Montana
I’ve mentioned it in passing, but I realize I have yet to officially write about the vacation Sweets and I are going to take in a couple weeks. We are grabbing SoMi, jumping in his truck and driving to Montana. Those plans haven’t changed, though the details have.
All along, we planned this trip around use of his parents’ pop-up camper. We took the camper on a trial-run in late May. Everything worked fine. The original plan for the Montana trip was to haul it out NW Montana. Stay in a national park or forest. Rough it. Hike a bunch. And drive home.
Sweets and I did some research on Glacier National Park, the main reason he wanted to go out there. However, we quickly realized their pet policies are dog-indifferent. You can bring dogs into the park. But, you can’t bring them on any hiking trails. And you can’t leave them alone. Which means people bringing dogs into the park aren’t leaving their campsite. Totally unacceptable for us. Because SoMi will be a part of this vacation. And we will be leaving our campsite.
So, Sweets ordered maps of the national forests in northwestern Montana. These parks are in the same area of Glacier, only they have more lenient policies regarding pets (leashed at all times and they can go pretty much wherever you go). I ordered maps and triptiks from AAA for our drive out there.
We finally sat down to plot our trip. Last Friday. Exactly two weeks before we were set to leave. We had no idea where we’d stay on the drive out there. We had no idea where we were going to stay once we got there. We weren’t even sure there were available campgrounds in the parks where we wanted to go.
Let’s just say, I have been a little stressed about this trip. But, it’s been Sweets’ baby. It was his idea. He knows the area. He knows camping. I wanted him to take charge. And that meant me not pushing too hard. And it also meant we didn’t do any major planning until two weeks before we were set to leave.
At which point, we realized, nine days isn’t a lot of time for this trip. Our timing for leaving Chicago is limited due to our jobs and our need to pick up the camper from Sweets’ parents. We did a little math and realized we wouldn’t arrive in NW Montana until Sunday night. Possibly late. The idea of finding a campsite without light and setting up a camper at midnight was not appealing.
I expressed my concern. Sweets agreed. We started talking logistics. Each of us raised additional concerns. Related to the drive out there. Our stay. Our need for even more equipment. Our limited amount of time. The wear and tear pulling a camper would put on his (not very new) truck. And we came to a decision.
Bringing the camper with us on this trip isn’t a great idea.
So, late Friday night, I began doing more research. Into bed & breakfast spots. Into private properties for rent. Into places that are pet-friendly (because, again, SoMi will be a part of this trip). And I was surprised to see options. Lots of options. There were 11-room homes that sleep 20. And tiny little studios with hideaway beds. There were a number of bed & breakfasts that allow canines. Places that were in the middle of town; others that were secluded in the woods. There were quite a few options that appeared to have space the week of our trip. I sent out email inquiries.
Sweets and I both admitted relief. Huge relief for me that all these unanswered questions no longer matter. Huge relief for Sweets that the bulk of the responsibility no longer rests on his shoulders.
And magically, within a couple days, we found a place. We settled on a bed & breakfast. A small B&B with three guest rooms. A proprietor couple who built the house by themselves (with very limited outside help). A house that is 10 minutes away from a small town and within a 30-minute drive of many of the trails we’d like to hike. A reasonable rate that includes breakfast every day. And the expertise of the proprietors who can help us figure out some great day trips.
Suddenly. Within a matter of days. My outlook on this trip went from hesitant optimism to all out excitement. Because Sweets and I are grabbing SoMi and heading to Montana. For an unplugged week in the mountainous fresh air. A week from Friday can’t get here soon enough!
Speaking of travel, a dear bloggy friend is traveling back to her home country of Lebanon this week. She graciously asked me to guest post for her. So, if you’re so inclined to see what I have to say about Marie and her home country, then jump over to Marie’s Blog Cafe to read more!
August 5th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Sounds like a great trip. Montana is just beautiful. My sis in law went to college out there and swears that is where she wants to retire.
As someone who is not a pet person, I never realized the logistics of travel with a pet. I would have thought camping would have been one of the best options.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:39 am
i’ve never been to a b&b! it seems like it would be so cozy…would definitely love to do that sometime. have fun!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Glad you found a solution that you both feel good about and that is making your comfortable about the trip. Hope it’s fun!
August 5th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Have you been to Montana before? I haven’t been to Glacier, but my parents really enjoyed it. Mr. W and I went to Yellowstone last year and absolutely LOVED it. I’d been when I was 15, but it was even better as an adult (with him). You guys will have such a great trip! Can’t wait to see the pictures!
August 5th, 2009 at 8:35 am
I’m so glad you were able to figure everything out so that you are now excited to go! I hope you have the most awesome time too!
August 5th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I’ve been thinking about a trip to Montana. I’ve got the road trip urge. I hope you have a fantastic time! I’d be stressed out too if it were two weeks before the trip and plans weren’t solidified. But I am a control freak uber planner. ;-)
August 5th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Oh! I was hoping he’d talked you into taking a TENT! And I’m an un-planner. I have a vague idea of where I’m going and what I’m going to do, but I leave the rest up to chance. I like it like that. But I sense you’re not so into vague! Have so much fun!
August 5th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Irish and I are plotting a four-day cabin/lake retreat ourselves for October and I, like you, am trying not to push too hard since this is Irish’s idea but two months out and we don’t have a cabin booked! I am incredibly excited for a four-day weekend away from internet, phones, email. I could imagine how great one week would be.
Glad that everything worked out even it seems last minute to us girls =)
August 5th, 2009 at 9:26 am
oooh that sounds perfect! i LOVE B&B’s. hope that you have a great time!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Sounds like a great trip. Mr. P and I have a HUGE older dog that can’t travel with us, and that is the worst part of my trip…I won’t see Joe for another week. I love that SoMi is going on vacation too! And that your trip got planned!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Yay! This trip sounds lovely! And I love how many dog-friendly options there are out west.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:11 am
This trip sounds perfect on so many levels. The idea of just grabbing the dog and heading out of town is incredibly appealing. Add to it the fact that you will be out in nature, unplugged, and just having a great time and you have all the ingredients for a wonderful vacation!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:19 am
when i first started reading this post, I thought, “this doesn’t sound like a vacation, it sounds like hell!!!” ha ha. but as I read I became increasingly jealous. oh yeah, I would go the b&b route too. Now it actually sounds kind of nice. :)
August 5th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Have fun!!!
Camping would be fun but it could also add a lot of stress to your holiday. A B&B seems like a nice compromise (and so much less work!)
August 5th, 2009 at 11:06 am
So glad that stress was washed away! The planning is half the excitement :-)
August 5th, 2009 at 11:07 am
How exciting! I’m so glad you found a cute place that suits all your needs! Wish me luck -- I’ll be trying to pin Sean down in a similar way for our Ireland trip -- we’re there for 7 nights in less than a month and do not have ANY hotels booked yet!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
That sounds like absolute heaven!
August 5th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Isn’t that funny, and often surprising, that when you let go of the plans you had “looked forward” to, you look forward to it even more!
The other day someone mentioned to Hubs and I that we needed a dog. We both agree, but we’ve only hesitated to talk about it because as both assume the other is not ready.
Me: “So, should we start the discussion of getting a dog?”
Hubs: “Yeah, we should start looking for one.”
Me: “Really? You are really ready for a dog now?”
Hubs: “Um, sure.”
Me: ::seeing visions of poop and dog hair all over my craft room and clean kitchen:: “Really, you are ready for one NOW?”
Hubs: “No, I just assumed you were and I was playing along.”
Me: “Whew! I am not ready for one yet, either!”
And an equal amount of relief was felt in the Bead Up home :)
August 5th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
sometimes the last minute plans end up being the best of plans. i leave for my trip in….a week (yikes!) and i have three things on the agenda. baseball, west side story and a concert. other than that? i dont know how im getting from the airport to my destination or back again. i don’t know where i’m eating, who i’m visiting, what to do with myself during the day. the plus side, is that its new york and anything goes. the next vacation i plan will have to be somewhere in the beautiful mountains. i miss my carolina mountains too much.
ps can you email me those links about social activism and would you be interested in a guest post for me while im gone. pretty please?
August 5th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
that sounds like a FANTASTIC vacation.
i’m getting all antsy because i haven’t even STARTED to look at planning my (as of now hypothetical) trip to eastern europe this fall. and sept is NEXT MONTH. eek.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I’m so jealous that you guys are going to Montana!! I can’t wait to see your pictures! It sounds like you guys are going to have a great time with Somi.
August 5th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Indeed, travel plans can be stressful. I’m glad you got it all worked out. Now you just have to count down the days and enjoy. :-)
August 5th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Smart woman. I’m all about camping, as long as I’ve got a critter-free bedroom, towel service and a blowdryer :)
August 6th, 2009 at 1:27 am
[...] 2. Vacations Abound! Not only am I leaving for vacation in a week and fretting over the planning of what to do, but so was Nilsa. She and her hubby are headed to Montana. amidst a little bit of chaos they sorted things out and the trip that seemed like too much work, has turned into the trip that it always should have been. Sometimes, the last minute planning makes for the best plans. The trips without the itineraries, or the ones that stray from the original plan seem to be the best. [...]
August 6th, 2009 at 10:40 am
i’ve heard it’s so pretty there. y’all will have tons of fun!
August 6th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
So incredibly jealous! You are going to have a blast! I LOVE MONTANA. Can’t wait to hear all about it and to see pictures!
August 16th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I am surprised you can not bring your dog on trails in Glacier Nat’l Park! I am happy you were able to find a solution that included SoMi and made both you and Sweets feel at ease :)