If you have never been to Montana, (or even if you have!), the one thing that I know for sure is that Montana is ALL about the mountains! We chose to drive to Montana via North Dakota. We went from vast plains to the Badlands of North Dakota, through the foothills and on to the gorgeous majestic beauties of the Montana Rockies.
This photo was taken at the West Glacier entrance at the Glacier National Park. https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm What a gorgeous place! It was February when we visited the park so there was limited access to the park. Even so, we found gorgeous photo opportunities around almost every bend in the road (We drove on Going-to-the-Sun Road).
This photo is of Lake McDonald through the trees. Even in winter, it’s a sight to be seen for sure!
Some roads were simply impassable though… unless you have a plow on the front of your truck.
One last view…. Okay, onward. On our way back, we stopped at a restaurant in Kalispell to shake off the chill and fill our bellies. What a find!
http://www.jagzrestaurant.com/ The cuisine at this establishment borders on Divine!
I started with fresh mushrooms sautéed in garlic-sherry butter sauce. It tastes even better than it looks.
For my meal I chose the exotic Mixed Grill, made up of Pan-seared Quail, Buffalo Filet Mignon, and Duckling Breast. The duck was my absolute favorite with the sun-dried cherry sauce. Delectable! I will definitely eat there again someday.
We decided to do a little sight-seeing in downtown Missoula. Missoula is such a friendly place. Everyone we passed on the sidewalk said hello or smiled. It’s an eclectic place with plenty of yoga studios and quirky shops right along side some gorgeous historic buildings.
This is the old Train Depot taken at night… it is very well-lit and you can see it from the highway.
On our walk, we came across this walking bridge in Jacobs Island Park. People hang locks on the fencing to symbolize their commitment to each other. The heart lock was my favorite.
I came across a saying on the bridge that speaks to my adventurous spirit… Don’t Just Be… LIVE.
While wandering through Missoula, we directed to a restaurant for brunch by one of the locals, promising exquisite cuisine. We would have never found it on our own. It is in the basement of a building and our only clue to the entrance was a sign on the sidewalk. The interior, however was a breathtakingly beautiful mix between classic and modern design.
We had the whole restaurant to ourselves as we got there right before closing. They were gracious hosts and invited us to stay and eat anyways. The brunch that I ate at Scotty’s Table http://scottystable.net/ was absolutely the most phenomenal brunch I have EVER eaten in my life.
I chose the Shakshuka, which is two poached eggs with caramelized onions, tomatoes, roasted peppers, kale, feta cheese and cilantro with yummy spices. After telling them that I have celiac and can not have the toast, they surprised me by bringing gluten-free toast with my meal. I paired this meal with a glass of delicious Sauvignon Blanc. Scrumptious!
More explorations…
Neat murals on one of the buildings of Historic Missoula.
After a day of walking the town, we stopped to get a new tattoo at Bound By Glory Tattoo.
http://www.boundbyglorytattoo.com/#! Friendly artists, talented work! Here’s mine:
It’s a Leo Zodiac sign turned into a black cat. Cute, right?
By the time we were done here, we were ready for our hotel room, some pizza, and some Hallmark movies. Two out of three isn’t bad…
Much to my delight, MacKenzie River Pizza Company had gluten-free, corn-free pizza! It has been YEARS since I’ve been able to find a restaurant that made a gluten free pizza without corn in the flour. I chose the Fresh Tomato and Basil Pizza. http://www.mackenzieriverpizza.com/eat-missoula-south/
All in all, it was a magnificent trip and a Grand Adventure. Thank you, Montana for your hospitality and your kindness. ❤
journeysofawildchild 