Where to next?

I know you've been sitting on pins and needles just waiting for the big reveal of my next destination, so let me delay your waiting just a bit longer.

Let's start with a few clues...

My mom and I will be traveling to somewhere within this vicinty (and no, it's not Arlington even though there is a big red tack marking it's location):

And we could be staying in a room at a lodge that has a guest sitting area that looks like this:

But instead, we'll be staying on the same property, but in more modest accomodations that look like this:

And we'll be sharing the property with a few crazy cats, like this one:

And a few other wild ones, like this guy:

I know, you just can't stand it any longer, can you?  Where could we possibly be going?!  Well, we're headed to the great big, well known town of Glen Rose, TX and we'll be staying two nights at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and Safari Camp.  It's gonna be great!  (I'm just hoping it's not mating season cause I'd rather not be lulled to sleep by the sound of rhinos making baby rhinos.)

Besides viewing the animals and taking an early morning feeding tour, we have one other really exciting stop that is unique to Glen Rose, but I'm keeping it all under wraps till after the trip. 

Have YOU ever been to Glen Rose, TX?  Any suggestions on fun/unique things to do? 

Anticipation!

I'm doing a little happy dance over here.  Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo!  Ok, not really.  Because I don't dance.  I'm not necessarily fond of making myself look like a dork on purpose.  Unless, I'm dancing next to my husband and then I look like total awesomeness in comparison.  But, I digress...

My internal happy dance is due to the next best thing to actually going on vacation, and that is booking the vacation!  Oh, the anticipation.  You see, I do plenty of vacation planning over here, but most of it gets shut down by the hubs.  (If I was in charge of our finances, I'd probably shut most of it down too.)  So, when one of my trips actually hits the calendar, I am one happy girl.  I can start making an itinerary of all the things we are going to do and see and the places we'll stay.  And I just might even have to go shopping for a few new clothes.

This time I'm leaving the hubby and the kids behind and getting outa town with my mom.  She's been trying to plan a trip with me around the world for a few years now.  But, I'm a mom with two small children and a husband that travels and rarely has full-blown time off (there's always paperwork, emails, phone calls, projects, etc, etc), so this around-the-globe escapade she's dreaming of just hasn't fit in my schedule yet.  (I totally appreciate her efforts though.  I know she just wants to take me on an unforgettable trip before she gets too old to remember anything.)  So, for awhile now I've been trying to convince her that we don't need to fly internationally, or even domestically for that matter, to take a great trip that we will both love.  So next month we're going to hop in the car for a easy 4 hour drive to stay a little closer to home and just take 3 days of rest and relaxation.

This is me and my next travelin' buddy.

(She promises I'm not adopted...we just don't look anything alike.)

I'm not gonna tell ya where we're heading just yet. We'll save that for later.  But I can tell you that we are staying in TX and this is no run-of-the-mill hotel.  We are getting adventurous!  And when I booked our first two nights stay (the 3rd night will be run-of-the-mill) the lady warned me, "Just in case you didn't know, it gets loud at night."  (And that's a good thing.)

Any guess as to what type of place or where we will be staying?

IDAHO ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANCH (IRMR)

Stanley, Idaho

www.idahorocky.com

It's time to think outside the box when it comes to vacation planning!  I'm pretty sure Stanley, Idaho hasn't made your top 10 list for vacation destinations, but by the time I'm done with you here, I'm convinced you'll be dreaming of waking up to the most gorgeous mountain peak views, trekking across miles of unspoiled land, then soaking those tired muscles in a natural hot spring, or simply sitting on the front porch breathing the fresh mountain air.

View of the Lodge (center) and one of 8 cabins (left) from across the pond.

WHATCHA GONNA THINK: Oh, I'll tell ya what you're gonna think and it's going to be nothing short of "I have seriously died and gone to heaven!".  Once we were driving up the 3/4 mile dirt drive to the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch lodge and I looked back over my shoulder at the incredible view of the Sawtooth Mountains, I realized that those pictures on the website are even more fabulous in real life then they are in the virtual world.  And then we passed the stocked trout pond and saw fish jumping, just waiting for us to stick a hook in 'em. And then we caught a glimpse of the 8 cabins book-ending the front porch of the lodge and I realized, "This is exactly what I hoped it would be!".  We had officially arrived in paradise.  Be forewarned...you won't want to go home.

Sun setting on drive up to the Lodge.

WHERE YA GONNA SLEEP:  Each night we rested our heads in this quaint little lodge room located just down the hall from the lodge itself.

When we first opened the door to our room, we were immediately drawn to the two chairs that faced the window and offered the same inviting view as the lodge front porch.  The bedding was extra comfy and the atmosphere, with the lodgy furnishings and architecture, set the tone for our mountain retreat.  Although the bathroom space was tight, it had all the amenities.  After spending the first night here and not wanting for anything, we didn't think it could get any better.  But, due to some crazy circumstances, we were given the opportunity to stay one night in one of the ranch cabins.  And what a treat that was!  The cabin came with all the same amenities, but with many extras.  The room itself and bathroom were much larger (even the potty had its own little room...just case it's important to you to do your business without an audience).  There was a bathtub and extra large shower.  And...there was a fireplace.  Ahhh.

Despite how wonderful the cabin was, had we never seen it we wouldn't have known what we were missing. And with that said, we were perfectly happy to return to our cozy lodge room for the rest of our stay.

WHATCHA GONNA DO: Where do I start, friends?  Where. Do. I. Start?!  'Cause you can do it all or do nothing at all and your trip will be a complete success.  This is the land of the outdoorsman (or woman for that matter) and if you enjoy being one with nature and all its beauty, you won't lack for anything in this part of the country.  But, it's also a respite for the weary.  A place to completely relax and allow the glory of the earth to recharge your mind and invigorate your soul.  Allow me to share a few of our adventures and fill you in on the ones we'll be sure to do next time (because I can promise there will be a next time).

HIKING - I can't believe I'm about to say this, but we only went on one hike. *gasp!*  Hiking opportunities abound in the area ranging from easy family hikes to difficult climbs with 2700 feet of elevation gain over just a few miles.  Approximately 19 well marked and mapped trails are available in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. So many to choose from and so many awesome views to take in and all we did was one. But, this is serious hiking, folks.  I mean, like heart-beating-out-of-your-chest and lungs-screaming-for-air hiking, but the struggle to the top is what truly makes your accomplishment so much more satisfying. And I have other excuses for only taking one hike, like how we were offering to join in a search and rescue for a fellow lodger lost overnight on a mountain bike (lesson learned by that city slicker: be prepared and never underestimate mother nature!).

Fourth of July Lake was the hike that was recommended to us by the lodge manager at IRMR after discussing our abilities and requests for awesome scenery. (The staff at IRMR is extremely knowledgable of the land and so helpful at assisting in planning your daily itinerary.)  So we set out on the trail full of energy and anticipation.  We trekked along a well maintained trail, mostly climbing a gradual uphill with heart rates racing.  Thankfully, we were distracted from our heavy breathing by butterflies flittering by, wild flowers bursting with color, and streams flowing wildly by.  And before we knew it, we had arrived, just a mile and a half up the trail at the gorgeous Fourth of July Lake surrounded by the White Cloud Mountains.  Now this is solitude! We passed only one other couple on the trail and saw only one other at the lake. We took in all the views and set up the self-timer on the camera to take a cute little picture of us.

Forth of July Lake

And then...I had this brilliant idea!  We were gonna make it to the top!!  "The ultimate hike with breathtaking views", as stated by Erica (the lodge manager).  The hubby wasn't thrilled, but he obliged and so we set off on one of the greatest hikes we've ever done together.  It was another mile nearly straight up the mountain (but still ranked as only a "moderate" hike, presumably due to well maintained trail and level terrain).  We huffed and puffed as we intentionally put one foot in front of the other on our way to the top, stopping for the occasional picture or at least for a little break to make sure that some oxygen was making it to our brains.  And just when we thought our little legs might give out on us...we reached the top. And all pain was dispelled by the awesomeness of the masterpiece that stood before us.  The Sawtooth Mountains on our left.  The White Cloud Mountains on our right.  Anne's Basin below us.  The majesty of the Lord all around us. It's hard to find words to describe the beauty.

The hubby catching his breath at the summit!

Anne's Basin.

We found a rock to sit on and ate our lunch listening only to the whisper of the wind 'cause there wasn't another soul around. We hadn't seen one person on this trail...until a head popped up from behind the rocks and an oxygen-deprived surfer dude on a mountain bike reached the summit next to us.  We chatted for a bit as he caught his breath, then off he went as we watched his precarious descent until he traveled so far he simply disappeared into the vastness of the wilderness. And then it was time for our descent, because what goes up...must come down. It wasn't but 25 yards down that mountain, with muscles screaming, that I came up with a truly BRILLIANT idea (the hubby emphatically agreed without hesitation), we were signing ourselves up for a massage!!

HORSEBACK RIDING - Now, I can admire the power and beauty of a horse all day long, buuuut I'd rather do it from a distance.  So, getting me on a horse is no easy feat, especially when you want to charge me a small fortune ($54.50 pp for 1.5 hr ride or $82.68 pp for 3 hr ride - both available for ages 8 and up. $32.70 pp for pony rides, under 7 yrs of age).  But, offer me a free hour and a half of riding after staying 4+ nights at IRMR and I just might put on a brave face and hop on.  And that's just what I did. The ride was gentle and each horse followed the horse hiney in front of it just as it's suppose to (well, except for my husband's horse).  We crossed a stream or two without difficulty (except for my husband and his horse) and everyone enjoyed the quiet, leisurely ride (except for my husband).  You see, his horse didn't want to play along that day.  He had a mind of his own and when he had had enough of my husband sticking his heals in the horse's side, that horse decided he was going to do something about it.  He reared his head, raised up on his hind legs and let out a loud whiney. Thankfully, my husband is a good ole Texas boy so he channeled his inner-cowboy, leaned into that horse's neck, and hung on for dear life.  Eventually he settled the horse, and himself, after a brief hair-raising experience, but that horse was still being cranky.  Kudos to our guide for having the foresight to switch her horse with my husband's and we all finished the ride with only slightly elevated blood pressure.  And next time, I won't sign off on the form stating I'm too cool to wear a helmet.  I'll put my pride and fashion sense aside and protect my noggin...just in case. You should too.

That's my husband riding in the front. He was like the bad kid in class 

who had to go to the front and sit by the teacher. LOL!

Despite that memorable experience, it should be noted that our overall experience was very positive.  The guides and wranglers were extremely pleasant and knowledgable.  They purposefully partnered each rider with a horse and skillfully led us on a ride we will not soon forget. If our runners knees and hips didn't feel like they were 80 years old at the end of the ride, we would certainly be joining them again.

HOT SPRING FED POOL - Nothing says relaxation like kicking back in a swimming pool fed by a natural hot spring that overlooks the Salmon River as the sun paints the evening sky.  I thought I was going to be disappointed that this wasn't a "real" hot spring.  As in, one that springs right out of the ground and into a river.  But a local informed me that those types of hot springs are always crowded and often you are shoulder to shoulder with more PDA than you'd like to be a part of.  And with that info under my belt I was perfectly content swimming in the private IRMR pool where the 94-105 degree (F) water is piped in from the hot spring a few 100 yards away. We walked the mile from the lodge to the pool (it sits on the "lower ranch" on the other side of the highway) on Monday evening following the Dutch-Oven cookout as we were in serious need of burning a few calories after that meal.  Clean, spacious changing rooms and restrooms were available near the pool.  Towels were also provided.  With just a bit of a chill in the evening air, we slipped into the pool and had it all to ourselves for over an hour.  Just as I was about ready to call it a night, a few horses came galloping across the pasture below the pool for feeding time so we stayed just a few more minutes.  And those few minutes turned into a good half hour because nearly two dozen horses in all had been let loose to roam and graze for the evening.  It was a spectacular sight!

*Pool is drained and cleaned weekly. Good to know.

It's the best photo we could take since we had to use the self-timer.  
We didn't complain since we had the place to ourselves.

This is the horse pasture just below the pool.  Can you see all the horsies?!

FRONT PORCH SITTIN' - In nearly any other location, it would be ABSURD to list "front porch sittin" as an actual recommended activity.  But if there is any place where you want to sit back in a rocking chair, kick up your heels, grab a big ole glass of ice tea (or indulge in a complimentary adult beverage during appetizer hour), and allow the beauty of the Lord's creation to mesmerize you...it's right here at IRMR.  It's the perfect spot to regroup with your travel companions after an eventful day, cuddle up with your loved one and a great book, or share your latest adventure with new found friends. The front porch of the lodge of course boasts a truly unforgettable panorama of the Sawtooth peaks, but also overlooks the sprawling front lawn of the property.  When children were not partaking in evening games led by a cheerful staff member, it was here we found chipmunks and bunnies playfully scurrying about.  And one morning, we watched as a few others took part in a free fly-fishing casting clinic held on the front lawn that prepared them to not let the "big one" get away.  On the porch there was always an endless supply of water, lemonade, and ice tea and when the evening chill set in and we hadn't gotten enough of those Sawtooth beauties, we grabbed one of many fleece blankets provided and snuggled up for a little while longer and enjoyed the view.

How inviting is THIS?!

FISHING - On the property, just a few yards below the front steps of the lodge, sits the catch-and-release ranch pond.  It's such a tranquil spot.  We grabbed a free-to-use fishing pole and dipped our lines in the water.  Unfortunately, we learned the hard way why it's call "fishing" and not "catching".  Fish were jumping all around us but we had no luck at hooking one.  A little tip I received from a ranch staffer but didn't have a chance to try myself...the fish bite on flies and not on spinners.  He suggested purchasing a couple cheap flies at the grocery store in town and giving those a try.  Seems that's the trick.

Didn't get one bite, but sometimes it's just about the experience.  

Of course there is some serious fly-fishing to be had in the area as well.  IRMR actually has Salmon River access on the property if you know what you're doing and want to go it alone (fishing license required).  But, if you'll need a little more instruction and guidance, a staffer at the ranch can suggest an outfitter to hook you up with a guide.

So maybe we're not actually fishing, 

but this is the Salmon River right on the ranch property.

MOUNTAIN BIKING - We decided to pass on the mountain biking this go 'round as we were plenty "saddle sore" after the horseback riding.  But, we did witness several other guests taking advantage of the free-to-use bikes and helmets made available by IRMR.  Several trails begin right on the ranch property with lots of room to roam.

FISH HATCHERY - The Sawtooth Fish Hatchery, located just a couple miles down the highway from IRMR, traps, spawns, and raises salmon each year to release into Idaho waters.  The hubby and I squeezed in a quick trip at the end of one day and we were able to check out the visitor center and thousands of adult salmon in holding ponds (pretty cool!).  What I wish we would have known about was the fact that there are tours offered everyday at 1:30pm. And if you show up at 9am you can check out the traps from the Salmon River being emptied out.  If the kiddos happen to be tagging along, there is a kid's fishing pond where the whole family can catch Rainbow Trout.

RED FISH LAKE - This beautiful lake sits just a few miles from the lodge with the Sawtooths as a gorgeous backdrop.  It's an outdoor enthusiast's playground...with quite a crowd. This is a serious hotspot for families.  The day we arrived it was quite chilly and windy, so we just took a short walk around and checked out the marina where we found several rentals available, including: motorboats, canoes, kayaks, pontoon boats and more.  It's also a haven for swimming, hiking, biking, climbing, riding, and photography.  Lots to do here...if you don't mind a little company.

WHATCHA GONNA EAT: Probably way more than we ever should have eaten, but it was justified by all the hiking and biking.  So my advice is...EAT YOUR HEART OUT!  We seriously had a hard time stopping ourselves. (Well, I did at least.  The hubby has incredible will power when it comes to food.  Darn him.)

All meals were included in the price of our stay. I LOVED this.  No worrying about my entree selection based on the price.  So we went for it and ordered the Mahi Mahi...nothing was holding us back!

Breakfast was served in the lodge dining room where we found a toasty fire ready to take the chill out of the crisp morning air and smiling staffers mingling in order to assist with planning our daily adventures.

Lodge dining room.

On the menu awaited four standard hot selections and one featured selection that changed each morning. (I use the term "standard" very loosely here as nothing about this chef's creations are "standard". It just means they're the same everyday.)  I think I ate the Veggie Scramble every morning since I loved it so much.  (Veggie Scramble included grilled asparagus, leak, bell peppers, marinated tomatoes, and goat cheese all scrambled with eggs.  On the side was Idaho baby red potatoes.  To die for!!)  And to think I almost avoided it just because it started with "veggie".  Cold breakfast selections were also available buffet-style, including baked goods, breads and bagels, granola, fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, tea, coffee, and fresh squeezed orange juice.  Just a little tip: don't ask for the recipe of the scrumptious granola.  It's top secret.  Trust me.  I tried.

Not long after we ordered breakfast, we made a sandwich selection for lunch that was prepared during breakfast in order for us to take on our adventure for the day.  Lunch sacks were provided at the buffet to pack our own meal, along with apples and oranges, baggies of trail mix, extra large cookies, and juice boxes. Now if your mate baulks at drinking from a juice box like mine did because he's "not 4 years old anymore", don't worry.  After you've dragged him up to the top of a mountain at 10,000 feet, he'll drink out of a sippy cup if he has to.

He was more than happy to drink from his juice box at this point.

Dinner was served in the lodge dining room 4 nights a weeks with a different mouth-watering menu each night.  The 3 other nights, dinner was served buffet-style with one of the following themes: IRMR BBQ, Southwest Fajita BBQ, and Dutch Oven Cookout.  Four nights a week a local musician provided entertainment for our listening pleasure.

Take a peek at a sample menu from just one of the Country Fine Dining nights.  Just be careful not to drool on your computer.  This is some serious grub!

First Course

• Smoked Salmon Ricotta and Chive Wontons with mango sweet dipping sauce
• IRMR House Salad w/ local greens, parmesan crisp, grape tomatoes, radish, celery, dry cherries, and pumpkin seeds

Second Course

• Cast-iron seared Dakota Cornish Game Hen w/ Steens cane syrup, Oregon white cheddar creamy polenta and roasted broccolini
• Lava Lake Lamb Mixed Grill w/ local grilled apricot chutney, Rack of Lamb and Rosemary Sausage, Celery Root Mash, House Sauerkraut and White Wine Grained Mustard
• Honey Macadamia Crusted Alaskan King Salmon, Israeli Cous Cous and spinach salad w/ local leeks and preserved lemon

Dessert

• Lemon Chiffon Cheesecake w/ strawberry purée
• White Chocolate Pecan Brownie w/ house caramel ice cream

Alright, go ahead and wipe the drool off your chin.  Or just leave it there 'cause I've got one more sample menu for ya.  This is the menu from the Monday evening Dutch-Oven cookout.  This one is a special treat.  Two horses came racing up the gravel driveway, pulling a wagon, ready to pick us, and our fellow lodgers, up for a half mile ride to a meadow where dinner was to be served.

After we gorged ourselves on the most palette-pleasing food we had ever eaten, we could have probably afforded to shed a few calories with a walk back to the lodge. But why do that when our chariot awaited us? Besides, its gonna be a while before we ride in a horse-drawn wagon again.

Buffet set up for Dutch-Oven Cookout

Dutch-Oven Cookout Menu - No worries about making a decision...we got it all!

• Sage Braised Pork Shoulder w/ Calimyrna figs and apples
• Dutch Oven Beef Chuck Roast w/ fresh horseradish gremolata
• New Orleans BBQ White Gulf Shrimp
• Vermont White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese
• Baked Sweet Potatoes, caramelized onions and brown sugar
• Roasted Root Vegetables
• Roma Tomato Salad, Aged Balsalmic Vinegar, Red Onions
• Rustic Caesar Salad
• Campfire Smores
• Apple Ginger Cobbler, Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream

There's not a whole lot more that I can say, but "Umm Umm GOOD!".


WHAT'S IT GONNA COST YA: It's no steal, but when we considered all that was included in the price of our stay, along with the luxury we experienced, we felt like this was one heck of a deal!  Of course rates are subject to type of room, month of reservation, length of stay, and number and ages of guests in your party.  So I'll just tell you how we did it to give you a general idea.

The hubby and I stayed in a lodge room (least expensive), during July (peak season so most expensive time of year), for 4 nights (rate decreases after 4th night stay) so our rate was $344 a night.  We were charged 15% of our total stay for gratuity and of course 6% for sales tax and that was it.  No surprise fees whatsoever.

Now it may have seemed like a small fortune at first, but when we considered all that we got for the price...we were sold.  All meals were included!  Breakfast. Lunch. Appetizers. Dinner. Dessert. And drinks!  Other freebies included in the price: use of mountain bikes (and helmets of course); fishing poles for catch-and-release fishing in stocked trout pond; paddle boating on pond; use of hot spring pool; hour and a half of horseback riding with 4+ night stay; ping-pong and horseshoes; one hour fly-fishing casting clinic; childcare during dinner for ages 3-12 (occurs 3 nights a week. One night I watched as several little girls played lawn games and made crafts. By their squeals and laughter it was evident they were having a great time!)

We literally could have gotten away with spending NO extra money for activities on this trip.  We had that much fun just exploring the land and taking part in the freebies that were offered.  But when we got to the last day of our trip and had not spent a dime of our "fun money", we decided to splurge and made reservations for a couples massage.  Not a bad idea on my part.


WHO'S GONNA LOVE IT:

• Toddlers  (They are welcome but will probably hold you back from many activities you want to do.)
• School-Age kiddos - YES!
• Teenagers - YES!
• Parents - YES!
• Grandparents - YES!  
• Outdoor Enthusiasts - OH YES!
• Those traveling with a pet - NO PETS ALLOWED
• Divas needing a mall and cell phone coverage - NO  (Although it's probably exactly what she needs)

HOW YA GONNA GET THERE: Well, it's not the easiest place to get to (it's a hidden gem, it's suppose to be hard to get to!), but once we were winding our way along the breath-taking Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway (Hwy 21), the 3 hr drive from the Boise Airport didn't seem nearly as long as we thought it would (unless you are subject to car sickness, then it might be the longest ride of your life).  Along the drive we followed the river nearly the whole way, watching river-rafters traverse the roaring rapids.  As the roadway grooved through the steep foothills and thick forest, we caught glimpses of the Sawtooth Mountains and spotted campgrounds and fishing opportunities that dotted the route. It was truly magnificent!

WHAT MAKES 'EM SPECIAL:

• This was a true get-away from the stress and chaos of our regular life.  We were able to completely unplug as there were no TV's, radios, or phones.  Thankfully, cell phone coverage was available once we drove into the town of Stanley so we could call home to check on the kiddos.  And, I have to admit we did use the free wi-fi available in the lodge.  

• So much was included in the price of our stay it was pretty much like an all-inclusive resort.

• The views and the solitude of this land were simply breath-taking.  I'm still amazed that more people are not flocking to this part of the world.  But, I'm letting the secret out...you've got to get to Stanley, ID and Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch!

********************



Goodbye IRMR! You will be missed, but we promise to return one day.