#173 Big Sky

I had to do some rearranging so I didn't get to spend time at the Big Sky Resort, instead focusing on brunch at Lone Mountain Ranch...

"More than 45 miles of trails are the uncontested draw at the much-ballyhooed Lone Mountain Ranch, an elegant four-seasons lodge with an acclaimed restaurant."

I was there for their Sunday Summer Brunch, and the way they do it is THE WAY to do a "all you can eat buffet".

Basically, they bring you a menu and you order as much or as little as you want.  When you're finished, they bring you the menu again and you can order again.  Everything on the menu is made to order so it's the right temperature and no kids have sneezed on it.

The do have an actual buffet line for things like breakfast breads, fresh fruit, bacon, and a couple of soups - including their famous venison chili.

• Pickle Fried Chicken & Waffles


• At The Hutch: Greek Yogurt Parfait, Fresh Fruit & Berries, House Pastry & Sticky Buns, Bacon, Sausage


• House Buttermilk Pancakes with Huckleberries


• Rawnola (blue majik almond milk, mixed berries, banana, cocoa nibs, coconut, pistachio)

#172 Triple Creek Lodge

"This may have been the Wild West, but today there's civilization to be found in these parts.  Triple Creek is a ranch, but it's really a luxury resort, where urban types wistful for the City Slickers experience can rough it."

For example, the table next to mine was discussing how their neighborhood was having an Aston Martin car show, but they didn't really want it because of the bougie hoi polloi that invade their sanctuary to attend it.

On the other hand....hummingbirds.


Lunch included a Roasted Turkey & Huckleberry Sandwich (which was more successful once I  treated it like a salad), and an olive oil short cake with vanilla bean ice cream.  

#171 Henry's Fork Lodge

"The cedar lodge was built with the sophisticate angler in mind, in an unfussy refined rustic style that's all about comfort, simplicity, and informality.  Everyone heads back to the lodge [in the evening] for a wonderful low-key but elegant dinner." I was told that over 90% of their guests are repeat visitors.

My dinner included three courses: 

• Zucchini Ravioli, Caciocavallo, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Herbs, Red Wine Marinara, Parmesan Cheese


• Hickory Smoked Amish Duck Breast, Roasted Garlic Farro, Wilted Mustards, Blackberry BBQ


• Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake with Salted Caramel Sauce, Shaved Chocolate

#170 Glacier National Park

The Blackfoot tribe consider the area to be sacred ground, and it’s easy to see why.  It’s flat out gorgeous and awe-inspiring.The park provides good opportunities to see a variety of wild-life, although I didn’t see any bears.  I did see some big horn sheep over by Many Glacier.

Going to the Sun road is a 50-mile road that bisects the park and takes you from the park’s lowest elevations to the summit of the Continental Divide.  The road is closed all winter, and in fact, isn’t expected to open until at least June 22^nd this year.  Plowing operations are still underway, and just watching the webcam will make you need some hot chocolate.
Glaciers are disappearing from the park at an astonishing rate – projection say they’ll all be gone by 2030. 

The swiss-style lodge at Many Glacier is enormous (and where I saw the aforementioned sheep) is the most popular and sits on Swiftcurrent Lake.

#169 Lake Coeur d’Alene

Lake Coeur d’Alene sits on the western flank of the Rockies and has 128-miles of shoreline that is mostly protected from development. 

The Mish-n-Nock (and the rest of the fleet) explore the homes and rugged shoreline on part of the lake – departing from a dock next to the Coeur d’Alene Resort which boasts the longest floating boardwalk in America and a floating green on its golf course.  Golfers are only allowed 2 swings to make the green.

#168 Lewis and Clark Trail

Thomas Jefferson sent two Virginians, Merriweather Lewis and William Clark, to lead an expedition to find a navigable route to the Pacific Ocean. It took over two years and (if ever you doubted how badass women are) Sacagawea gave birth to a son along the way.

A lot of attention is paid to the last leg of the expedition – The Columbia River Gorge.  It is a stunning 80 miles filled with waterfalls, and lush vegetation, including Multnomah Falls – the second highest in the United States.

#167 Willamette Valley

First, let’s just gets this straight…Willamette rhymes with dammit.  At the end of the Oregon Trail lies a lush agricultural area and one of two wine-producing regions that have made their vitners a global force.  I combined the 1000 Places entry with a couple of travel articles I’d read to develop my itinerary for the day. 

I started the day in McMinnville with brunch at Valley Commissary  - chicken and Waffles.  My only complaint was that it needed just a touch more syrup, but it was so delicious.

From there I walked around the corner to Elizabeth Chambers Cellars for a tasting. 

The tasting room was empty except for me, so it was super quiet and a little awkward.  However, this also meant that the guy had a little more time to talk and he let me taste something not on the menu that was my favorite of the wine.

From there is was up to Sherwood to visit Ponzi Vineyard (from The List).  I should take a moment to mention that this whole day was rainy.  From overcast sprinkle to crushing downpour, to what was happening at Ponzi – which was a mist that fools you into thinking it isn’t raining, but suddenly you realize you’re all wet.

The property is really spectacular.

After Elizabeth Chambers, Ponzi seemed crowded, but my guy told me it was actually really quiet, and “just wait until the sun is out tomorrow”.

It was driving to Ponzi and then on to Carlton Bakery that I realized Willamette is also HOME OF HAZELNUTS.  I wish I’d known a little sooner because I definitely would’ve toured a Hazelnut Farm and picked up a little something for my hazelnut (coffee bean) nubbin.

Fun Facts (from : http://oregonhazelnuts.org/)

• The Hazelnut is Oregon’s official state nut (since 1989)
• About 800 Oregon families grow hazelnuts on 70,000 acres
• Hazelnut trees can produce until over 100 years of age

Carlton Bakery is in (you guessed it) Carlton, OR.  It was featured in one of the articles I read and (don’t get me wrong it was all delicious) by the time I got there most of their inventory was sold out.  This didn’t stop me from grabbing macarons, shortbread cookies, and a cup of hot chocolate.

From the mid-valley (I think), I headed south to Corvallis because I definitely wanted to taste some Oregon cider.  By this time it was pouring rain.

I stopped at 2 Towns Ciderhouse and asked the guy to pick my flight.  Pair that with some salty cheese curds and I could’ve stayed there for hours.

Unfortunately, this guy asked for the Trailblazers (I think? It was definitely a sportsball team) to be put on the TV and promptly commenced screaming really loudly about everything that was happening.

Yeah, I immediately left.

And headed to my last stop….Nectar Creek.  I seriously love their logo.

Nectar Creek specializes in mead and they have a good overall food menu, so this is where I spent the next several hours.  They do $2 tasters and customizable flights for all their meads, beers, and ciders.

The soup of the day was potato bacon so, of course, I tried a cup of that with flight #1.

I also ordered a small baguette with butter (it turned out to be honey butter -natch- and it was so good).

After finishing my soup, bread, and flight – I decided that I would stay for dinner.  I waited until the line died down and ordered a pulled pork sandwich with a side of I-didn’t-take-a-photo chips, and a second flight of different beverages.  This flight was all mead and so had very bee-adjacent names.  

My initial take on the mead was that several tasted a little cough droppy (I’m looking at you Waggle and Nectorade), but Sting was good, and Cluster was my favorite.

Right after I ordered my dinner the place got sooo busy.  The line suddenly was going into a different room, and extra chairs were being snatched to fit around a huge communal table.  I took my time with dinner and then made a bargain with a college-age kid trying to steal my last extra chair….He could have the chair, but he had to guard my table while I went to the restroom.  I think it worked out well for everyone.

Then I headed back north with a lovely (okay, really it was a dreary, but fun) day in the Willamette Valley behind me.