Arrival/Check-In: This past fall I took a much-needed vacation to somewhere I’ve never been before but have heard about for years: Montana. We chose The Resort at Paws Up outside of Missoula, as it blends miles of open land and outdoor activities with luxury accommodation and service.
Flying from Los Angeles (LAX), we stopped in Portland (PDX) for the short hop to Missoula (MSO) and arrived late afternoon. Paws Up offers free transportation from MSO for the 40-minute drive to the resort, and a great Paws Up team member named Trey picked us up in a new Lexus SUV, giving us insight into the towns we passed and the overall scoop on the resort. We saw him again later during a pick-up from an activity and continued like old friends.
We arrived at the Lewis & Clark Reception barn for a quick check-in and overview of our scheduled activities. The reservations team contacts guests a few weeks prior to arrival to help book activities and dining, giving suggestions so you are all set with your plan before arriving. This helped with packing! Staff drove us to the Wilderness Estates, about seven minutes from the Village, to our cabin called Kaw Point. The estates are the larger, three-bedroom cabins great for large families, while Timber and Meadow homes are just as exclusive but for smaller families or even couples.
Guest Quarters: Kaw Point sits on a hill surrounded by tall pines and overlooks part of the valley and grazing land of the resort, providing views of the bison on property and snowcapped mountains in the distance. The front porch, about 50 feet long, offers rocking chairs, a small couch and soft lighting for guests to take in the scenery. I spent every morning there bundled up with my coffee.
The cabin’s main living room has a soaring ceiling due to the loft, with wood beams framing the space and giant windows. A large stone fireplace serves as the heart of the space, surrounded by true Western-chic furniture of overstuffed brown leather couches, wing-backed chairs and a desk. The fully functioning kitchen includes a state-of-the-art stove and oven, a microwave and an 18-bottle wine cooler next to a table. We dined in several times, and they fully plate each meal upon delivery.
The estate has two master suites with the same attention to detail in each; we chose the front room for its full views. Fitting with the Western-chic theme, the tall, oversized king bed is comfortable but also offers plenty of outlets nearby (ideal for plugging in my phone and Kindle). Leather-bound lights above the bed make perfect soft reading lights. His-and-her closets equipped with robes and soft slippers stand on each side of the small hallway leading into an expansive bathroom with a stone-topped double vanity and a large window framing the outside view. A large Jacuzzi tub and two-person, glass-enclosed shower remind you this is a true luxury vacation.
The loft boasts a living room/game room, two full beds and a full master with a bathroom. Around the back of the house are lounge chairs, barbecue and our second-favorite spot of the house: the hot tub. For someone from Los Angeles, the experience of being in a Jacuzzi late at night when it’s snowing proved surreal and unforgettable.
Services/Amenities: Expect top-notch, all-inclusive dining at the resort. Besides the snacks and drinks provided at your camp or cabin each day, heading into the Village is a delight. Breakfast and lunch are served at Trough, where you choose from either a full menu or made-to-order and buffet-style eats near the Ranch Table. I loved the Brekki smoothie, part of the smoothie program. However, made- to-order omelets were also a hit. Lunch at Trough was great as well; I enjoyed the sandwiches, but the homemade chili with cornbread croutons was amazing for a chilly day.
Pomp, the resort’s fine-dining restaurant, opens in the evenings, offering either a five-course tasting menu or choice of prime meats, fish and rich soups — all in front of the roaring fire. The experience was high-end, but you don’t need to dress up too much; lots of diners wear casual dress with jeans and sweaters, something I appreciated after a busy day. We also stopped daily at Tank, the casual full bar with local beers and spirits.
The resort hosts dozens of activities based on the seasons, from fly fishing to canoeing and ATV tours to cattle drives. My goal when I travel is to get out of my comfort zone, so our first day we chose a three-hour ATV tour through the mountains and creeks on and off the property. On Day Two I met Bug, aka Love Bug, a giant of a horse they say was 17 hands tall, for my trail ride. Our guide, Kate, was a pleasure and entertained us with stories as we rode down to the creeks and through the meadows. Horseback riding is a must for all guests, and I wish we did another day of it.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
◆ The Paws Up property offers a special experience with its rolling hills, spiraling trees and roaming deer and bison.
◆ The staff was friendly and had a passion to share the outdoors with each guest.
◆ The all-inclusive dining and drinks made each meal easy and fun to try new things.
THE RESORT AT PAWS UP
40060 Paws Up Road Greenough, MT 59823
tel 406 244 5200
pawsup.com
Read This Next
Tour a Newly Rebuilt Christchurch
February 2020
Feb 11, 2020Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Mar 30, 2023A New Type of Art Experience: Rotterdam’s Depot Boijman’s Van Beuningen Opens
A little more a year ago, Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, designed by architectural firm MVRDV, opened to the public in Rotterdam. At Depot, everything revolves around the interaction between the visitors and more than 151,000 works stored in various areas of the unique building.
Sponsored Content
Enter to Win $500 and Get Six Months’ Free Access to the New GT App
Now through May 8, sign up for a free six-month trial of the Global Traveler app and be automatically entered for a chance to win a $500 gift card of your choice for Amazon, Apple or American Express.
Daily
Mar 29, 20234 Spring Hotel Openings
With the start of spring, travelers have their choice of new design-centric boutique properties opening in the coming months. Check out these properties for travel inspiration.
eFlyer Reviews
Mar 29, 2023Elk Cove Inn & Spa Review
Mendocino County is a self-contained universe of effortless, California-centric joy enveloped within the Redwood Forest National and State Parks, the rocky Pacific Coast and several prime wine production areas like Anderson Valley. If Highway 1 and Route 128 are the ribbons holding this package together, Elk Cove Inn & Spa can be considered the bow. Mendocino Coast’s first vacation destination, established in 1968, is an ideal 16-room gateway to the destination.
Sponsored Content
Exclusive Savings: Cruise Along the Danube River with Global Traveler
Exclusive Sailing with Global Traveler
eFlyer News
Mar 29, 2023YOTEL to Open YOTELPAD London Stratford in Late 2023
YOTEL recently announced plans to open YOTELPAD London Stratford at the end of this year, making it the seventh YOTEL property in the United Kingdom and third in London, joining YOTEL London City and YOTEL London Shoreditch. YOTEL currently features properties in the United States and United Kingdom, with hotels in Boston, New York, San Francisco and, more recently, Washington, D.C.
Last-Minute Spring Deals from SIXT
eFlyer Deals
Mar 29, 2023Daily
Mar 29, 2023Get in the Spirit for the Coronation with These 4 Red Savannah Itineraries
This May, London celebrates as King Charles III will officially be crowned in the coronation. To help travelers get into the royal spirit, Red Savannah recently introduced a variety of itineraries and destinations in the United Kingdom, including the homes of monarchs and historical figures, castles and gardens.
Sponsored Content
Share Your Travel Preferences with Global Traveler in a Short Survey & Win
Learning more about our readers’ travel habits and preferences ensures Global Traveler delivers the content you desire. As the travel industry has adapted and changed over the last few years, it’s more important than ever to connect. To best meet your short- and long-term travel content needs, please help us!
Daily
Mar 29, 2023Set Sail on a California River Cruise with American Cruise Lines
Love small-ship cruising and the California coast? You’re in luck: American Cruise Lines offers an eight-day San Francisco Bay excursion, taking in some of the best wine country in the United States. The itinerary for American Jazz — one of 10 new riverboats in American Cruise Lines fleet — includes ports in San Francisco, Stockton, Sacramento and Vallejo. Sailing time takes in San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay and the Napa and San Joaquin rivers. American Jazz reaches the California Coast following a repositioning journey from Mississippi, including a transit through the Panama Canal.
ShareThis