Montana's The Resort at Paws Up

Luxury Adventure Resorts: "Glamping," which is short for glamorous camping, is the coined term The Resort at Paws Up used in a press release to describe the pastoral boutique resort's great outdoors and luxury-latent vacation packages. The massive Montana ranch resort is on 37,000 of Mother Nature's finest acreage. There are abundant recreational activities year round.

Guest can opt to stay in one of 18 luxury guesthouses or camp out in splendor at Tent City. Each guesthouse provides a kitchen, a hot tub, a fireplace, and laundry facilities. The largest of the quarters comfortably accommodates eight visitors. Various in-room spa treatments also are available.

Tent City is a seasonal "soft" camping experience that runs from late May to late September. Personal butlers are there to service six oversize safari-style tents that have king-size feather beds, furniture, rugs, and electricity. Tent City has a dining pavilion, a spa tent, and six luxury baths with keys. Tent City has been fully booked each year it has been open, so planning well in advance is recommended. The pampered roughing is offered for approximately $600 to $700 per day.

There are biking and hiking trails, equestrian paths, rivers, lakes, and ATV areas at Paws Up. The six rivers on the premises put anglers in fly-fishing Utopia. Blackfoot River-related excursions include a four-hour trip down the famous waterway and a stimulating downstream-kayaking trip, where guest get up close and personal with rocks, boulders, rapids, pools and other natural sights for an exhilarating adventure. Spend a day on a tranquil canoe cruises or an adrenaline-surging whitewater rafting tour.

Two types of ATV tours, an easy rider and a hard rider, are on the activity schedule too. Winter-season activities include cross-country skiing, sleigh rides, dog-sled riding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice skating. There is even a scenic golf course that is less than 20 minutes away. Special activities for children are offered year round too.

Guests can enjoy outdoor barbecues one day and then have a five-star gourmet meal the next day at Pomp, the resort's restaurant. Pomp also has an excellent wine cellar. There also is the Tank & Trough, which is another onsite restaurant with a casual atmosphere.

Paws Up is a member of the highly regarded and valued Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Experience the Rocky Mountain way as lavishly or ruggedly as the mood strikes. It is two thumbs up for The Resort at Paws Up.

For LxM James Rothaar