Day 2 - Exploring Montana

On Saturday morning we woke up warm and cozy in the tent. We enjoyed cuddling kiddos in our sleeping bags and making biscuits and eggs in oranges - a breakfast I can remember from camping as a child. After a slow start we got organized and headed out to Bannack State Park the first territorial capital of Montana. We enjoyed exploring this former mining town and now well preserved ghost town.

Hotel Meade

The grand stairway in the hotel

Embrie and I exploring the hotel

Buck and Hyat in the hotel safe

Belly up to the bar in an old saloon. The wood work on that bar was amazing!

One of two churches

Montana's first jail was in Bannack

My boys in jail!


From the jail you can see the gallows so the prisoners could see what their fate may be...

The Mason's Lodge and Schoolhouse


After visiting Bannack we cooked hot dogs over the fire for lunch. Hyat loves cooking over the fire! Next, we headed to Elkhorn Hot Springs to soak and swim. We forgot to bring the camera in with us (and neither Buck or I were up for going out to get it), so we took a shot after swimming before loading back up in the truck. Our swim had pushed into nap time, so the kids were not super cooperative at this point!

We then drove from Elkhorn Hot Springs along the Wise River to Wise River, Divide, Melrose and back to camp. The drive was beautiful to say the least. The days adventures and drive made us think about my dad and his mom and the Montana tours they take when she comes to visit. We will definitely be recommending this loop for her next trip.

Heading back to camp was great because we were meeting friends Mary and Matt and their daughter Kennedy (I went to law school with Mary). To put it simply, this family is awesome. Mary and Matt are a riot and Kennedy is just a few month younger than Hyat. It was great to see Mary and her 7+ month pregnant belly. Kennedy and Hyat had an absolute blast hanging out together. They took walks, played in the dirt and puddles, and roasted marshmallows together. However, they LOVED playing in Mary and Matt's tent. We really enjoyed the two year giggles these to had together. We even enjoyed the two year squabbles because they were so dang cute together!

Hyat, Embrie, Mary and Kennedy

Cute little Kennedy

Hyat got to teach Kennedy how to roast marshmallows

Except occasionally they got a little distracted from the roasting part...

This was one of those days that I went to bed content, truly content knowing all of my blessings. I am blessed with an amazing family and am thankful for our little adventure of the day. It was also a joy to get to hang with Mary and her sweet family.