Sunday, October 5, 2014

Food for the Masses

Did I mention that I row? I do. I LOVE it. It cracks my family up that I was never athletic as a kid but at the ripe age of 31 I finally found my sport. It’s great for me because it does not require me to be on my feet. Which, given my inclinations to skinned knees, twisted ankles and broken feet, is a very good thing.

This week was the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta and theOG&E Night Sprints. Shameless plug time: this is an amazing thing that the OKC Boathouse District puts on every fall. It’s family friendly and is really a terrific opportunity for the community to come out and see something very foreign to most Oklahomans. There are corporate races, collegiate races, masters races, everything. They have entertainment for the kids, food trucks, and a beer garden. You can get tours of the boathouses and even learn how to kayak from the US Kayak Team coach.

My team (pictured) was amazing this year. We’ve been practicing every Sunday afternoon for the last 3 months.  All ladies from work and I’m the only one who’d ever been in a racing boat before.  In celebration of the end of the season, I had the entire team (and spouses) over to my home last weekend for a Mexican Fiesta.  I love to cook and entertain and this was just the opportunity I’d been looking for to pull out my crock pots and get them warmed up for the Fall!

The only hitch was that I’d be at practice while everything needed to be cooking. Enter my wonderful friend Jake who came over and popped the enchiladas in the oven to bake while I was sweating away the calories out on the water.

Sadly, no pics of the deliciousness that was my ropa vieja, chicken enchiladas and Spanish rice…but I will share how they are made.  Be warned, I’m a “creative cook” and rarely use a recipe or adhere strictly to one. What is below are time tested, family/friend/boyfriend approved recipes that I’ve tweaked and made my own over the years.  Also, these “recipes” make a TON. Enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas

3 chicken breasts
4-6 chicken thighs
1 can cream of chicken soup (you can use low sodium/fat/whatever you like)
1 can Rotel
1-2 cups Greek Yogurt (you can use sour cream here, but I like to use the yogurt as it accomplishes that you want without the fat and calories of the sour cream)
8 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
Salt/Pepper to taste
2 garlic cloves
½ onion finely chopped
Sliced jalapenos
20 flour tortillas

·         In a large pot place the chicken and cover with water. Add the two garlic cloves (smashed) and salt and pepper. Boil until cooked thru. I let mine cook about an hour which might be too long but with chicken I ALWAYS err on the side of too long rather than not long enough. Nobody wants Ecoli.

·         After the chicken is cooked remove it from the pot and allow to cool. You’ll have some nice chicken stock in the pot so reserve that for later.

·         Once the chicken is cooled shred it in a giant bowl (remember this makes a TON) then add the soup, rotel, yogurt, onion and 4 cups of the cheese. IF it seems a little dry, you can add some of your stock to it. I usually wind up using about a cup.  ***Because there is so much of this, I like to just use my hands to mix everything. It’s quicker and because you feel it… you know when everything is mixed well.

·         You’ll need to large lasagna/casserole dishes for the baking.

·         Lightly spray your lasagna dishes with cooking spray then begin scooping about a tablespoon and a half of the chicken mixture into each tortilla. Roll the tortilla and place it edges down into the dish. I like to place them all pretty snug so that they hold each other together.

·         Once they are all placed in the dishes, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and then top each one with a jalapeno slice.

·         Cover with foil and bake in the oven at 325 for about an hour.

·         These can be made early and frozen or just kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

 

Ropa Vieja (this is by far the easiest thing you’ll EVER make)

1 beef chuck roast (you can also use a pork roast but beef seems to be the crowd pleaser) I usually just get whatever size looks like it’s going to fit into my crock pot. IF you’ve got a small crock pot get a smaller roast. Be sure to get one with good marbling. This bad boy is going to cook at least 8 hours so it’s going to need a little fat in it.

2 – 12oz cans tomato sauce
1 largely diced onion
2 largely diced Anaheim peppers
1 jalapeno
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 Bay leaves
1 Tbsp cumin (I really like cumin so I usually use a bit more in mine)
Salt/pepper

·         In the bottom of the crock pot put the onion, peppers, and jalapeno.

·         On top of all that put your roast and be sure to salt and pepper it really good.

·         Sprinkle the top of the roast with the garlic and cumin

·         Pour in the two cans of tomato sauce and add the Bay leaves to the sides.

·         Turn your crock pot on to High and let it cook for 4 hours then check it. You might need to add a little water if it’s looking dry. Then turn it down to LOW and cook for another 2 hours. ***You can also make this while you’re at work, just cook it on LOW all day (8hrs) and it should be fine.

·         After six hours it should pull apart with a fork. I leave it in the crock pot and try to pull out as much of the onions and peppers as I can before shredding it. But honestly it’s fine with those in there. You really only need to pull out the Bay Leaves.

·         Serve the shredded beef with corn tortillas like tacos OR it’s really great served over rice.

 

Spanish Rice

3 cups long grain rice
½ onion finely chopped
1 bell pepper finely chopped
1 – 12oz can tomato sauce
1 can Rotel
1 cup chicken stock
½  tsp cumin
1 Tbsp butter
Salt/pepper to taste

·         In a large sauce pan sauté the onion, green pepper and rice with the butter.  *** You really just want to kind of toast the rice.

·         Add the rest of the ingredients, stir and cook to the directions on the rice bag. ***usually about 45 minutes or until all the liquid has been soaked up by the rice.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Northern Exposure: Glacier National Park


Well here we are…FINALLY. I hope you all are as excited to read about my adventure to Glacier National Park as I’ve been to share it with you. After being smoked out of Missoula I headed north to meet with a client in Kalispell, MT. After meeting with him, my weekend had officially begun and off I headed towards the northern wilderness. What a beautiful drive that is. From Missoula I took I-90 west to Hwy 35. From there Hwy 35 twists and turns north through small towns covered in roadside fruit stands. Little known fact, this part of Montana produces an abundance of cherries as well as huckleberries. Another little known fact to this Oklahoma girl…huckleberries can ONLY grow in the wild. In visiting with some of the locals about the predominance of this berry I was informed that they are very prolific but can only grow wild. Apparently researchers have tried to grow them in greenhouses and cross germinate them with other berry varieties in an effort to domesticate them but to no avail. So, that being said, if you are a fan of these berries you have a very limited time in northern Montana to get them…and you’ll most likely have to fight the bears for them.

I stopped along the way at one of these family run stands that seem to hug the highway in a very precarious way. I’m a sucker for lemonade stands run by little kids and when I passed this family run stand with two little kiddos perched at the counter weighing the cherries I had to stop.

Armed with 2 lbs of fresh cherries I headed back on the trail towards Glacier. 35 eventually turns into Old Highway 2 which will take you straight into West Glacier, the tourist-friendly entrance into Glacier National Park.

I got there early enough that I decided to go straight to the park to get my pass (a $25 pass is good for 7 days) for the weekend and then on to the nearest ranger/visitor station. As with most of our national parks, the visitor centers are well maintained and staffed with very knowledgeable, friendly people who can tell you all about the best trails based on your activity level, time of day, and time of season for that matter.  The weather, in late July was slightly overcast and in the low 70s at the base of the park. As I wound my way up through the park along the tree lined two-lane road aptly named “The Going to the Sun Road” the conditions got significantly more windy and of course with the rise in elevation…colder. By the time I got to the trail head my visitor center guide had suggested (Hidden Lakes Trail)…they were experiencing 50 mph wind gusts along the ridge and trail and it had dropped to about 53 degrees.
I was in no way dressed appropriately for a hike in these conditions and since I’m so accident prone, easily envisioned myself being that one solo tourist who slides off the side of the mountain trail in only her shorts, tennis shoes, and Columbia jacket only to be rescued 3 days later suffering from dehydration, hypothermia, and frostbite.


Luckily none of that happened. However, I did learn a valuable lesson…when traveling to a national park where you think you might be doing some hiking…bring your hiking shoes. I was really missing my Merrells about ½ up the “trail” that was still 90% covered with packed snow and ice. Lucky for me this was a pretty well visited trail so there were lots of people there to see me if I slid off the mountain or got attacked by a rogue bear. The trail is 3 miles round trip which wouldn’t be a big deal except for the fact that it’s pretty steep AND with the extra difficulty of slipping all over the ice…well let’s just say I was really proud to have made it to the top.
Along the way I ran into a small herd of mountain goats…complete with babies. I came around a bend in the trail only to be met face to face with this guy. I stopped in mid-step as if it were a snake and stood perfectly still until he wandered on. I’m used to being around domesticated animals, but these are wild…and had big horns…so I felt the best course of action was to remain frozen. They graciously moved along to allow me access to the path.
 
At the end this is the view. Wow!


The great thing about Glacier is there are tons of hiking trails for all levels of athleticism. There are hour hikes that are on paved trails for people with small children and then of course there are the "back woods" trails for those more experienced hikers. But each hike offers it's own individual beauty so you can't really go wrong with any of them.
After nearly being blown off the mountain, I made my way down to my accommodations for the weekend. I was really excited about this. Glacier Under Canvas, a movement nicknamed “glamping” or “glamorous camping”, is really the ONLY camping adults should do. You get all the fun of sleeping in a tent with nature at your fingertips without actually having the ugliness of rocks digging into your back all night while you worry about what critters might come slithering into your tent. I chose their large single tent with shared bathroom.
The best way to describe these tents is to envision the tent that Ernest Hemmingway might have slept in when he was on safari in Africa. They are large safari tents with king beds, wood burning stoves, rugs, sitting area, cabinet, and lanterns. Because Glacier is their newest location (they have two others: Moab, UT and Yellowstone National Park) I not only got a 15% discount for my stay but also got a brand new mattress. I tell you I’ve never slept so well in my life!


No need to bother with bringing your own linens. Imagine being at a hotel that just happens to not be in a high-rise. The wonderful people at Glacier Under Canvas come and service your room each morning with clean sheets, more firewood, etc. Since I didn’t have my own personal toilet, I got to walk down the path to the shared toilets. Now these aren’t like the giant bathrooms shared at summer camp. No these are each, individual bathrooms with HOT running water in your OWN shower, toilet and sink. There always seemed to be a plethora of soft, clean towels and rags as well as shampoo, conditioner, and body gel. FYI – this is the only place (other than registration) where there is electricity at the camp. IF you need to charge your phone…I suggest doing it while you shower.

The folks at Glacier Under Canvas are also really helpful in setting up any and all adventures you might want to have while in Glacier. I was most interested in doing an early morning horseback ride with an afternoon of white water rafting. They connected me with Amie at Glacier Guides who was absolutely wonderful! Because I had called on Friday wanting to set up my adventure for Sunday it was a little last minute. However, being a “single” I figured most places would be able to work me in.

Travel Tip #1 ALWAYS call and/or ask. Never assume that just because a company lists rules or deadlines on their website or in their marketing materials that they adhere to those. Let’s be honest, they are businesses and when they have the chance to make a buck…they will.

Amie was a doll and immediately set me up for their 2 hour white water raft trip down the middle fork of the Flathead River and also called Swan Mountain Outfitters to make sure they could also accommodate me for the morning ride. She set everything up and even asked if I had any dietary needs for my lunch that they provide. Having gluten intolerance is a bugger, but it doesn’t stop me from living life so I rarely expect companies to work with that. Glacier Guides did. They packed me a delightful gluten-free lunch and had it ready for me when I arrived at their HQ. So be sure to mention that you have dietary needs if you do.

Glacier Guides is one of the only groups in Glacier that has small rafts. They believe quality trips for their guests will encourage repeat business. Most of the other rafts I saw along the river had anywhere from 12-20 people in a raft. The gracious guides at Glacier Guides top their rafts off at eight. We had six (including our guide Tyler) in ours. What I love about smaller groups is that you have the opportunity to make it YOURS. You’ve paid for it…you might as well get your money’s worth right? I’m curious by nature and when I’m on trips like that I never hesitate to quiz the guides on everything from wildlife and nature to the best local places to eat.

Glacier Guides is very handy as it’s right on the way from Glacier Under Canvas to the park. They are the ones with the blue rafts. The other great thing is they provide all the equipment you’ll need beyond even the basic rafts and paddles. They also include wet suits, fleece jackets, and water shoes if you need any or all. The day I rafted it started out sunny and warm for the early morning horseback ride, but ended up being cold and rainy for the water portion of the day.

Tyler, our guide, was very out-going, earnest, knowledgeable and respectful. He was in his 3rd year as a guide and knew the rivers and the park like the back of his hand. All their river guides are certified in lifesaving and CPR which I found very reassuring.
 
Prior to the river rafting I had a delightful early morning horseback ride with Swan Mountain Outfitters. They are the only outfitters authorized with park access.  They are family owned with a long history of guiding visitors throughout the park. They offer everything from 1-2 hour trail rides to multi-day drop camps. My morning guide, Kristina, was the head guide and was on her 4th summer in Glacier. She was a student at Penn State majoring in animal science and was incredibly well versed in not only the horses, but all the wild life and history of the park. They usually cap their trail groups at 8-12, but my trip only had four (including Kristina).  Because of our small group, and probably because she personally knew the other couple on the ride, we got an extra-long ride as well as lots of personal attention.

The corral where we picked up our rides was well taken care of and just inside the park. The horses all looked in good health and were all very accustomed to various levels of riding proficiency. My sweet horse, Winchester, was sound, sturdy, and extremely responsive. Whether you’re an equestrian or just simply want to experience Glacier the way the first visitors did, this is a great (and safe) way to do it. We saw two juvenile black bears filling their little tummies with huckleberries, numerous mule deer (different from the white tailed deer we have in OK), tons of birds, flora and fauna, and a couple of hidden lakes. According to Kristina, the two hour/early morning ride is the best for seeing wildlife (outside of the multiple day trips).

Dining in the area is a bit sparse. My first night there I dined at the Belton Chalet. The Chalet is one of several historical landmark hotels associated with the park. The restaurant is a delightfully rustic, log chalet. The servers were friendly enough and I liked the “farm to table” aspect of the menu. The chef sticks to locally grown produce and works her menu around what’s in season. I had the Montana Angus filet and was disappointed. The sides of mashed potatoes, asparagus, and field green salad were all nicely flavored, but the steak left a lot to be desired. I can honestly say it was the fattiest filet I’ve ever had, and filets are not supposed to be fatty at all.

My second night there I tried the Glacier Grille and Pizza on the recommendation of Zach, my “concierge”.  They don’t have a website, but you can find great reviews on TripAdvisor. Clearly known for their pizza (and proximity to the park) this was a relaxed dining experience. A diner sort of atmosphere where you and the kids could easily roll in there sporting the dust from your day at the park and no one would think the worse of you for it. They offer a decent selection of Montana brewed beers and a huckleberry wine. I had their Reuben sandwich which was scalding hot and very tasty. This isn’t a be all-end all dining experience, but for casual, family dining it was reasonably priced and the menu offered a good selection of family friendly options (though none were gluten free).

There aren’t just a ton of options for dining out in Glacier since I’m sure most people who go there are camping and eating al fresco. But what is there offers a decent selection from family friendly to 4 star.

Leaving Monday morning to head to Billings for more business meetings, I traveled east on Old Highway 2 which took me to the eastern entrance to the park…East Glacier. This could not be more opposite of West Glacier than if Fitzgerald were describing it like East and West Orange in The Great Gatsby. For everything that West Glacier is…East Glacier is not. This place looked like every ugly description of an Indian Reservation town you’ve ever seen: small, dirty, with three-legged, mangy looking dogs roaming the one street that passed through town. This is not the place you come to stay. This is where you come to get into the park and move along.

Next I’ll be wrapping up this Montana extravaganza with my last two cities: Billings and Helena.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Northern Exposure: Missoula, MT


On the road between Bozeman and Missoula you’ll see prairie grass, rolling hills, BIG sky, and mountains. I found that very interesting about Montana. Pretty much anywhere you go in the state (or at least everywhere I was) you can see mountains. For a prairie girl….that’s pretty amazing. The drive from Bozeman to Missoula should take about 3 hours on I-90. However, what you’ll learn when visiting Montana in the summer is that every road (and I mean…EVERY road) is under construction. I guess when you only have 3 months out of the year that the roads are clear the state department of transportation basically launches a road construction blitzkrieg. So a trip that should have taken 3 hours wound up clocking in at about 4.5. The scenery was nice though.

According to my new friends in Bozeman, Missoula was the “granola” town. Missoula is the home of the University of Montana (not the land grant school) and is also the gateway to Glacier National Park. As such their main focus is tourism, arts and entertainment, local business, and microbrews. Outside of Oregon, Montana has the highest number of microbreweries in the US.  After an exhausting drive I had a lovely dinner at Café Dolce rated the #1 restaurant in Missoula on TripAdvisor. One of the great things about traveling alone is that I can generally get into any restaurant I want any time I want because I’m a single. Worst case scenario, I sit at the bar…which sometimes I prefer because bartenders are a GREAT resource to learn where to go and what to see in their town.

Café Dolce is a historical building set in a delightful residential area. They have limited parking so be prepared to park on the street. They have a wonderful un-covered patio area that is surrounded by a wrought iron fence in case the kiddies need to wander around safely. The patio is a terrific place for a girl’s night out to enjoy the cool Montana breeze and bug-free climate. Inside is like an Italian palazzo with 30 foot fresco ceilings and terracotta mosaic floors. They have a friendly looking bar area as well as a well-appointed gelato counter.




Peter was my server extraordinaire. He was friendly, punctual, well-educated on the menu and wine selections. I ordered their special of the day which was salmon (of course) served with a creamy risotto and grilled asparagus. Prior to dinner Peter brought out a basket of some of the most mouth-watering rolls I’ve ever had. As someone with a gluten sensitivity I try to stay away from the bread basket…but sometimes it’s worth it. I enjoyed that with a glass of a very crisp Pinot Grigio. When my dinner arrived Peter also brought a glass of their newest dry rose…on the house (another perk of dining solo). The rose complimented the salmon perfectly. When in Missoula, I highly suggest making time for this delightful restaurant where you can have a wonderful meal for two for right around $60.

James Bar is where my client and I had lunch. She knows the owners and wanted me to get a good feel for the “real” Missoula. James Bar is downtown and has the feel of an upscale pub. With plenty of microbrews on tap you won’t run out of options. I never have high expectations for “bar food” but was pleasantly surprised here. We both had their steak salad which was perfectly seared Angus steak on a bed of crispy mixed greens, local tomatoes, gorgonzola and topped with a fine vinaigrette. This was a great lunch option as the service was friendly and fast.

My second night there I found my way to The Silk Road, at the insistence of a client I’d met with earlier in the day. The Silk Road is a tapas restaurant just across the bridge from downtown Missoula. It is a tiny place popular with locals (and rated #6 on TripAdvisor). They were only taking reservations that night but I managed to find a spot at the bar where Travis, my barkeep, was well versed on the tapas and wine pairings.  The great thing about tapas is you get to try several different things guilt-free since the portions are small. I tried the seasonal watermelon salad served with radicchio and pickled onions and a light vinaigrette. It was so light and summery! Then the grilled asparagus (at left) which was out of sight and so tasty I could have eaten my weight in it. Then finished with the tandoori chicken, which was just spicy enough. The funny couple sitting next to me was visiting from Las Vegas where they both worked as dealers in one of the casinos. We struck up a conversation and I learned all about real estate in Montana as they had just purchased some property where they intend to retire. At the insistence of the husband we all ordered dessert. I ordered the gluten free chocolate flan and they ordered the Huckleberry cobbler. Both were excellent.

Since this little gem is right in the heart of downtown Missoula there was lots to see and do. You can catch a glimpse of the surfers out surfing the rapids on the river and the night I was there they were setting up for a concert in the park. Sadly, the smoke from the wild fires in Washington had blown into Missoula by then and really upset the quality of the air.

Missoula has a terrific downtown area and the Convention and Visitors Bureau has done a great job of promoting it. I love their lists of “25 Things to Do” on their website and although there is plenty to do in Missoula, most people use this as their launch site for Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. The CVB recognizes this and offers great information for planning your vacation whether you’re planning a two week extravaganza or a simple day trip.

My lodging for this part of the trip was the Stone Creek Lodge. It was just off of I-90 and not far from the airport. Though not the most scenic of areas the hotel was convenient, clean, and comfortable. The front desk staff was efficient and had made sure the down pillows in my room had been replaced with foam prior to my arrival. As with many business rate hotels…this one offered a decent breakfast. My dad and brothers would have been perfectly happy with the choice of biscuits and gravy. I however, was a little disappointed in the lack of fresh fruit and gluten free options. This lodge was comfortable and offered free WiFi in the rooms but be warned; because it is a “lodge” they will tack on a “resort fee” at the end of your stay which pretty much renders the “free WiFi” obsolete.

Next up…Glacier!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Northern Exposer: Bozeman, MT


Driving north from Jackson Hole up towards Bozeman, MT I got a nice view of rural Idaho. Along the other side of the Tetons, and thru the Targhee National Forest, are vast fields of golden wheat. I know we all think of Idaho as potato land, but they also grow a fair amount of wheat as I learned. The road from Teton National Park to Bozeman (Highway 20) is a winding two lane back road. Be sure you have a full tank of gas before you leave Teton because you’ll not find another gas station for hours. You’ll drive by beautiful lakes, abandoned grain silos, wind mills, and lots of farms. This is an area of our nation that you won’t want to hurry thru. Pack an ice chest of drinks, some apples, and goldfish crackers and enjoy the ride.

I arrived in Bozeman after a 5 hour drive exhausted and “hangry”. I was excited to note as I drove into town the Montana Distillery and just a wee bit down the road a lovely looking local pottery shop. I made a mental note to return to both the next day. I had done a little research before I left on Bozeman and learned that it is the home to Montana State University. It’s a fairly flat landscape surrounded by mountains in the distance. Montana State is the land grant university and as such is more of the agricultural school. The laid-back atmosphere of this town plays right in to that.

I got to my hotel which happened to be right off Hwy 90. Although GPS took me a back way, it wound up being very conveniently located. The Holiday Inn Express was very clean and the desk staff was prompt and helpful. It was located next to several nice chain restaurants and was within walking distance to a Target…which is always helpful when you realize you have no contact solution or need some snacks for the road/room.

Downtown Bozeman is where it’s at. This college town has one of the cutest Main Street/Downtown areas I’ve seen. They are not want for eateries and cute looking shops. Normally this is where I would post the link for the local CVB or Main Street websites but both of those are sub-par and do not do this area of town justice. My advice, if you’re headed to Bozeman…just find your way to Main Street and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

I happened to meet a client for lunch at Nova Café on Main. This place is adorable and known city-wide for their breakfast and legendary waffles. So when in Rome…eat the waffles. Service was friendly and prompt. Restaurant was clean and bright.

After that it was on to my next appointment at the Gallatin County Fair. Yes, my client wanted to meet at the county fair. Mind you, I haven’t been to a county fair in ages and this one did not disappoint. When I travel I always look for local festivals or concerts. It’s a good way to get a feel for the community. However, I’ll admit, I have never attended a county fair outside of Arkansas and Oklahoma.

When you think of county fairs or see the movie industry ideal of what a fair should be…this is it. There were barns full of young children showing prize chickens, rabbits, goats, and pigs as well as arenas full of teenagers prepping their livestock for show. There were sticky little toddlers with clouds of cotton candy on paper cones and cowboys strolling about with meat on a stick. This is a fair where people come more for the 4-H exhibits and less for the carnival rides.

After that it was off to the Rough Stock Distillery for some birthday shopping for my brothers. As I mentioned earlier, this is right on your way into Bozeman. It’s a large distillery and tasting room with plenty of parking. I happened to walk in during a down time and was greeted very politely. I asked my host about the whiskeys and bourbons and he was very knowledgeable about the process and the differences between both. Before purchasing my presents, I asked to do a tasting and was poured two very generous “samples”. Perhaps it was because it was a slow day, or perhaps he knew he was already making a sale…but my tasting was free. I highly suggest, when doing tastings, that you find out where the price break is for the tasting fee. Many wineries, breweries and distilleries will comp your tasting fee when they know you will be making a purchase. And let’s be honest…who walks out of a tasting room without at least ONE bottle?

Next it was down the street to the Montana Arts Pottery shop. This shop is housed in a very small residential looking home. There is a small gravel parking lot in front of the small front yard. Scattered in the yard a bistro tables for people to sit and enjoy a café sandwich, salad, or a variety of baked goods served from within the store. Thru the screen door you’re greeted by the scent of baking pastries and the sounds of very busy people. One side of the store is dedicated to the pottery and the other is home to several small tables and chairs for dining. The pottery is beautiful, well-made and can be shipped directly from the store to your home.
Next post...Missoula and off to Glacier!

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Wyoming but more to the point...Jackson Hole



Where Sandra Bullock spent her birthday this year.
Wyoming. I love this state. Mainly because I have great memories of visiting here with my family just days after I graduated from high school. It was my last “family vacation”.  We visited Sheridan and Jackson Hole along the way to Yellowstone National Park. Jackson Hole was obviously the best. I can honestly say it’s changed A LOT in the last (almost) 20 years. This place, however, has not changed at all…The Mangy Moose. I remember thinking it was SO cool as an 18 year old. Adult me still thought it was cool...just in a more nostalgic way.
When we visited as a family I feel like it was a well-kept secret. Clearly the CVB (convention and visitors bureau) has been working overtime as this place was bumper to bumper with tourists. I understand Sandra Bullock celebrated her 50th birthday here just a week after I was in town. God bless her for braving the hordes of tourists.
Although it’s very tourist friendly it still has that “true west” feel. When you visit downtown you feel like you’ve stepped onto a movie set which makes it a great place for people watching, shopping, and drinking as there are lots of great little bars there.
Note to self, just go ahead and suck in the
WHOLE TIME a camara is pointed at you.

A few things to know about Jackson Hole:

·         Although it’s a terrific skiing location, summer is clearly the “High Season” here.  During the winter and spring months (ski season) you can generally find some great flight/hotel deals.

·       Given its location in the Teton Mountains, there aren’t just a ton of resorts here. It’s not like Vail, Aspen or Breckenridge where there seem to be limitless resorts.  Whether you come in the winter or summer, you’ll want to plan far in advance to assure you have a place to rest your head.

·         Getting to Jackson Hole can be the most affordable part of your trip. When planning my work travel I always look for the best deals and will spend weeks scouting the cheapest airfare. Often times that means flying into smaller cities or regional airports which is fine because when I travel for work I’m almost always flying in and renting a car.  For this trip I priced airfare into Jackson Hole as well as Idaho Falls. Now stay with me…this is where it gets interesting:

§  Flying into Idaho Falls was significantly more expensive than flying into Jackson Hole. However, because Jackson Hole only has one rental car office…my car was going to be triple what it would cost to rent out of Idaho Falls. Add to that the vast difference in hotel prices and it more than balanced out the higher priced flight. Hotel prices in Idaho Falls were generally between $90 (Motel 6, Clarion Inn) to $160 (Holiday Inn Express/Hilton Garden Inn). I believe my La Quinta (that I spoke so highly of in my Idaho post) was about $130/night.   Rooms in Jackson Hole started at $200/night for sub-standard motels, which I think is obscene. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a capitalist and certainly appreciate the whole “supply and demand” principle, but I’m not going to spend $200 to stay in a place that looks like it might have bed bugs.

·         ALWAYS check the CVB website. Their entire job is to bring people into their town so they will always have coupons you can download or they’ll send you in their visitor’s packet.  In an effort to cut down on costs, lots of CVBs have quit sending out visitor packets and have everything available online. I like to actually hold the visitors guides so I generally send off for the packets which they are usually happy to send for free. They’ll also have links to restaurants, resorts, tourism companies that will offer packages and deals.

·         Many of the resorts will have shuttles specifically for airport runs but will happily take you to Teton Village or downtown Jackson Hole for dining or shopping. (When making your reservations be sure to ask if they offer a complimentary shuttle service.) Jackson Hole is certainly a small enough town that you don’t have to have a rental car unless you plan on spending a lot of time in Yellowstone. 

Tune in next week for my stories from Montana and Glacier National Park!

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Pet Boarding


Whenever I travel, which is about every other week, I always get the concerned inquiry of “What do you do with your dogs?”  

Addie and Willie-Nelson prepping for their Christmas card photo shoot.
These guys are spoiled. They just spent two weeks with their Nana who is now blessedly retired and can come and stay with them when I’m gone for extended periods. When she comes all bets are off. I generally expect to return to two roly-poly dogs who have been feasting on scrambled eggs every morning and hotdogs every night…in addition to their regular dog food.

 I tried the kennel thing once and my poor Aussie was so traumatized from the experience I swore I’d never do it again. So I started looking into dog sitters. That can get expensive very quickly. Then I decided to change direction and do what my mother used to do when we were kids…she recruited babysitters at church.

I mean what a great place to find a semi-responsible, nerdy teenager with a need for gas money! So I started hiring kids from my church to come over and take care of my dogs while I’m out of town.  Here’s the caveat though, my dogs are VERY low maintenance. They are both Herding Dogs and are used to being outside. Thru the magic of their doggie door they have access to the garage and the backyard. That statement alone makes this a very simple job for a teenager. I’m not entrusting them with a $3000 AKA Show Dog or anything. They come over to feed them and play with them, bring in my mail and water my plants all for a bargain daily fee. IF I get home and find that both dogs and all my plants are alive there is a nice tip at the end. I like this because I like knowing that someone is checking on my house everyday…so it serves two purposes really.

If you are uncomfortable leaving your furry family member alone with a teenager (or your mother) a clean, comfortable kennel is probably your best bet. Here are a few things to consider when vetting a kennel:

Get referrals from a friend, neighbor, veterinarian, animal shelter, or dog trainer. You can also check online or, if you live in the dark ages like me and don’t have Wi-Fi at home, you can always go to your trusty Yellow Pages under "Kennels & Pet Boarding." Once you have names, it's important to do a little due diligence.

 Find out whether your state requires boarding kennel inspections. If it does, make sure the kennel you are considering displays a license or certificate showing that the kennel meets all the standards. You can also look online at the remarks left by customers. I always feel a little better about professional places that share their customer comments.  Angie’s List is also a great place to look for recommendations.

After selecting a few kennels, confirm that they can accommodate your pet for your specific dates and can tend to your pet's special needs (if any). If you're satisfied, schedule a visit.

 What to look for

On your visit, ask to see all the places your pet may have access to and pay particular attention to the following:

·         Does the facility look and smell clean?

·         Is there sufficient ventilation and light?

·         Is a comfortable temperature maintained?

·         Does the staff seem knowledgeable and caring?

·         Are pets required to be current on their vaccinations, including the vaccine for canine kennel cough (Bordetella)? (These requirements help protect your animal and others.)

·         Does each dog have enough room to run inside and out and/or do they schedule specific exercise time?

·         Are outdoor runs and exercise areas protected from the elements and do they have secure fencing? Nobody likes an unexpected jail break.

·         Is bedding provided to allow dogs to rest off the concrete floor?

·         Are cats housed away from dogs?

·         How often are pets fed?

·         Can you bring your pet's special food?

·         Is there a veterinarian on staff? If not, what veterinary services are available?

·         Are other services available such as grooming, training, bathing?

·         What are the hours? Does the kennel offer early morning drop off and late night pick up?

·         How are rates calculated?

Once you’ve done your due diligence it’s time to drop your pet off. Be sure to allow plenty of time to get your furry friend checked and situated.

Finally, don’t linger. Long and sad goodbyes are great for movies or sad love songs but not for your pet. By drawing out the farewell you may be unwittingly stressing your pet out.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Northern Exposure: Part 1


So here’s what I’ve decided to do…I will give you the highlights of my two week “Northern Exposure” trip to Idaho, Wyoming and Montana since there were parts of the trip that were less than stellar. I’ll also break it down by state and town because I think I’ve already established how much I love a good, organized list. And in an effort to not bore you silly…I’ll spread it out over several posts. So hang with me people…it was a LONG trip!

Idaho Falls, ID – IF you can refer to any western town as “industrial” this would be the one. I feel like that is a word that you identify most with cities more like Pittsburg or Detroit.  But yeah…it certainly fit here. God bless it…this little town would be a hard place to work at the Chamber of Commerce or Visitors bureau…although, they’re trying.
 
Notice the slogan above the spud pics.
This was the slogan posted above the SINGLE luggage carousel in the airport. I laughed when I saw it because there is a teeny-tiny town in southeastern OK that has a similar slogan…”Clayton – the gateway to adventure!” I keep going back and forth with this grammatically...shouldn't it read "threshold OF adventure"? Maybe I'm crazy...english majors help me out!

What Idaho Falls has going for it is that it’s truly the southern gateway to Teton National Park and from there Yellowstone National Park. This is an outdoorsman and angler paradise. It’s a great place to fly into, pick up your rental car, grab some supplies and head out to the parks. It is not the destination.

For this eastern side of the state this is the BIG town. It had a mall and a very decent La Quinta hotel. I don’t normally stay in La Quintas…but this one gets a gold star from me. They had a great breakfast everyday with plenty of fruit and gluten free options for me. It was right across the street from their mall and had easy access to the major roads. The hotel was somewhat new and the staff was very sweet and accommodating. Should I ever find myself in this “Detroit of the West” again…I will certainly stay here.

When I arrived in Idaho Falls I had to take a taxi to the Enterprise office to pick up the car because it wasn’t on the airport grounds. My cabbie was talkative and pleasant enough but when I asked where a good place was to eat…he went mute. I always assume, and perhaps wrongly so, that large people probably know where to eat. This guy…bless him…could only refer me to the local greasy spoon.  So when the locals fail me where do I turn??? TripAdvisor.com. I love Trip Advisor. It really hasn’t steered me wrong yet.  I was starving, having been up since 4:00am CST and it was now 2:00pm MST, and decided that MacKinzie River Pizza Co. sounded local enough and was close to my hotel. The service was friendly and timely…but the food was just so-so. I ordered their spicy chicken sandwich. The presentation was so poor that I didn’t even take a picture. The fries also tasted like they’d been sitting under the heat lamp for about an hour.

That night I had dinner with alumni at their home way out in the country. I only mention this part because on the list of “Strange Things I Do on My Job” this might be #1. In a 3 hour visit I: fed rainbow trout in their pond and witnessed a feeding frenzy not to be rivaled by Shark Week on Discovery; flew a kite attached to a fishing rod and thought “why haven’t I thought of this???”; learned all about the Cherokee and Delaware tribal jewelry; and may have even learned how to tie a fly. I also mention this because Dr. Reno is a nationally known fly tier and has written several books on fish and fly fishing. He and his lovely wife, Kathy, run a FREE (yes FREE) B&B/Fly Fishing School out of their home. For those wanting to learn the art of fly tying and fly fishing…they will put you up in their home until you feel you’ve learned what you wanted to. It’s a little “hippy dippy” for me…but a great opportunity worth sharing to those who might be interested in that sort of thing.  IF you’re interested…email me and I’ll happily share their contact information.

My last night there I had a business dinner at the SnakeBite in downtown Idaho Falls. This is rated fairly high on Trip Advisor and was fairly decent. I had their nightly special which turned out to be a bison burger that night. It was very juicy, flavorful and cooked to order. It also came with a delightful little side salad. They also have a good variety of Idaho micro brews. Word to the wise…take CASH. They don’t do credit cards.

Tip here: apparently way up north they like bloody hamburgers. I’m a southern girl and I like my ground (insert meat here) done all the way thru. So if you’re up that way and ordering a burger, or even a steak for that matter, order a temperature up than you normally would because the chefs tend to undercook everything.

 

Swan Valley, ID – is a lovely little town along highway 26 on your way to Jackson, WY and Teton National Park. And when I say “little town” I mean TINY. I believe the population was 208 when I drove into town last month. It has one gas station, two ice cream places, a school, a couple of lodges and lots of private homes along the Snake River.

Yes. That is one of the Tetons in the back.
Should you find yourself driving thru this adorable little hamlet, take a moment to stop at the Swan Valley Outpost for a locally brewed microbrew and dinner. It might not look like much from the outside but what I learned on this trip is that buildings are purely functional. The true beauty is the setting. This little place looks like a 21st century saloon but one step out the back door and you’re on a quaint little deck overlooking the expanse of the Teton Mountains.  Because this town is so small everyone knows everyone by name and the staff here immediately wants to know yours. They are friendly and responsive but very much in a familial sort of way. I got the impression that if I’d walked behind the bar and pulled my own pint no one would have minded.

As you continue south along Highway 26 towards Jackson, WY you’ll pass over the Palisades Reservoir which just happens to be one of the prettiest Alpine looking lakes I’ve ever seen. The drive is very picturesque as you wind your way up to the reservoir and then down again to the foot of the Tetons.

Next week: Jackson Hole, WY

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Maiden Post...Packing

Packing.  I know. What an extraordinary topic for my first post on this blog huh? But it kind of makes sense, since that’s where most of my trips usually start. I’m a bit of a fashionista and generally start planning out my wardrobe long before I ever finalize my trip plans. Often my trips are actually planned around my wardrobe. To be honest, I’ve got a better fall/winter look for London so that’s when I prefer to go there. I love to pull out my tweed and plaids for Europe….but I digress.

Back to packing. I’m a bit of a Nazi when it comes to packing (just ask my mother who has been with me to Paris). I refuse to over pack. Why? Because I HATE lugging around burdensome luggage. If I could walk on to the plane with nothing but my coffee and a clutch that’s how I’d go. But that’s slightly unrealistic. I actually have a male coworker who nearly does that. He can pack everything he needs (including his lap top) for a two day trip in his backpack. Seriously….I kind of hate him.

So how do I merge my fashionista need to be utterly fashionable with my desire to “pack lite”? One word…lists. I love a good list. I love checking things OFF the list. So I’ve found this miraculous site that generates all sorts of handy lists for just such an occasion. Gone are the days of leaving my charger or sunglasses at home or wondering whether or not I locked the front door and secured the doggie door.

I also love, love, love these , especially for long trips. They save space AND you never have to worry about getting to your hotel only to find that your bag mysteriously found its way into a pond between the check-in counter and the hull of the plane. I have a two week road trip coming up for work that will take me from Idaho, to Jackson Hole, WY to Montana, up to Calgary circling back thru Montana and ending up with a flight to Phoenix for a girls spa weekend. Now tell me that doesn’t pose a packing dilemma! These vacuum bags will be my saving grace for this trip that will not only include cowboy boots and fleece for the “glamping” portion of the trip…but also several swimsuits and maxi dresses for the Phoenix portion of the trip. More on this trip later.

Another one of my tricks…I buy things I need like saline solution and hairspray once I get to my location. I have yet to travel to any area that I can’t find saline solution or hairspray. Of course…I’m not exactly hiking the rugged outback of Siberia. I’m doubtful the Siberian nomads have much use for hairspray.

So how do I pack my fashionista necessities? Whether it’s a work trip or pleasure trip I always try to keep my wardrobe to one base color…black or brown. I do this mainly because of the shoes. Shoes are clunky and take up WAY too much room in your suitcase if you’re not careful.  Not to mention they are uber heavy. So I’ve found that if I start from the ground up (i.e. my shoes) I waste a lot less space and it’s easier to coordinate outfits when you’re matching everything to either black or brown/khaki. From there I usually wear a dress to travel in and then pack one pair of black pants, one pair of jeans, a light sweater, white poplin shirt, yoga pants or shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes, swimsuit, and undergarments. Sometimes there is a jacket thrown in depending on the weather and/or the work situation.

I pack lite because I also like to shop. No matter where I am or how packed my schedule is…there always seems to be a little time for shopping…and I do like to support local merchants when I can.

So here is the list of secrets to packing lite:

1.       Roll your clothes or use the vacuum bags. This cuts down on space as well as keeps things from getting too horribly wrinkled.

2.       Make a list. If you have a check list of the things you want to take you’re less likely to over-pack.

3.       Assume you’ll re-wear everything at least once.  That’s a big trick. The people I meet with today have no idea that I wore the same dress yesterday. And if you’re on vacation…no one cares what you wore yesterday!

4.       Don’t over pack the toiletries. That palate of 32 different eyeshadows that you just HAD to have has no place in your toiletries bag. Pick two eyeshadows and be done. Same goes for lipsticks. You don’t need to travel with 8. Pick one nude one and one that’s a bit flashy for when you want to go out.

5.       Hair accessories. You probably don’t need to haul your hot rollers. Just sayin’.

6.       Most hotels, B&Bs, lodges, etc., provide soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, hairdryers…all the basics. And if you forget something like a razor or toothbrush…most places are happy to provide those for you.

7.       Technology. Unless you’re traveling for work OR you’re a travel blogger…do you really need to take your laptop? Probably not. Leave it at home. Also, think about where you’ll be going. IF you’re headed to the mountains…the chances of getting a cell reception for your Kindle or iPad is slim to none. I’m writing this from Alpine, WY and believe me…my iPhone is struggling to find any service at all.

8.       Reading material. I love a good magazine but I try not to hoard them. When I’m done with one I either hand it off to someone else at the airport or put in the recycling bin. Those can get heavy and cumbersome. Books are hardly worth mentioning since hardly anyone actually travels with novels anymore. But my theory is the same with books. Unless they are hardback/expensive books worth keeping…consider leaving them on the plane/train/bus etc once you’re finished and allowing someone else the unexpected joy of getting a free book.

9.       Pack for your location. If you’re in Montana you’re not going to need a cocktail dress. If you’re in Manhattan a LBD (little black dress) can work for day and night.

10.   Finally, pack early. Don’t wait until the last minute. When you’re stressed and rushed you tend to just throw things in your suitcase that you have no intention of wearing.

 

Got other tips that make your trip prep a breeze? I’d love to hear them! Please share in the comments.