Gorgeous views, good grub and a great place to hibernate awaits tucked away in Montana.
Unknown Beauty
The most beautiful places, are the unexpected. Not that you doubted the place of beauty in the first place, but that unbeknownst to you, the beauty was there, waiting to be found. After leaving Bozeman, Montana, my family and I decided to drive south along highway # 191 to West Yellowstone as we were on track to circle around Yellowstone National Park to make our way in a full complete circle on our family road trip. What we discovered once we arrived, was gorgeous views, good grub and a great place to hibernate.
Winding Through 191
Driving along highway 191 from Bozeman to West Yellowstone in Montana was an unexpected highlight of the road trip. The winding highway following rushing rivers and valleys in-between mountains was stunning. With a fresh snowfall, I felt as if we were driving through our very own real life postcard.
Check into Hibernation Station
Once we arrived in West Yellowstone, the sun was out and with mountains in view, we knew we were here to stay for the night. We checked into Hibernation Station! After driving around, we knew we wanted to stay somewhere that felt different then the other hotels we had been staying in whilst on the road. A cozy cabin accommodation seemed fitting.
As it was currently off-season in West Yellowstone, the resort was in a bit of an off season as well, in between tourist times. It was quiet, beautiful and we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. The staff were very kind in helping us find the right suite that would suit our needs and we were checked in, in no time. Their amenities included an outdoor hot tub, a great welcome area and a brand new games and entertainment area. Since West Yellowstone is a smaller community, anything you need is only a short drive or walk away.
Dip Into Downtown
After a much needed rest and recharge in the hot tub, we took a different kind of dip, into Downtown West Yellowstone. It's as cute and quaint as you could imagine any tourism driven town during its off season. We stopped into the Old Town Cafe for a hot chooclate to go and headed out to explore the area and do some shopping for souvenirs. It may be the off season, but there are still restaurants and stores open.
We walked around, worked up an appetite and shortly after we were ready to find a spot for supper.
Good Food & Good Vibes at Hank's
For dinner, we went to Hank's Chop Shop and it did not disappoint. The vibe was industrial and you felt right at home, as if you were in your friends stylish garage. And I'm talking a nice, garage. We ordered their caesar salad, pepperoni and pineapple pizza, with the shrimp and steak bite skewers with huckleberry jam. Everything we ordered was 5 out of 5, would order again. I do wish I had taken more photos of our food, but the moment wasn't right, y'know? I was enjoying a delicious meal with my parents and chose to stay in the moment. Part of being a photographer and storyteller is knowing when the appropriate time to take out your camera is and knowing when to leave it at bay.
PIZZA
The pizza was cheesy, oh so cheesy with a perfectly zesty tomato sauce and a bit of a light and flaky crust. For those who know me, I really, really like pizza. This was one worth remembering.
CAESER SALAD
I can be a bit more picky with my caesar salads. After awhile they either all taste the same or taste as if they have grocery store dressing on top. I know a homemade sauce when I taste one and this one had it. They did this caesar salad justice and did it right!
STEAK & SHRIMP SKEWERS
The jump garlic shrimp and the perfectly medium done steak bites... perfection! The added touch of huckleberry jam added a touch of tartness and sweetness. A jam that was certainly new to me.
Wandering West Yellowstone
After dinner, we were making our way back to the cabin when I knew we had to pull over. Anyone who knows me, also knows that for dessert, I always have a sunset. The pastel sunset easing over the mountains was enough to make the air feel still. I wish I could have bottled up this sunset to bring it home with me and in a way I did. In the form of a photograph.
