Six Experiences at Paws Up For The Under-Six Crowd

Why does it always seem like all the best rides are for those who meet a height requirement? Here at Paws Up, we don’t limit the fun to those who measure up to a sign. Here are just six examples of how we put the biggest smiles on our smallest guests.

1. PONY RIDES

We would never make you go in circles on some sandy, worn-out path. Instead, our wranglers will show you a true adventure! You’ll say hello to your pony, get a boost up and then ride through beautiful trails. It’s 15 minutes of giggles and photo ops. Parents can tag along, too.

2. GARNET GHOST TOWN

Ever been to a real ghost town? We have one that’s practically in our own backyard! It’s just 20 minutes away, but it’s a step back in time to the early 1900s. Explore the general store, hotel, saloon and homes of this uninhabited town. But wait—you don’t believe in ghosts, do you?

3. THE ISLAND LODGE AT SALMON LAKE

Imagine having a whole island to yourself and your family with boats, fishing poles and a floating trampoline! Cool off with a blackberry lemonade. Or dip your feet into the clear, blue water and let the tiny fishies swim around your toes. At sunset, go for a nice pontoon ride. Ahoy, sailor!

4. CLEARWATER RIVER CANOE TRIP

Head out on the water with a family canoe trip. Relax in the middle while bigger kids or grown-ups paddle down a 3.5-mile stretch of the Clearwater River. Notice the stunning views of the Swan Mountains. See if you can spot an eagle. But make sure you get a turn to try paddling, too!

5. GO-KARTS

The race is on! You’ll go up to 20 miles per hour around a half-­mile track side-by-side with Mom or Dad. Learn to steer around one corner after the next. If you’re under six, trackside bleachers provide the perfect spot to watch your favorite racers power their way to the checkered flag.

6. LITTLE DISCOVERERS AT THE KIDS CORPS OF DISCOVERY

Need to seriously get your wiggles out? Kiss your family goodbye for a few hours and join us at the Kids Corps of Discovery, where you can meet new friends, play games and try tie-dying and searching for sapphires.

Chef Sunny Jin’s S’mores in a Jar Recipe

If you haven’t heard, s’mores are a very big deal at Paws Up. In fact, renowned Pastry Chef Amanda Rockman from the South Congress Hotel in Austin, Texas, will be joining us as our resident S’moreologist for National S’mores Day (Friday, August 10) as part of her Campfire Chefs appearance (August 10–14, 2018). Executive Chef Sunny Jin is also a big s’mores fan. We sat down with Sunny to find out more about his love for s’mores. As a bonus, he also shared his fantastic recipe, S’mores in a Jar with Cardamom Graham Cracker, Ginger Marshmallow Buttercream and Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache.

 1. What’s your favorite way to make s’mores?

I’m very much a traditionalist when it comes to s’mores. The slow rotisserie of the marshmallow off-center from a bed coals, the chocolate pre-melting on the graham cracker on a hot rock near the fire. It all matters. And, it all comes together for a moment that truly makes you forget everything else during that singular experience

2. What is your first s’mores memory?

The cultural shift from moving to the U.S. from South Korea at a young age opened me to so many firsts. So much was new to me, and my first s’mores was no exception. My new neighbor/friend invited me to a campout at their family farm. His dad oversaw the marshmallow roasting while his mom assembled the chocolate and graham crackers. I can still see my friend’s dad hand me the s’mores. It seems obvious what you are about to get, but you’re never prepared for that first bite as all your expectations are met and exceeded. Cheesy, but true.

3. Do you have any tips on making s’mores?

I can offer techniques till I’m blue in the face, but the only important rule is to have fun! S’mores are one of the most food-relatable definitions of friends and family. Enjoy your company and make your s’mores to your liking. Think of it this way—when was the last time you were in a bad mood making s’mores? Probably never.

4. Why are s’mores such an important dessert at Paws Up?

Paws Up is all about sharing moments with those who matter to us. I feel it genuinely on a peer-to-peer level with other team members and that respect for one another naturally filters to the guests we meet. Sharing s’mores is one of our favorite outlets for gathering our guests from around the globe to join us as we do it our own way in Montana.

5. Why do you think they taste better at Paws Up?

Our S’moreologists take their namesake seriously (well, as serious as you can get when you know you’re about to end up with sticky fingers and a big smile). We firmly believe in teaching alternative techniques along with the traditional methods to allow our S’moreologists in Training (the guests) another outlook to pass to their friends. Even the most burnt (sometimes intentionally) s’mores ever made was probably still enjoyable, or at the very least allowed a family to laugh with one another and share their own critiques.

S’mores in a Jar with Cardamom Graham Cracker, Ginger Marshmallow Buttercream and Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache

Makes 12–14 (4-ounce) jars

Ingredients

For the Graham Cracker:

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of sea salt

1/2 cup melted butter

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cardamom, cinnamon and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Add melted butter and stir until evenly combined.
  3. Remove the mixture from the bowl onto parchment paper. Roll to 1/4-inch thickness.
  4. Place on a baking sheet and bake 5 to 7 minutes or until dry and golden brown. Set aside to cool. Break into desired shapes and sizes, depending on jar sizes. 

Ingredients

For the Buttercream:

10 large marshmallows

3 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup softened butter

2 tablespoons skim milk

2 teaspoons vanilla paste (vanilla extract is a great substitution)

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

Directions

Melt the marshmallows in a large saucepan over low heat. Whisk in powdered sugar, butter, milk, vanilla and ginger until fully incorporated. Remove from heat; scoop the buttercream into a pastry bag. Set aside at room temperature.

Ingredients

For the Ganache:

1 cup heavy cream

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

Pinch of sea salt

Directions

In a medium-size saucepan bring the cream to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat; add chocolate. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to begin to melt. Whisk until emulsified; add butter and sea salt. Continue stirring until the ganache becomes smooth. Scrape the ganache into a bowl and set aside.

To Assemble:

Scoop 1/2 cup of the graham cracker into each 4-ounce mason jar. Top with 1/4 cup ganache. Follow it with a good piping of marshmallow buttercream. Garnish with your favorite sweets, crumbled candy bars or even fruit. Make it your very own and enjoy!

 

Pro Tips for Packing the Perfect Picnic

Are you dreaming of summer already? We sure are. And this year, we’re going all-out for al fresco, starting with a Chicago-style picnic in a Montana-size park.

Join us on June 16 for our Montana Long Table: Artisanal Picnic, and you’ll have a chance to chat and dine with illustrious Windy City chefs known for their Chicago dogs and gourmet sausages, honey butter fried chicken and hand-crafted pies.

But you don’t have to travel far to enjoy an epic picnic. Let Paws Up Executive Chef Sunny Jin share some inspiring thoughts on dining outside during those dreamy months ahead:

What do you love about eating outside?

The greatest advantage to eating outside is the wholeness of the experience. It allows us to focus on what’s important, and I believe that simply to mean being present and enjoying the moment in front of us.

What are a few of your favorite things to take on a picnic? 

I’m big on variety and small bites. That doesn’t mean extravagance and significant labor. My choices usually consist of cured meats, pickles, olives, cheeses, whole fruits and the best bread I can find. Every region has local favorites of each item, so an assortment is easy to come by.

Other than food, what else might you take? 

My picnic spots are usually at places where cell service and paved roads are absent. That creates a place with less exposure to human contact, so I carry along a book on plant identification. I’m still amazed what I’m able to find now that my eyes have adjusted to the edible surfaces around all of us.

If you were planning a leisurely rafting trip, what would be on the menu? 

Being respectful and observant of fire bans, regulations and conservation should always come first. It would be a bummer to pack for a riverside BBQ, and then come to find that fires are not permissible. I love to grill as much as the next person and would if the opportunity were there. However, to be safe, I try to stick to cold, no-fuss items that travel well. 

Chef Sunny Jin’s Rafting Trip Menu:

Chilled Prime Rib Wraps with Watercress, Pickled Goat Horn Peppers and Cucumber-Horseradish Slaw

Roasted Eggplant Panzanella with Chorizo, Toybox Tomatoes, Chèvre and Banyuls Vinaigrette

Fresh Fruit Bites with Wildflower Honey and Greek Yogurt

Homemade Jerky: My freezer is always stocked with experimental jerky made from earlier hunting and fishing trips.

Dill Pickle Chips: We all have our vices.

Ice Cold IPA: Some have more vices than others.

39 Posts on The Resort at Paws Up from 2016

The Resort at Paws Up

2016 was a big year at The Resort at Paws Up, and we want to share with you 35 media posts that recap the best of the past year. 2017 is going to be even better! For starters, this will be the first year we are open 365 days. We will be introducing a brand new glamping site—North Bank—scheduled to open in June; new culinary events such as Eat Drink and Meet MerryWildFlavorAdrenZenlong table events and Smoke & Around the Fire; additional activities and much more, so stay tuned. But first, take a stroll down memory lane as you relive some of our events and accolades from 2016.

10 Affordable Wellness Vacations for 2017 via U.S. News and World Report

The Resort at Paws Up in Mountain Living

Montana Grandeur at Paws Up in Mountain Living Magazine

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15 City-Inspired Thanksgiving Menus from Local Chefs via Elle Decor

8 Great Christmas Getaways for Families via The Travel Channel

Skijoring the resort at Paws Up

6 Reasons to Visit the Resort at Paws Up This Winter via Paws Up

12 White Christmas Ideas on Conde Nast Traveler 

5 magical resorts and hotels to spend the holidays

Five Magical Resorts and Hotels in Which to Spend the Holidays via Huffington Post

resort to host you family thanksgiving

5 Fabulous Resorts to Host Your Family Thanksgiving via  Community Table Parade Magazine

long table at the resort at paws up

10 Trips Fun that are Truly Fun for the Whole Family via Town & Country 

Q & A with Resort at Paws Up Chef Ben Jones via The Missoulian

Chef BEn Jones the Resort at paws up

I Vacationed Like Gwyneth Paltrow—And It’s Not What I Expected at All via Marie Claire

paws up remote resort

The World’s Most Remote Resorts via Fodor’s Travel

Girl Meets Glam Paws Up

Paws Up via Gal Meets Glam

paws-up-montana

The Most Luxurious Glamping Honeymoons in Bridal Guide

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America’s Best Wilderness Resort is Now A Year-Round Affair via Insidehook

10 Luxury Dude Ranches Worth Ditching Your Beach Vacation for via U.S. News and World Report

Cattle Drive Paws Up

Cattle Drives, Whiskey Shots with Cowboys, and Gold Rush Massages at Paws Up in Montana via Forbes 

15 Best Honeymoon Locations in America

The Best Honeymoon Locations in America via Country Living

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National S’mores Day: Ways to Celebrate via Uproxx

The Resort at Paws Up Summer 2010

5 Best Summer Spa Views via Spafinder

Best Luxury Kid-Friendly Hotels in the U.S via Conde Nast Traveler

urban cowgirl the resort at paws up

Urban Cowgirl via Southbay Magazine 

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Where to Glamp in the National Parks via Simplemost 

luxury camping at the resort at paws up

10 Luxe Camping Retreats to Check Out this Summer via Jetsetter

getaways for active families

5 Riverside Getaways for Active Families via Dallas News

From California to Maine, The Best Hotels for Fall Foliage via Food and Wine

paws-up-cliffside-camp

100 Best Places to have Sex via Men’s Journal

5 Great Rivers for Adventure, History and Beauty via Seattle Times

best glamping in the USA

8 Glamping Sites Across the U.S via Real Simple

Resorts Where You can Channel Your Inner Chef via Bravo TV

best luxury glamping ranches

Best Luxe Glamping Ranches in the USA via Departures

Amazing Vacation Destinations that Guarantee BIG Thrills via Red Tricycle

The Resort at Paws Up Pomp restaurant

7 Stunning Place to Elope This Summer via About Travel

9 Beautiful Places to go Glamping in America via Elle Decor

7 Best Glamping Spots for Summer via Allure

the resort at paws up and kaitlynn carter

Paws Up on Hey, Miss Carter

Best Glamping Spots for Fall via Allure

The resort at paws up

The Lowdown on Paws Up via Passported

Be Luxury: Go Glamping the Final Days of Summer via Black Enterprise