Recommend October 2011 - (Page 17)

Opposite page: Pinnacle Camp is set on a bluff overlooking the Blackfoot River. Below: The family-oriented River Camp. and a belly full of the tastiest morsels west of the Mississippi, there was always still a smidgen of room for s’mores back at the camp. the rest of the ranch Paws Up’s inventory includes three additional 6-tent camps—Creekside, River and Moonlight. Creekside features that same en-suite bathroom convenience, with the adults-only Moonlight poised to jump on the bandwagon next season. The family-oriented River Camp assigns each tent an exclusive master bathroom in the bathhouse just steps away. All campsites are open from late-May to the end of September. Those hankering for lodge-style trappings can take a more conventional step with the resort’s 28 well-appointed vacation homes. These beauties range from cozy 2-bedroom Meadow Homes and private 1- to 3-bedroom Big Timber Homes, to expansive 3-bedroom Wilderness Estates. The historic 4-bedroom Morris Ranch House and bank-front Blackfoot River Lodge boosts ranch occupancy to 214, with an impressive one-to-one employee-to-guest ratio during summer season. “Families or even three couples can book the Wilderness Homes and share the space,” Romfo says. “Each couple has their own master suite and bath, with a living room, kitchen and deck with hot tub as common areas.” These abodes also reflect Nadine’s impeccable flair for Western swank through soft brown leather sofas, timber and iron headboards, and eclectic lamps designed with bow and arrow, pinecone, moose and deer themes. Modern touches ease in with laundry facilities, speedy WiFi and flat-screen TVs with DVD players. For a spin on horse power, Big Timber and Meadow home guests are assigned individual electric golf carts to traverse the property along paths illuminated from dusk. Wilderness Estates kick it up a notch with Miles Electric vehicles. Since Morris and Blackfoot homes sit on country roads up to five miles away, Paws Up provides van transportation. “Some of our guests enjoy a combination of tents and luxury homes,” says Romfo. “It gives them two different experiences. But it all slants toward luxury and upscale touches in the great outdoors.” sized tents shaded by soaring pines. Six treatment tents seal up with double-zipper doors, or can remain discretely open for views of a splendid meadow and the 1.5-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness. Sitting even higher in the saddle, the Paws Up Saddle Club is one of Montana’s premier equestrian centers. Uber cowboy Mike Doud oversees the 72,000-sq.-ft. facility’s private riding classes, tours and horse care lessons. “Whether you’re an experienced rider or you’ve never been in the saddle before, wranglers pair you up with a fourlegged companion for exploring over 100 miles of wilderness trails,” Romfo says. On our “best day” at “The Last Best Place,” we opted to canoe on 1,025-acre Seeley Lake and rip across the range on an ATV, spotting bald eagles in the boundless sky above. Afterwards, we joined a pack of wrangler wannabes for a chuck wagon lunch along the Blackfoot, with chef Tom grilling up a campfire feast of pork tenderloin, asparagus, sweet corn on the cob and Dutch oven apple cobbler. And that’s the norm, not the exception. Pinnacle Camp rates start at $1,035 per couple per night from May 24-Sept. 30, 2012, including three daily meals pp. getting there Several airlines fly into Missoula, including Alaska Airlines from Portland and Seattle; Allegiant Air from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix; Delta Air Lines from Minneapolis and Salt Lake City; and United Airlines from Denver, Chicago O’Hare (seasonal), and San Francisco (seasonal). n hitting the trail If the great outdoors is the soul of the ranch, the Wilderness Outpost is its sizzle. Located on Whoa Road, it serves as springboard to Paws Up’s expansive menu of outdoor recreation. The ranch’s all-inclusive plan covers fitness center use, yoga classes, hiking trail access and geocaching. For an additional fee, summer guests can tap into fly-fishing, rock rappelling, horseback riding, ATV tours, mountain biking, whitewater rafting and kayaking. Paws Up delivers one of America’s few resort-based sporting clay courses, designed by 14-time national and international champion Andy Duffy. There’s also Kids Corps of Discovery held daily during the summer season for Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): youngsters 5-12. Into the National Parks (July 2011) During the winter season, action includes snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides and ice skating, with ice fishing, contact information dog sledding and downhill skiing nearby. The Resort at Paws Up: (800) 473-0601; pawsup.com For post-recreation relaxation, Spa Town is spiffed out with 11 overoctober 2011 17 http://www.recommend.com http://www.pawsup.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Coworth Park, London
Tour Talk: Cox & Kings
Paws Up Ups "Glamping" to New Heights
"Alpine" Adventure at Four Seasons Resort Vail
Hotel Beaux Arts Miami
Out & About in New York City
Adventures on Hayman Island
It's the Good Life at The Leela Kovalam Beach
Peninsula Shanghai & Hong Kong
Silversea's Silver Spirit
Thailand Travel Planner
Luxury in the Wilderness, by Best of Patagonia
Savoring St. Vincent & the Grenadines
CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla
Luxurious Egypt
A Good Turn for Bern, Switzerland
Mexico's Luxury Trail

Recommend October 2011