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!

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 50^th 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!

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.

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 21^st 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