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Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures


Fairfield Park Inn Montana: A Peaceful Stay Surrounded by Big Sky Beauty
Nestled in the scenic landscapes of Montana, Fairfield Park Inn offers travelers a relaxing retreat and road trip with easy access to nature, small-town charm, and unforgettable Big Sky views. It’s the perfect base for exploring Montana’s rugged beauty while enjoying comfort and convenience.

Christene Meyers
Oct 17, 20144 min read


Helena bed and breakfast offers history, pride, piano, family ties, fun and location
The Barrister Bed and Breakfast in Helena offers a warm, history filled stay in a stately mansion near the cathedral. BROTHER AND SISTER ACT MAKE THE BARRISTER B&B A HAPPY, HISTORIC HIT Beverages are available in the dining room, which sports a portrait of young Queen Elizabeth II. The Barrister takes its name from its owner's law career. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Special touches and an artful eye mark each Barrister guest room. THE BARRISTER B&B is th

Christene Meyers
Oct 14, 20145 min read
Dog loving writer discovers her happy disorder is genetic
Cookie with Nick and Nora on a walk in Davis, Calif., during which time she embraced her genetic dog disorder. ABIDING LOVE OF CANINES IS A LONG ESTABLISHED FAMILY TRAIT "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -- writer, photographer Roger Caras. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Cookie's mother, Ellen Nystul and her beloved Scottie, Jinx, in 1941 in Columbus, Montana. Jinx ate shoes, books and the legs off a piano

Christene Meyers
Oct 10, 20144 min read


Road Trip to the Tetons - Terrific autumn yields surprises, critters, quiet and, pardon the cliche, quality time!
IF YOU have not visited Grand Teton National Park in a while, or taken a day or two in Yellowstone or Glacier, get yourself there now if you're anywhere near! Prime fall colors, an abundance of birds and wildlife, and an absence of crowds make this my favorite "park time."

Christene Meyers
Oct 7, 20143 min read


Wapiti Valley Wild and wonderful offers adventure, romance, good food and a gorgeous get-away road trip
Wapiti Valley Wild and wonderful

Christene Meyers
Oct 3, 20144 min read


Jackson Hole Wyoming Travel Guide: Road Trip Fun, Western Charm & the Jackson Hole Playhouse Experience
A stop in Jackson, the heart of Jackson Hole, delivers the perfect mix of mountain scenery, Western charm, and lively entertainment. From strolling the iconic town square to enjoying a hilarious dinner show at the Jackson Hole Playhouse, it’s a road trip destination packed with unforgettable fun.

Cookie & Keller
Sep 30, 20143 min read


Livingston's Murray Hotel captures old west charm, adds contemporary luxury and fine food next door
The Murray's classic style includes nods to Montana and the west, with a contemporary flair. Elegance, comfort and western...

Christene Meyers
Sep 26, 20144 min read


Queen Mary turns 80 this week, and we're all invited to her birthday in Long Beach
Commodore Everette Hoard welcomes the public aboard the Queen Mary this Friday for an 80th birthday party. HAIL AND LONG LIVE THE LOVELY QUEEN MARY Guests still check in as they did decades ago, in a glamorous lobby. Aboard the Queen Mary, a sea gull may be attending Friday's party! HISTORIC OCEAN LINER HAS PROUD HISTORY, IMPRESSIVE ROSTER OF LINER-LOVING CELEBRITIES STORY BY CHRIST

Christene Meyers
Sep 23, 20144 min read


Montana autumn: Breathtaking Beartooths, stunning Tetons call
AUTUMN COMES TO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES OFFERING SPLENDID PHOTOS, SUNNY HIKING, FROST ON THE PUMPKIN BUT WARMTH IN OUR HEARTS At top, the Tetons are in full fall glory and in the Beartooths to the north, photographer Rick Cosgriffe takes aim on autumn. AUTUMN LEAVES BEGIN TO FALL, DAYS GROW SHORTER, SHUTTERBUGS TAKE AIM ON THE GLORIOUS CHANGING SEASON STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The road to High Chaparral, north of Nye, awaits fall's golden touch. IF, AS t

Christene Meyers
Sep 19, 20143 min read


Guess who's coming to dinner? Here are the bear facts
This Montana visitor may be a grizzly -- we can't quite see a hump. Several neighbors spotted him recently. The nearby Nye Church in Stillwater County, has had grizzlies in the yard and a grizzly is meandering the West Fork this week. HIGH CHAPARRAL, MONTANA, ATTRACTS WILD LIFE: LIONS (NO TIGERS), & BOUNTY OF BEARS AND DEER This bear is definitely a grizzly, as evidenced by the hump. He was photographed near Lake Louise in Canada. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE

Christene Meyers
Sep 16, 20143 min read


Red Lodge retreat: glorious haven and the Pollard's the place
HISTORIC HOTEL LURES VACATIONERS FOR A DAY, A WEEK OR A FINE MEAL The venerable Pollard, with the year's first snow, welcomes visitors from around the world. Below, a sampling of its atmosphere, where diners sip cocktails, and await the feast. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER RED LODGE – Since the Pollard Hotel began a serious spiffing up more than a decade ago, its inviting atmosphere continues to lure vacationers, locals and regulars for fine food and a s

Christene Meyers
Sep 12, 20143 min read


Sunlight Basin: Scenic highway climbs through fields of wildflowers, gorgeous rock formations
CHIEF JOSEPH HIGHWAY PROVIDES THRILLS, PANORAMIC VIEW OF SUNLIGHT BASIN AFTER CLIMB UP SPECTACULAR BEARTOOTH PASS The aptly named Sunlight Basin is aglow in autumn as the colors change and the air grows crisp and cool. Keller and Nick and Nora pause for a picnic with view near Sunlight Bridge. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER IMAGINE you'd never been to the northern Rockies. What would you expect? Stunning mountains, clouds out of a Hallmark card display,

Christene Meyers
Sep 9, 20143 min read


Cody, Wyoming Travel Guide: Wild West History & the Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Step into the Wild West in Cody, Wyoming -- where rodeos, frontier history, and the world-class Buffalo Bill Center of the West bring cowboy culture to life. Just east of Yellowstone, Cody blends adventure, heritage, and wide-open landscapes into one unforgettable destination.

Cookie & Keller
Sep 6, 20144 min read


Road trip - Reap the relaxing rewards of s with a few pointers
Road trip to the top of the world: last week, up the Beartooth Pass on the famed Cooke City Highway. John Steinbeck had Charley, and Keller has Nick and Nora, below. TRAVEL THE COUNTRY, SEE NEW TERRAIN, ENJOY SURPRISES, AS THE CAR IS YOUR COCOON! STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER JOHN STEINBECK described, when beginning a trip, that delightful sense of the unknown in his engaging "Travels With Charley." He said, “A journey is like marriage. The certain way t

Christene Meyers
Sep 2, 20144 min read


Hunter Peak Ranch Cody Wyoming reminds of homesteading days, a trip back in time
The ranch, located on the banks of the Clark's Fork River, provides a peaceful escape from the challenges of a busy life. A family-operation for over seventy years, the Cary's pride themselves in a well-kept and clean facility, amazing food, a relaxing atmosphere, and clients who return year after year, inviting their friends and family to join.

Christene Meyers
Aug 29, 20144 min read
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