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.

Summer Campfire Chefs Debuts with Chef Beau MacMillan

Campfires are a summer tradition observed nightly at Paws Up. After a long day of floating or fishing, there’s nothing quite like unwinding around the fire pit. Which is why two new Resort programs—Campfire Chefs and Campfire Stars—are sure to be hits with camp guests who enjoy a touch of sophistication and glamour in a rustic, relaxed setting. Campfire Stars features musicians from festivals and shows like American Idol and The Voice. These stars have performed for millions of music lovers at a time, but now they’ll be taking a seat right next to you for intimate performances and maybe even to lead a singalong or two.

Campfire Chefs features rock stars too. Rock star chefs, that is—from the country’s hottest restaurants and culinary TV shows. The chefs will also be up close and personal with our guests—to prepare exquisite cuisine and even have our glampers pitch in and help cook. Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort Executive Chef Beau MacMillan kicks off this summer series on June 6–9th.

We had a chance to sit down and chat with Beau about his upcoming visit.

 What interested you in Paws Up’s new series, Campfire Chefs?

My first experience at Paws Up was at Master Montana Grillers. I was so impressed not only with The Resort itself, but more importantly with the staff and how easy it was for them to be in front of the guests and create emotional contacts in a great setting. With Campfire Chefs, I’ll be able to connect with a small group and cook over open fires—very primal and very fun.

How will cooking at Camp re Chefs be different from Montana Master Grillers?

With Master Montana Grillers, I ran an action station, featuring one to two items. What I’m most excited about with Campfire Chefs is the ability to create the whole menu and the fact that it’s served family-style. I think passing and sharing is one of the best ways to eat and connect with others around you.

Will guests at Paws Up actually get involved in the preparation of meals?

I’m one of those guys that loves to get guests involved. I also love cooking outside and cooking on wood. I think you’re going to see some large cuts of meat that can cook slow. When you can cook large cuts of meat, organic vegetables and fresh seafood on an open flame, life is good.

You’ve made many appearances on culinary shows. Do you have any upcoming appearances?

Right now, I’m filming Best Thing I Ever Ate and Guy’s Grocery Games on the Food Network.

Our Cowgirl Spring Roundup Gets Better than Ever

Bring your inner cowgirl to life at The Resort at Paws Up from April 26–29, 2018, for the Cowgirl Spring Roundup. Four National Cowgirl Museum Hall of Famers will lead scenic trail rides and cattle drives and teach you the finer points of barrel racing and creating Western art. In true Paws Up style, five-star cuisine and luxurious accommodations are included. Make your travel plans now for the ultimate girls’ getaway. (This event is limited to only the first 60 women, 12 and older, who register).

For the first time ever, Cowgirl Spring Roundup welcomes someone handy with a ladle. Chef and author Ellise Pierce will be wrangling our kitchen staff to bring you cowgirl cuisine like you’ve never tasted, expertly paired with wines from our Featured Vintner: Planeta.

Get up close and hear stories from this year’s Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honorees. As a teacher of all things equestrian, Sharon Camarillo has a rich background to draw upon. She rode her love of competition to a rodeo National Intercollegiate World Championship at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California. Camarillo then competed on the pro rodeo circuit as a barrel racer—she was a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier. A teacher in every sense of the word, Camarillo loves to share her passion and knowledge of riding. Her clinics on handling horses and barrel racing draw big crowds. But at Paws Up, she’ll just be teaching our Cowgirl Roundup attendees.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but it’s hard to imagine laying eyes on Veryl Goodnight’s paintings of Western wildlife without appreciating the exquisite loveliness. Overall, Goodnight’s body of work is as expansive as it is gorgeous. Her sculptures—more than 200 of them—further set her apart from other artists. Goodnight’s art has appeared extensively in numerous books and been shown in museums, such as the Autry Museum of the American West. Imagine painting by her side, with a mountainous Montana backdrop. You can make that happen.

Marilyn Williams Harris is a true working cowgirl. Owning and comanaging her grandfather’s historic Arizona ranch with her sister, Harris works on their cow-calf operation. Her lifelong passion for riding horses led to American Quarter Horse Association World Championships in the Reining and Working Cow Horse categories, among other honors. When it comes to enthusiasm about sustaining the cowgirl way of life for future generations, Harris has few peers. Her unbridled zest for the Western land stewardship is truly contagious.

The passion Barbara Van Cleve has for Western ranch life is evident in everything she shoots. Her photography ranks with Western legends like William Albert Allard and Edward S. Curtis. With 55 solo exhibits under her belt buckle, Van Cleve exemplifies the grace and skill of Cowgirl Museum Hall of Famers. Her stunning book, Hard Twist: Western Ranch Women, rings true to life, perhaps in part because she was raised on a Montana ranch. The authentic flavor of the old West and the new West merge beautifully in Van Cleve’s work. This is your chance to shoot the American West with the master herself.