Paws Up Resort :

If nights spent licking sticky marshmallow off your fingers, reading by flashlight, and listening for the call of the wild all while tucked into a sleeping bag inspire nostalgic thoughts of childhood, you’re not alone.  Of course, the cold, hard facts of camping -- backaches and bug bites -- make any weekend warrior want to run for the hills, but if you’re running for the hills of Montana’s Blackfoot Valley and its posh Resort at Paws Up, you will find yourself in good hands. The Resort at Paws Up is nestled on 37,000 unspoiled acres in Big Sky country. 

GETTING THERE
Just a half-hour drive from Missoula, Paws Up is a breathtaking world unto itself comprised of wildflower-filled meadows, lush forests, sparkling rivers, and majestic mountains.  Rugged beauty meets uncompromising service here, where husband-and-wife owners Dave and Nadine Lipson ensure that no detail is overlooked. In case you’re wondering, they chose the name Paws Up for the zealous way most dogs greet you - with their paws up. If you’ve ever wanted to get away from it all without forsaking the luxuries of a five-star hotel, you’ve found your Eden.  This is definitely not your cousin’s camping with everything from 300-count linens to flat-screen televisions. 

PAWS UP RESORT, BLACKFOOT VALLEY, MT
The resort’s accommodations include everything from upscale log cabin-style vacation homes to a renovated farmhouse and barn, but the signature Paws Up experience is Tent City, open seasonally from late May through late September.  Gorgeous canvas tents complete with fine art, feather beds, and electricity will make you rethink the outdoors while camping butlers attend to everything from lighting fires to cooking gourmet meals.< Don't expect typical campsite meals either, since fine dining is a hallmark of Paws Up. 

NATURE SERVED UP ON A SILVER PLATTER 
Locally-raised buffalo, quail, pheasant, trout, and even rattlesnake are the centerpieces for the “worldly Western” cuisine served at Pomp, the resort’s upscale dinner-only establishment.  The Tank & Trough Bistro has an upbeat, casual atmosphere and serves lip-smacking favorites such as macaroni and cheese and barbecued brisket.  Outdoor barbecue feasts invite guests to mingle while they munch, but for those who simply can’t leave the comforts of their new home, chefs are dispatched for Paws Up-style “room service.”


ACTIVITES
The resort’s unique style of pampering might tempt you to sleep in and daydream, but with an activity list that reads like a page from Ernest Hemingway’s diary, it’s worth it to don your boots and get outside. There are 120-plus miles of trails and the nearby 1.5 million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness to explore and a river does indeed run through it - seven miles of the Big Blackfoot River made famous by the Robert Redford-directed film cascade through property.  It is a top spot for anglers, with legendary fly-fishing in late June and mid-September. 

Year-round adventures include hiking and wildlife watching - elk, bald eagles, bears, and moose are just some of the animals you’ll spot on guided tours.  Warmer months invite guests to whitewater raft, kayak, and canoe on the Blackfoot River or swim and boat on nearby Seeley Lake. The Saddle Club, one of the state’s premier facilities, lures equestrians with its 23,000-square-foot riding arena and 52-stall barn. 

Winter is a particularly magical time at Paws Up with snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, and sleigh rides through the snow-blanketed woods.  In addition to its regular resort activities, Paws Up Outfitters offers unforgettable wildlife adventures in the nearby Bob Marshall Wilderness. These elk and deer hunting expeditions and horseback pack fly-fishing trips would make Hemingway proud.  Just in case you thought all of the fun was limited to the adults, Paws Up catersto pint-sized explorers with its half- or full-day children’s programs offering nature hikes andranch visits among other adventures. 

Programs are also offered for teenage guests. If sport shooting and ATV excursions have left you feeling ragged or your sense of adventure leans more toward downward dogs and hot stone massages, the resort’s Spa Town will be your salvation. Paws Up has created one of the most unique and creative spas in the country; the facility is actually eleven freestanding tents set within a lush meadow. Each guest’s treatment tent is entirely private, yet open to natural light and breezes.  Massage, reflexology, and healing treatments use indigenous herbs and natural oils to set a sense of place.  The fitness tent provides a variety of equipment, and yoga classes are offered. 

From white-glove service and luxurious guest accommodations to gourmet dining and first-rate amenities, Paw’s Up is the 21st-century sophisticate’s way to enjoy the great outdoors. Go ahead, put your feet up, and tell a ghost story by the fire.  Just be sure to ....