Over and over again I have said that I have never seen anywhere quite as beautiful as Western Montana. I am lucky to live on the Clark Fork River across from a forested mountain. Looking out my windows I see the most stunning scenery. BUT not too far away there are areas that are even prettier! The hubby and I snuck away for a little romantic Montana vacation at one of our favorite locations – Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort in Paradise, Montana.
Yes, Paradise.
And so it is.
A Romantic Montana Vacation
We live about 40 minutes away from Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort. After you leave Interstate 90 at St. Regis you take Route 135, a winding, forested road that follows the Clark Fork River. It is one of the prettiest drives in Montana. My doctor used to be in a town a bit further on and I would actually look forward to the drive. It is that jaw droppingly beautiful.
Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort was discovered in the 1880s by Martin Quinn after he noticed the Native peoples using the hot springs. The formal resort didn’t open until 1885 and it has had it’s ups and downs through the decades but right now Quinn’s is experiencing quite the renaissance. (If you would like to read the history of Quinn’s you can do so HERE.)
Dinner and a Show
I am on the email list for Quinn’s and so I receive notices of the upcoming events. A recent show caught my eye, it was called Romancing the West. The resort was offering dinner and the show for $40 per person with a couple’s package with a room for $105. The package allowed for upgrades as it was for the Glacier Lodge, a small hotel like building that is part of the resort. We had stayed there once before and it’s lovely. I thought this would be a fun thing to do and the hubby agreed.
The River Lodge at Quinn’s
Quinn’s is currently undergoing a major construction project on their hot springs. It is supposed to be finished by June 16th so I knew when we went that I wouldn’t get to soak in the pools. It did take some of the fun out of going to Quinn’s but it was still worth going. We also ended up with a room upgrade because they were working on the Glacier Lodge. We ended up in the brand spanking new River Lodge.
The room was HUGE. Seriously huge. Inside was a super soft king size bed with lots of fluffy pillows. As you can see in the photo collage I posted there is a small kitchenette in the room with a microwave, sink and refrigerator. This gives anyone staying for a length of time the ability to store and cook some food.
The bathroom is a good size with a double sink and a rain shower. The toiletries included are a high quality and there are some nice touches like a facial cloth with make up remover. A hair dryer is provided.
A truly lovely surprise were the treats left for the guests. There was a bottle of wine, a box of cookies, a tin of mixed nuts and a bag of candies. This was unexpected and really nice after the drive. This put a big smile on my face.
How Was Dinner and the Show?
Let me start by saying I wanted to enjoy dinner so I didn’t stop to take photos. You will just have to rely on my descriptions. Sometimes a girl just wants to eat her dinner. When you sign up for the event you are offered the choice of beef or trout – we chose one of each. The salad had a jalapeno dressing so I couldn’t eat it. The hubby said it was very good. I had the Herb Marinated Beef and the hubby had the Grilled Rainbow Trout. My beef came with an amazing balsamic reduction and turnip potato patties that were delicious. There was also asparagus that I passed off to the hubby because I don’t eat asparagus.
The trout came with a creamy sauce (I didn’t eat it and my poor brain can’t remember what the menu said. Hubby ate every last bit so it was good.) There were also a couple of mystery croquettes – the menu said roasted carrots. These were not carrots but he said they were very tasty.
Dessert was entitled Chocolate Three Ways and the plate held a chocolate lava cakelette, a homemade chocolate creme cookie and white chocolate mousse. The cookie was the star of the plate.
A note as to the service – it was extraordinary. The wait staff were friendly, present yet not intrusive and attentive. They also cared about their patrons. I was very impressed with the service we received everywhere at Quinn’s from the check in desk to the restaurant at breakfast the next morning.
Romancing the West
The show was a mix of song, poetry and video. It covered bits of history covering two hundred plus years of Western expansion. It was interesting and we both enjoyed it. You can learn all about it HERE
The Beauty of Paradise
The River Lodge is on the river (duh) but not all of the rooms face the water. That does not mean the view is poor. We were on the second floor and had the above view from our window. I adore the mountains and am happy when I can see them.
The river side rooms had balconies so you could sit and watch the river go by. Trust me, there is nothing more pleasant that sitting and watching the river go by. The river that goes by Quinn’s is the same river that goes by the yurt.
Harwood House
Harwood House is the fine dining restaurant at Quinn’s. We have eaten there many times over the years we have lived here and have always had an excellent meal. This go round the hubby had breakfast and I had coffee. As I’ve written before I can’t eat in the morning as I always wake up feeling sick.
He had a perfectly cooked Denver omelette and a fruit cup. My coffee was delicious. After that we were on our way home from Paradise.
It was a lovely getaway and one I suspect we will repeat when the pools are open again.
City girl turned farm girl, Patty Woodland
shares her life and loves from a small
Montana farm. Drawing inspiration from
her garden, cats, and the
beautiful countryside,
Books, Cooks, Looks is a
special glimpse into
her little corner of paradise
