Quick Trip To Red Lodge, Montana

I hope everyone is enjoying the last month of summer. I remember back when our seasons revolved around the kids' school calender, and our summers seemed to end the day the kids went back to school in late August or early September. Now that we're empty nesters, our summers follow the weather and the traditional calender. So while some of you are turning to fall in your minds, we still have a whole month of summer left here at our house. I do have to say, though, I am longing for fall, my favorite season, especially after the hot and humid summer we've had here this year. 

We had a little break from the heat over the weekend with a quick road trip over to Red Lodge, Montana, where my husband's mother lives. The days were soft and warm and the nights were blissfully cool. I left my camera at home but snapped a few phone photos to share.

About twenty-five years ago we bought six acres at the base of the Absarokee Mountain Range just outside of Red Lodge, with thoughts of building our dream cabin and retiring here one day. This is our property in the foreground overlooking our favorite view of the meadows leading up to the foothills and palisades of the Rocky Mountains. The Red Lodge ski hill and snow capped Pryor Mountain peaks are just out of sight to the right. Yellowstone Park is out there a-ways, too, and the rolling prairie stretches out behind us in the other direction. Whenever we visit Red Lodge, we park our car here on our dirt road and drink our morning coffee while the sun rises. As we listen to the cows lowing off in the distance and watch the deer and elk pass slowly by munching the hay in our meadow, we imagine one day enjoying it all from our own deck.     

ISLAND AT ROCK CREEK

 On this visit we stayed with my sister in-law and her husband at the gorgeous resort they're developing next to the charming little tourist town of Red Lodge, called Island at Rock Creek. The resort's architecture is inspired by the old coal mine that was once here and is landscaped with waterfalls, ponds, and acres of beautiful perennials. Flowers always seem brighter to me in the crisp Rocky Mountain air.

The beautifully furnished and appointed townhouses are right on Rock Creek, and our bedroom door opened onto a balcony overlooking the water.  It doesn't get more relaxing than falling asleep to the sound of a tumbling creek.

 Whenever we go to Red Lodge we always enjoy some rare (and so delicious) vacation junk food from The Red Box Car, just south of town on the way to the Beartooth Highway. They have huge homemade onion rings and my husband's favorite Pork Chop John sandwiches. (That's him in the white hat, sandwich in-hand.)

Two twelve hour days riding in the car for two days of Rocky Mountain bliss. Worth every minute!

Have you ever been to beautiful Montana?