The Resort at Paws Up Truly is the Last Best Place
fter a six and a half hour drive from Jackson, through Idaho and into western Montana, we were happy to arrive at The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough. Passing through the mag- nificent gates with the words, “Paws Up” etched on one side and “The Last Best Place” on the other, I couldn’t wait to experience what I had watched on videos for months before we got here. Sometimes there are no words for a place like Paws Up, but if I had put it into words it would be…inspiring, stunning, grand…spe- cial. There are few places that will touch you the way that a resort like this will. With 37,000 acres to build on, the property is sprawl- ing, yet still has an intimate feel as only 500 acres are used for the village. Each home or campsite consists of 6-10 cabins or tents and is completely secluded from the other sites, so you feel like you re- ally are out in the wilderness with only a handful of other people. Built in 2005, they will be celebrating their ten year anniversa-
A
ry next year and that’s just one of the great reasons you should visit. There are 6 Meadow Homes, 10 Big Timber Homes, 10 Wilderness Estates, and 6 tents at each of the Luxury Camping Sites: Moonlight Camp, River Camp, Creekside Camp, Pinnacle Camp, and my favorite…Cliffside Camp, which is perched on a dramatic overlook onto the Blackfoot River. The campsites are 8 miles from the main Paws Up village, so they really give you the feel of camping out in the backcountry. River Camp is great for kids as it’s right on the water with a small beach. All of the sites come with complimentary bikes.
Upon check in, in one of the most beautiful reception areas
I’ve seen, we were handed our itinerary, keys to our home and…. our own personal car for use on property. Yes – they give you a car. And a private butler and chef if you happen to be staying in one of the luxury campsites. Our home for the weekend was a Meadow Home, which is a 1300sq ft log cabin with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, full kitchen and living area, laundry room and a back deck with, of course, your own hot tub. After gaping at the accommodations, we headed down to Tank and Trough, the bar and eatery on property
28 Essential Living Maine ~ January/February 2015
for a late lunch. Did I mention that all of your meals are included as well? I had one of the best margaritas I’ve had in ages made with tequila, ginger and fresh lime juice. Activities abound at Paws Up and include: hot air balloon-
ing, horseback riding and equestrian lessons, ATV touring, white water rafting, jet ski and boat rentals, archery, cattle herding, wagon driving, hiking, and you can even rent your own private helicopter to take you to view Glacier National Park. There is a 76,000 sq. ft. stable and equestrian center where you can hone your horse- manship. Don’t feel like being active? Then relax at Spa Town and indulge in a multitude of treatments. Spa Town is a colony of pristine white tents stitched together
by a wooden boardwalk, situated just past a babbling brook and nestled among towering pines. The welcome tents feature full baths and showers, while individual treatment tents are fashioned with a lovely sink, a heated massage table, and a view of the meadows. What’s really amazing is that there is no need for the traditional
“spa” sound tracks you hear in average spas because the brook, chirping birds, and rustling of wind in the trees above is played daily by Mother Nature herself. Paws Up gives new meaning to the term “getting lost” in the woods. You can choose from a plethora of massages, body treatments and even a shamanic healing session. The Fitness Cabin at Spa Town offers a unique and tranquil en- vironment for your work-out. The following equipment is available for your use while a guest at Paws Up: treadmill, BowFlex machine, stationary bike, free weights, weight bench, yoga mats, yoga balls, medicine balls, stair master and complimentary water and towels. There are also complimentary yoga sessions. It’s exciting to see that they are also implementing many sus-
tainable practices including: using earth-friendly cleaning products, energy efficient lights, organic bath products and the option for guests to re-use linens. They also have made some significant en- vironmental commitments including catch-and-release fishing and sustainable farming practices.
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