This past Memorial Day, I was invited to Paws Up Resort in Greenough Montana for a three-day getaway, highlighting Montana master chefs.  I was thrilled to be going, and I was curious as to how I would spend three days without shopping.  Then I remembered cowboy boots – and I have to say shopping for custom boots was amazing:  picking out colors, types of leather, toe designs – you name it.  The cowboy boots were only one of the highlights of the weekend, however.  I had a fantastic time horseback riding, shooting sporting clays, and I even sighted (from a comfortable distance) a Montana Grizzly bear.  All of these activities were interspersed with chances to sample unbelievable food. The weekend brought out world-class chefs, brewers, wine makers, distillers, and smokologists.  Everything was grilled or smoked and expertly paired with wine or other spirits. 

Since it opened three years ago, Paws Up has continued to set the standard for Western glamping, and as soon as I saw the luxury tents, I felt like a free-spirited adventurer; dare I say a pioneer  – albeit one looking for in-tent massages and spa tubs.  Paws Up is no dude ranch however; it is everything good about camping – gathering around a fire, countless opportunities to be outdoors and to learn new skills, camaraderie, carefree days, and even movie night in the barn.  Add to this some serious luxury in the form of master chefs, farm-to-table cuisine, spa treatments, wine pairings, wondrous accommodations, and an incredibly knowledgeable and attentive staff. 

The Master Grillers weekend gave me a wonderful taste of Paws Up cuisine, and I look forward to heading out there this October for their Upper Crust Weekend – a three-day getaway with pie guru Kate McDermott.