Montana Archives - Page 2 of 2

June 20, 2013

Travel Lessons: Father Son Swing Time on the Yellowstone River

Just across the river from the lodge we rented with friends for our Montana trip, is a farm with hundreds of cows happily munching on grass and hay. They even venture down to the water for a drink or to sit and rest on the banks. Everyone in our group found it quite peaceful to simply sit and watch. There’s a lot more going on over there than you might think.

The experience doesn’t end with just seeing the cows though. During all hours of the day and night even if we weren’t looking across the river, we knew the cows the cows were over there. Their constant “mooing” let us know.

While there wasn’t a bad spot on the property to take in the view, the best spot to experience the river, cows, and the big skies of Montana in all it’s glory was on the swing.

Here Bergen (22 months) was spending quality time with his Dad. He was also experiencing something he wouldn’t get if we just stayed home all the time.

Father-Son Swing Time on the Yellowstone River | WildTalesof.com

TIP from Dad: To get your little one to stay on the swing with you, give him a handful of rocks to throw. When the rocks run out, grab another handful.

No, he probably won’t remember this trip or be able to talk about it in the years to come, but that doesn’t make it any less important or significant. It may seem small, but it was here in Paradise Valley, Montana (not from a T.V. show, annoying toddler toy, or even a song) where Bergen learned how to “moo” like a cow. And his “moo” is not just your ordinary Old MacDonald Had a Farm “moo”, it’s a full-on from the throat authentic “moo” because he learned it straight from the source.

Now as he grows-up, besides the hundreds of photographs from our adventure, he’ll have something tangible to connect to his travels as a little boy, and something he can brag about on the playground.

What little lessons have your kids picked up on your travel journeys?

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This post is part of Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox

June 13, 2013

Montana’s Paradise Valley in Bloom and in Color: A Hike Around Merrell Lake

Last week, we traveled to Montana for the wedding celebration of our two great friends. The festivities took place in Paradise Valley, just north of Yellowstone National Park in the southwestern part of the state. According to many of the regular residents, we arrived just in time. Just in time for warm and sunny weather, blooming flowers, and a green landscape.

To get to know the area around Hubbard’s Yellowstone Lodge, the wedding venue, Slaed, Bergen and I went on a quick 1-mile hike around Merrell Lake. The lake, just beyond the lodge, is a fisherman’s delight with tempting and rather large rainbow and brown trout as well as cutthroat swimming around. We didn’t care so much about the fish though. I was more interested in the views of the valley and investigating all of the wildflowers that lined the trail.

We started off our hike thinking Bergen (21 months) would be able to handle the trail on his own two feet. We figured he could toddle along with us, and if worse came to worse, one of us could through him on our shoulders for the remainder of the journey. We quickly realized that though the trail was not steep, it’s tough on little feet with a lot of rocks, roots, and other obstacles to work around. Luckily, we hadn’t gotten very far when Bergen uncharacteristically reached his hands up to us to pick him up. I ran back to the car to retrieve the backpack carrier, and away we went.

It’s like Bergen knows an exciting adventure awaits him no matter how small or simple. When he sees that carrier, he gets giddy, and giggles with glee as he is lifted up on the shoulders of one of us. Along our journey, we spotted beautiful whispering aspen trees, the bright yellow flowers of arrowleaf balsamroot, wild purple lupines, and another purple flower that I have yet to identify.

We also took in views of the valley, which is situated between the Gallatin mountain range to the west and the Absaroka mountain range to the east. We were lucky to get to the witness the landscape decked out in it’s green attire for spring. Just a few weeks before, while still spectacular, our outlook would have been more of a winter brown.

Back at the lodge where lunch awaited us, we really learned the meaning of the phrase “big sky country” in reference to Montana. No buildings or structures other than picturesque barns stood in our way as we followed the Yellowstone River winding along with the mountains in the distance.

Have you traveled to Montana? Where have you explored? Stay tuned for more of our adventures in Paradise Valley including a visit to Yellowstone National Park.

This post is linked up with Friday Daydreamin’ at RWeThereYetMom? and Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

January 10, 2013

A Wild Tales of…Travel and Adventure 2013

Just what does 2013 have in store for us? For this new year of travel, we’ve made some tough decisions, booked a few flights and accommodations, have a few more possible trips (though not yet finalized), and even some time where we know we’re going somewhere, but we just don’t know where yet.

Tough Decisions

Back in the late summer, we finalized plans to remodel our house. We knew there would be some days and weeks of particularly heavy construction. What better way to deal with the noise and inconvenience than to skip town? We strategically planned two trips around some of the more invasive periods. One was our Christmas trip to Truckee, CA to visit with my family. The second would have been a trip to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. We honeymooned in Nicaragua, and a good friend was offering up his bungalow once again. We thought we had a perfect getaway, and couldn’t wait for Bergen to use his passport for the first time.

Then we got to thinking, and agonizing, and worrying, and analyzing the travel time and distance. As we learned from our Kauai trip, and then again even for a short trip down to California, our young toddler and airplanes do not mix well. A trip to Nicaragua would have meant three-long-flights, than another 1 1/2 hours of driving. Only to stay for a week, and turn around to do a repeat trip back home. We are adventurous, but also realistic, and we finally had to draw the line in deciding it was too much for our little traveler. With Slaed only being able to take a week off from work, it just wasn’t worth the huge effort. We resolved to keep the time “in transit” to a minimum this year, and save some longer voyages for when Bergen is a little older, and has a longer attention span.

Travel Plans

Just because we’re not going to Nicaragua, doesn’t mean we’re staying home until Bergen grows up a bit. We have several trips planned that involve a more manageable itinerary.

We head to the San Juan Islands this month, and aside from taking it easy and enjoying the view off the deck of our rental house on Orcas Island, I can’t wait to explore the State Parks and tiny villages scattered throughout. I’m particularly excited to hike up to Mount Constitution in Moran State Park, and we have plans to see the Aeolian pipe organ and experience a live performance at the Rosario Resort.

In March, we’re off to the Phoenix area to visit my mother-in-law. We’ll finally get some much needed Vitamin D and Grandma time, see the Mariners face the Dodgers in Spring Training, and hopefully see some new places. A road trip to Prescott, AZ is in the works, and I also have my eye on the Desert Botanical Garden.

Bergen loved the train so much last year that we planned a repeat trip down to Oregon in April. We may stick with Portland, but are also thinking of going further south to Eugene.

Lastly, we have 2 trips to Montana on the calendar. In June we head to Paradise Valley to celebrate the wedding of two dear friends. Along with their celebration, we’ll spend some time in Yellowstone National Park. In October we’re back to Big Sky Country, but this time to Missoula for University of Montana’s homecoming (Slaed’s alma mater).

Travel Possibilities

I really hope we can squeeze in a trip to Madison, Wisconsin for my cousin’s wedding in August. Maybe we can work Chicago in there too?
Growing up, as far back as I can remember, we vacationed in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. My parents loved it so much that they bought a beach house there, and it became our getaway. Many a spring break, summer break, and even Thanksgiving break were spent there from grade school to college. Over Christmas, my brother mentioned his plan to visit in early September with his family. I think we should join him!

As usual a whole lot of Seattle and the Puget Sound area is waiting to be explored by us. I even have a little Seattle project up my sleeve that I can’t wait to tell you about. We’ll continue to visit our favorite places, and make time for new discoveries. I can’t wait to get going!

Where will 2013 take you this year? What are your resolutions? What do you hope to change? What do you plan to keep the same?

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