JVD - @josephdworak

This is a sign that helps line the fantastic and charming downtown of Bozeman, Montana.  It struck my wife and I that this company, Montana Fish Company, has two locations - Bozeman, and Kauai.  Those are probably our two favorite spots on this earth and I would imagine this owner would agree.

What is it about those places?   Mountains, Oceans, open space, but most of all the instant I hit those spots, I relax.  It is like hitting a different gear, cruise control maybe, but whatever it is, I feel it.  This post is an argument for getting away, taking time off, recharging, doing nothing, somewhere that recharges you.  

1)  Rest

We all need it, and it seems to be in shorter and shorter supply thanks to smartphones. I love my IPHONE, but I am going to start shutting it down at 7 pm most nights.  I think this will help me disconnect and have more time to read the many many books I have in the reading queue.  

I work with people in three time zones of the country so I get emails early and late and often.  Regardless, I can just choose to have working hours and respond during those.  This will help me rest, whether or not I am on vacation or not.  

2)  Relaxation

If little things start bugging me I know it is time that I chill out and relax.  A few years a supervisor asked me how I know when it was time to relax, I replied that my wife usually let me know.  He responded that was not good enough and I needed to learn how to do this myself.  Since then that challenge has helped me know when to recharge and get back into a good groove.  Do not wait for someone to tell you that you need to relax.  Know for yourself.  

A few thoughts on vacation about vacation - good reminders for me, and maybe for you as well.  

This summer we will head out to Montana and I wanted to share a few of my favorite things to do in the treasure state.  

1)  Yellowstone National Park

Really this could be a post in itself, but needless to say, if you have not been here, you have to go.  Geysers, Mountains, Bison, Bears, Moose, Lakes and more - it is spectacular.  Stay away from the super touristy areas like Old Faithful and you will find open space and plenty of great hiking.  

2)  Skiing at Moonlight Basin ski resort in Big Sky.

It is a fantastic mountain and it is rarely crowded.  I hesitate to even talk about it for fear of driving more people there.  Get there while it is still 10% as crowded as Colorado and Utah.  It is amazing.  Period.

3)  Hike in and around Bozeman

There is so much great hiking around Bozeman you could probably spend your whole life doing it and not see all the trails.  We love Sypes Canyon, Cottonwood, Bear Canyon, and more.  

There is so much to see and it is minutes from downtown Bozeman.  I love that you can get from mainstreet to the mountains in minutes.  That maybe should be their branding statement?  

4)  Driving across Montana

I love driving across Montana because there is so little that is actually there.  You can also comfortably cruise with the 75 MPH speed limit and never see traffic.  It truly is Big Sky country.  Start on the east and make your way to the mountains to the west.  It is a great road trip that I have been doing since college.

Road after road you will find unreal views.  Next up, Ted Turner’s private national park

5)  Ted Turner’s land, bison and hiking

Just a little south of Bozeman you will find the Flying D ranch which you can drive through from the website description:

The Flying D is an 113,613-acre ranch located in southwest Montana just north of Yellowstone National Park. The Gallatin and Madison rivers run through the ranch and the Spanish Peaks Mountains and Lee Metcalf Wilderness are next to its southern boundary. In the middle of increasing development pressures in the Gallatin Valley and Big Sky, the Flying D remains protected open space by virtue of a conservation easement donated to the Nature Conservancy in 1989. Like all Turner ranches, the Flying D is operated as a working business, relying on bison and hunting as its principal enterprises. In addition, the Flying D is in the forefront of in-stream flow water resource management, promoting habitat for abundant fish populations and advancing the establishment of westslope cutthroat trout

It is truly amazing.  You may also see his huge herd of bison.  I hope that Ted donates this land and it becomes a national park at some point.  The Ted Turner national park - it is just breathtaking.

There is a lot to do in Montana, these are just a few of my favorite spots.   

We are out in Montana right now, and tomorrow we planned on skiing at Moonlight Basin. We have been watching the weather forecasts trying to find the best day to have our last day of skiing for the season.  We knew some snow was coming, but not quite this much:  

Today: Snow showers. High near 23. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible. 

Tonight: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 11. Northeast wind between 3 and 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible. 

Friday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 19. North northeast wind between 3 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible. 

This means on the top part of the mountain we may see 25+ inches of fresh powder.  To have this happen in early April?  Heaven.  There is so much snow on the way we just rented an SUV from Alamo at the airport.  Sorry Elantra but we can’t take the chance you won’t make it to Moonlight up the mountain passes tomorrow.  

A few years ago my friend John Wolff and I had a 36 inch + day at Bridger Bowl, and it really was like nothing I have ever experienced.  I should stop talking about this before I jinx the forecast.  Needless to say, the fat powder skis will be out, and we will be rooting for more and more snow!  

I am hoping to look like this tomorrow at around 10 am:

As some of you know, Danielle and I like to hang out in Montana whenever possible.  We love to ski, hike, explore and generally soak up the bright sunny Montana days, and the big sky vistas.  

We are within 60 minutes of three ski resorts, Bridger Bowl, Big Sky, and Moonlight Basin.  Over and over we choose to ski at Moonlight Basin for a few simple reasons:  Customer Service, great mountain, no lift lines, no crowds and just an overall great experience.

Moonlight Basin has great skiing for every ability level.  From 40 degree steep headwalls, to gentle green groomers.  So many times Danielle and I can find exactly what we are looking for on the many runs at Moonlight.

I did mention customer service as well, everyone is friendly at Moonlight.  None of the snottiness I have experienced at other resorts.  From the greeters who help direct you when you walk into the resort areas, to the lift operators, to the people serving you drinks - they all are top notch.  

I also mentioned no lift lines - you never wait.  You ski so much you can be done by 2:00 and be absolutely beat.  In Colorado I have had to wait in 45 minute lift lines at Copper Mountain - add that up and you are not skiing very much during the day.

I love Montana, and I love Moonlight Basin.   Oh I forgot to mention, the picture above is of my wife just the other day skiing at Moonlight, I think she looks pretty happy.