $7 at 7 pm Thursday - Sunday to support live music.

Montana Parent
Spring 2009

When the winter winds are howling, your lips and fingers have turned blue and the mucus in your nose starts to freeze, it’s time to head inside. Sometime this winter every family needs an indoor activity day that gets them out of the house.

Museum of the Rockies has something to interest every age and enough variety to keep you busy for most of a day. Before you go, log onto their website for games and activities that will fuel your children’s excitement for a visit to the museum. To help kids get more out of their museum experience, I like to peruse the website and make a list of things we will see. The list can be used for a scavenger hunt during the visit.

Start the morning with a tour of the museum. Either call ahead to find out when the next docent-led tour is, or lead yourselves. Older kids will enjoy the Mesozoic Media Center where they can watch videos of field archaeology and interact with touch-screens that provide access to paleontological activities and information.

Younger children will appreciate a trip upstairs to the Martin Discovery Room where they can climb, slide, try on costumes and cook a meal in a log cabin.

Everyone loves the Hall of Giants and the Hall of Horns and Teeth where real fossils mingle with replicas and life-size dinos. In addition to learning about paleontology and dinosaur growth and behavior, kids can view the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skull in the world, the world’s most complete Triceratops growth series, and a massive Edmontosaurus tail with fossilized skin impressions.

From now until May 3, the “Tree Houses: Look Who’s Living in the Trees!” exhibit provides entertainment and learning for kids of all ages. Visitors are encouraged to climb through the sustainably harvested and locally milled wood of the tree houses while they look for animal clues and listen to the sounds of the forest.

Next head down to the basement to enjoy the sack lunches you brought, or across the street to a restaurant (keep your stickers and receipt for reentry).

After lunch, catch a show at the Taylor Planetarium—the 40-foot, 104-seat domed theater where you can almost touch the stars. There are a few standards, but some of the shows change throughout the year. Whether it’s astronomy, dinosaurs or Lewis and Clark, the planetarium is the perfect way to wind down a day at the museum.

What you need to know to go:
www.museumoftherockies.org 994.DINO (3466)
600 West Kagy Boulevard
Winter Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 12:30-5pm (Martin Discovery Room closes at 4:30pm).
Adults $10, Children 5-18 $7, Children 4 and under free, Seniors $9

Montana Parent
April 2009