It’s impossible to drive through Montana and not think about how big the world really is. Expansive is the best word I can come up with to describe the terrain we sped through as my family and I went to Big Sky last week during the boys’ spring break. We stayed with relatives in Spokane on our way, and again coming back home. The ride from there to Big Sky took about seven hours at high speed, which is easy to do on the wide-open highways.
Big Sky is in the southwest corner of the state, about 50 miles from Yellowstone. We were hoping to see the geysers, but the park doesn’t open for another month. Even so, we got our fill of beauty as we drove through ranch country and over several mountain passes in Idaho and Montana.
Our destination was Rainbow Ranch Lodge, which is located on the Gallatin River in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The expansive grounds are beautiful, with 21 suites bordering either a pond or the river (and a five-bedroom house for rent on the other side of the river over a short bridge). An original barn, built in the early 1900s, still stands on the property (pictured above). There is a covered cooking area next to it, which is used during warm weather for cookouts. The entire property, or portions of it, is used frequently for weddings and other special events, with the lodge easily accomodating large groups of people.
We stayed in adjoining pondside suites, which are the newest of the rooms on the ranch. The suites combine European luxury with the rustic flair of Montana. Having had a lifelong love affair with rocks, I adored the decor, which features river rocks and wood. There was a fireplace in our bedroom, our sitting room, and on our patio! And our bed was so cozy, with a down comforter and mattress pad. (Our patio and bedroom pictured below.)
The lodge has a bar, several comfortable seating areas, and a large dining room separated into several rooms (pictured below). On the lower level, it also has a wine tasting room, which is used for private dinners, and wine cellar (second row below).
We were excited to try something that would expand our palate for dinner at Rainbow Ranch Lodge, so we ordered what our waiter called the perfect trifecta of authentic Montana cuisine: bison, elk, and trout (pictured below in order). Taylor’s bison had a smoky flavor and was one of the most tender meats I have tasted. It came with bison kielbasa as well. Jay’s elk was a much denser meat. Cooked the same way as the bison – over a mesquite grill – its flavor was not as intense because, according to our server, it doesn’t absorb as much of the mesquite. My trout was very light, served with couscous and micro-greens. Everything was delicious, and as I always judge the true skill of a chef by the way the vegetables taste, Chef Ian Troxler passed with flying colors.
While the guys enjoyed their heartier entrees, my choice of the trout was perfect because it left room for dessert! Pastry Chef Elisabeth Michealis trained at The French Pastry School of King Kennedy College in Chicago and her work is exquisite. She bakes all the bread, complementary breakfast scones and quiches, and desserts, including cookies that magically show up in your suite every day. Passionate about her work, she delights in creativity and it shows. We slurped up every bite of her homemade ice cream, chocolate mousse, and Vacherin.
A French dessert, Vacherin allows a pastry chef to play with flavor, and Michealis excels when allowed creative license. This particular version has orange chiffon cake, Earl Grey tea créme and orange sorbet inside a brûlée meringue. I think I will have to return this summer just to try the flavors she told us she was planning to combine then – something like chocolate and salted caramel.
Montana is all about outdoor adventure. We hooked up with Cache Creek Outfitters for a fabulous sleigh ride up to its land, which offered a panoramic view of glorious mountains covered with the last snow of the season. Charlie, the owner of Cache Creek Outfitters, knows the area like the back of his hand. He can take you on any expedition you can dream up, from an afternoon of horseback riding to a two-week ride through Yellowstone, fly-fishing on the Gallatin River or a cowboy cookout. We happened to be the last sleigh ride of the season. Soon he trades the runners for wheels and takes patrons on wagon rides. His cookouts are a feast of salmon or prime rib with all the trimmings. (As you can see in his photo below, Charlie looks the part of a rugged outdoor Montana man.)
We thoroughly enjoyed our Montana adventure. Rainbow Ranch Lodge (shown below from the air) is easy to get to by car and worth the drive, but many fly into Bozeman and drive from there, which is only one hour away. It books a lot of weddings in the summer months so call now to reserve a suite. I highly recommend it.
For more information, visit www.rainbowranchbigsky.com and www.cachecreekoutfitters.com.
This getaway was made possible by Rainbow Ranch Lodge and Cache Creek Outfitters in Big Sky, Montana.