Montana: Vacation Value File. The family vacation in the Big Sky Country is a journey for the senses. Sweatshirt mornings and nights blanketed with stars provide the best fuel for vacation memories. Campfires, cowboy breakfasts and prairie shortbread cookies with ice cream delight all ages. Some of the vacation options fit the high-value low-cost list.
Sleep in a tepee. Smoky Bear Ranch Bed and Breakfast is located along the western edge of the rugged Rocky Mountains of Glacier National Park, in the North Fork area of the Flathead River. They offer families a chance to sleep in a Sioux style canvas tepee (a.k.a. tipi by the Dakota) from the Flathead Indian Reservation. The real thing but not exactly like the nomadic tribes, the modern day version is equipped with a liner, door, and battery operated lanterns, steps from the abode, picnic tables, fire pit, and outhouse. One of the teepees has room to sleep up to six persons on three futon mattresses. The second teepee is out fitted with cots. Showers are available in the lodge. Best of all at night the stars are visible through the open smoke flaps 18 feet above.
Activities: Summer options include: fishing, mountain biking, floating/rafting, hiking and exploring Glacier National Park. Hiking abounds in the Scapegoat Wilderness complexes, all of the way to Canada. Explore old fire lookouts; hike to waterfalls and wildlife in their environments. Take a river float (fast or slow) by canoe, kayak, or raft. Winter activities include: skiing both downhill and cross country nearby as well as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, wildlife viewing, ice skating, and sledding.
Value added: The Apgar Mountains of Glacier National Park form the backdrop to this serene setting. There is a slight hill overlooking a pond that is frequented by wildlife such as deer and moose. Smoky Bear Ranch offers a loaner program on Counter Assault bear spray for guests that plan to go hiking in Glacier National Park.
Cost: Per night per tepee $50.00 for up to six people on the three futons and $35.00 for up to four people on the cots. Linens and bedding, not included but sleeping bags with pillows are available to rent. On the property there is also a lodge and several housekeeping cabins. (4761 Smoky Bear Lane, Columbia Falls, 59912. 406-387-4249, 1-800-555-3806 or
www.smokybear.com)
Hear wolves at night and birds in the morning. The legendary North Fork Hostel and historic Square Peg Ranch are located on the bank of the Flathead River’s North Fork near Glacier National Park. Spring Creek is outside the cabins' doors providing a perspective to enhance the view of the Livingston Range. Small comfortable yet rustic cabins are available for rent at the hostel. This is a logical choice for experiencing outdoor adventure with an old fashioned twist. Wood stoves heat the hostel and the log cabins. Propane cooking ranges and refrigerators available for preparing your own meals with completely furnished kitchens. For light after dark there are propane and kerosene lights (no electricity in Polebridge.) Bring your own food, flashlight, towels and sleeping bags. For a less rustic holiday experience log homes at the Square Peg Ranch are also an option.
Activities: Activities include fishing and more fishing, bicycling, walking, hiking, hunting, bird watching, canoeing, kayaking and cross country skiing.
Value added: Guests have use of cross-country boots and skis, snowshoes and mountain bikes for a small fee. In the summer the Northern Lights Saloon and Café is open, usually from early June to late October. Pets are permitted and they offer a bicycle rental shuttle service. During sunny days cabin guests may use the solar shower and during cooler times the hostel shower is available. There is a stocked woodpile. The bonus for many is the (rustic reality) log outhouse.
Cost: Cabins rent for $30.00 and $65 per night plus tax or $325 per week plus tax. To sleep in the hostel costs $15.00 per night and after two nights stay, lowers to $12.00 per night. (80 Beaver Drive, Polebridge, 59928. 1 (406) 888-5241 or www.nfhostel.com)
Discovery: From the property visitors may see deer, moose, elk, mountain lions, eagles or bears from the hostel windows. Hear the wolves at night and the birds in the morning.
Dig for dinosaurs. The Badlands of northeastern Montana is fertile ground for dinosaur hunters and their families that want a vacation of a lifetime that is educational and fun. PaleoWorld assembles novice teams to look for dinosaurs, dig them up, and prepare them with the expert guidance of paleontologists. It is one of the few scientific expeditions that is open to families. They want the field junket to be a tremendous experience for everyone. PaleoWorld Research Foundation emphasizes "science popularization" by bringing the science of paleontology to all people.
Activities: Both programs offer the hands-on opportunity to work along side researchers and participant in a real scientific dig (not a tour). The Dinosaur Research Expedition in the Badlands begins each day with an early breakfast and a brief orientation. Participants board vehicles for the short trip to the dig site. All activities are designed to assist in current scientific research projects that provide valuable information concerning the environment more than 65 million years ago. Novice expedition members learn field techniques for collecting Cretaceous dinosaur fossils including; prospecting, excavating, plaster jacketing, fossil removal, quarry mapping, preparation techniques in our field lab, fossil identification, and history of the Hell Creek Formation.
The package: The weekly, 7-day/6-night, "all inclusive" package provides hotel accommodations in Jordan, Montana. The "Snack Shack" is the official "Dino Dinner", serving weekly participants, staff, and students. They provide equipment, and transportation to and from the fossil sites.
Value added: Participants will be working in the area that Barnum Brown worked 100 years ago. All proceeds go toward funding the expedition, research, and museum. The Dig-for-a-Day participants are also welcome to join in the camaraderie, fun, and to get in on the latest dino field news at the end of the day. They offer informative after dinner programs and fossil preparation time available in our field lab.
Cost: Total package $1900.00 for a family up to two adults and up to two children 12 years of age and younger. It includes one room with two beds, full bath (stand-up shower), cable TV, AC/Heat. The Snack Shack provides dig participants three meals each day, including a bag lunch in the field. For the week long adventure contact Joseph Cornwell at 1-886-678-0911 or
www.paleoworld.org and for those that do not want a week with bones and dust the Family Dig-for-a-Day (2 Adults and 2 children 12 and younger) may be an option. The cost is $300.00 not including lodging but lunch in the field is provided. The official sleeping place is Fellman's Hotel. Rates begin at $40.00 per night. 1-800-337-1863.
Discovery: For a child friendly connection look at www.paleokids.com to prepare for the adventure. In the area visit the famous "Hell Creek Bar" that was depicted in "Jurassic Park III" for family fun. Hell Creek Lake has a marina where visitors may rent pontoon boats for exploring. The Garfield County Museum also provides a dinosaur connection.
For more high value low cost family vacation ideas browses
www.VisitMT.com or for the kid connection try
montanakids.com
