Five unique camping experiences in Montana for travelers near and far.

There are a wide number of places to plant your stakes in Montana. But for those looking for something a little out of the ordinary for their next trip, these Montana camping experiences are truly one-of-a-kind. Ranging from luxurious glamping to rustic and remote stays in a tipi or yurt, many of these locations are all-inclusive, allowing travelers to book a visit without the hassles of packing for an outdoor stay.
 

GLAMPING

Combining beautiful views of nature, the thrill of outdoor adventure, and the accommodations of a 5-star hotel, glamping is a new and exciting trend in travel. For those looking to spend a night in the pristine backcountry without sacrificing comfort, Montana offers a number of glamping options. Yellowstone Under Canvas offers luxurious camping options just outside of Yellowstone National Park's entrance. Enjoy the sights of one of the most beautiful places on earth before returning to a comfortable safari-style tent to rest your head. If you're looking for a similar experience in Glacier National Park, Glacier Under Canvas lets you rough it in style among the sweeping mountains and the Crown of the Continent rushing waterfalls. Or book a stay at The Resort at Paws Up, one of Montana's luxury accommodations. Offering an enchanting escape into the tranquility and magnificence of Montana, this working cattle ranch pampers visitors with meals prepared by James Beard Award winning chefs, a variety of exciting outdoor activities, and a number of elegant cabins and glamping tents to choose from. No matter where you decide to stay, glamping on a summer night in Montana is an unforgettable experience.
 

MONTANA TREEHOUSES

For anyone who ever wanted a treehouse as a kid, Montana has two luxury treehouse resorts in the Whitefish area that will make dreams come true. Available for rent in late summer of 2017, Montana Treehouse Retreat will offer treehouse vacation rentals, providing rustic and luxurious accommodations high in the treetops outside of Whitefish. Founders Kati and Darin Robison built their first treehouse with the team from the DIY Network show, The Treehouse Guys.

The Snow Bear Chalets offers three luxury treehouses and incredible mountain views. Located on the slopes of Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort, these chalets combine privacy, beauty, and comfort for the perfect romantic getaway or outdoor family adventure. In the winter, visitors can head out the door and onto the ski slopes in under a minute, while the summer offers a variety of activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and zip lining. After a day on the mountain, travelers can return home to enjoy the elegant freestanding fireplace, relaxing hot tub, and unmatched view of Whitefish Mountain right outside the door. This stay is sure to excite both the young and the young at heart.
 

SOMERS YURT

Located on the rolling hillside of Breezy Point, overlooking Flathead Lake, Somers Yurt is a beautiful place to rest your head. Similar to glamping, Somers Yurt offers an outdoor experience with all the comforts of a hotel. Visitors can grab their beach towels and head down to the shores of Flathead Lake for a day on the waterfront before returning to their yurt, complete with a cozy queen bed, couch, and stocked refrigerator.

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COUGAR PEAK LOOKOUT

Sitting 6,964 feet high in the Cabinet Mountains, Cougar Peak Lookout was once used by park rangers to spot potential wildfires. This comfortable cabin can accommodate up to four people. Visitors can get a one-of-a-kind view of the Cabinet Mountains, Lolo National Forest, and Coeur d'Alene Mountains right from bed. Take a day hike along the Cougar Peak trail to Clark Fork River before returning to your private, scenic cabin.

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LODGEPOLE GALLERY & TIPI VILLAGE

Located in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Lodgepole Gallery displays a collection of contemporary and traditional Native American fine art from Northern Plains Indian artists. The gallery also hosts a tipi camp where visitors can experience traditional Native American lodging. The tipi village consists of individual tipis for rent, a communal fire that’s lit every night, a guest and dining lounge, and a shower house. This is the perfect way to spend a night under the stars while being immersed in the culture of Montana’s Blackfeet tribe. Visitors resting their heads for the night may even hear the coyotes howl in the distance.

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THE SHIRE OF MONTANA

Love The Lord of the Rings? The Shire of Montana allows visitors to play hobbit for a day with this luxury cabin patterned after the Hobbit houses from J.R.R. Tolkien’s magical world. Named as one of the 10 best movie-themed hotels in the world by The List Love and featured in The New York Times, USA Today, and more, this cabin recreates The Shire in the Cabinet Mountains of Montana. Complete with a king-size bed, designer kitchen, and all of the magic one would expect from a Tolkien-inspired cabin, The Shire of Montana turns fantasy into reality.

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NEVADA CITY HOTEL & CABINS

Do you dare sleep in a ghost town? Once a bustling city, the Nevada City ghost town now sits as a relic of Montana's gold rush era. This restored settlement serves as a large historical museum for everyone interested in taking a step back in time. Those looking to stay the night in Nevada City can book a room at Nevada City Hotel. Along with a collection of cabins, the hotel displays a variety of antiques from the town's rich past. Explore this historic town and then head back to your room to rest your head with the ghosts.

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LUXURY RAILCAR AT IZAAK WALTON INN

Izaak Walton Inn is a family-owned resort on the border of Glacier National Park. This landmark inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers more than 70 years of history. In addition to the main lodge and private cabins, visitors looking for a kid-friendly stay can also book one of the inn's converted railcars – renovated cabooses and a locomotive from real trains that traveled through Montana years before. Each railcar includes a comfortable king or queen sized bed, a gas fireplace, and a beautiful view of the mountains.

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SHEPHERD’S COVERED WAGON

Located in the remote town of Virgelle along the Missouri River, Virgelle Merc Antiques & Accommodations is a bed and breakfast and antique store. Along with a number of comfortable rooms and cabins, visitors can choose to stay in a shepherd's covered wagon. This interesting lodging offers a queen sized bed and the light of a single gas lamp. This piece of Montana's history is as unique as it gets.

My father died in April. Because I work for a photography store, I took on creating his photo memorial. Well, actually, I took it on because I wanted to spend time sorting through images and memories, though emotionally I can only handle a bit at a time. I have a lot of images to sort: I’m 63. My Dad was 97. 
 

One of the first steps for me was to refresh my memory of what to consider in creating a memorial slide show and book. Here’s some tips shared by a colleague who has a lot of experience in creating memorials. 

To create visual memorials, choose a variety of images including wide shots and close ups. As you make selections, remember it's easier to watch a show or look at a book when the subjects aren’t always facing the same direction (i.e. some photos have the subject looking left to right and others are right to left.) Keep this in mind when you put the pictures in order as well.  
 

When selecting, look for interesting details in photos that are otherwise cluttered or busy. You can improve the image by cropping to highlight those details. Cropping an image allows part of the image to represent the complete idea, letting a detail stand in for the rest.  
 

Some images are more complex than others, so consider things like, how many faces are in a picture when timing a slide show.  Is the image on the screen long enough to identify all of the people or take in all the essential details in the picture? Give yourself permission to make exceptions to the “3 seconds each” mindset.  

Keep titles and transitions between images subtle and let the pictures be the star of your show.   
 

If you include text with the images, keep it concise and in sync with the images. Slide shows tell a visual story, less can be more with written copy. Evoke and document. When designing a book, use the same process and consider how each image moves a story forward, page by page just like a frame by frame movie. 
 

Digital images tip- work your way through them a bit at a time. Consider printing an index sheet with a thumbnail of each digital image, so when you need a photo, you can actually find it. Full-service photography stores can print and bind index sheets so they look like books themselves. I have several and I love them. Though my images are not in any particular order, other than loosely by year, I can easily find what I’m looking for. And I have fun browsing so many other memories.  Without the index book, these images would all be hiding in digital form. 
 

The hardest part about making a photo memorial? Getting to it and with it. I spent most of May sorting photos and now? Now I actually have to find the courage to start, to immerse myself. So my last tip: Don’t wait until you are up against a deadline to organize images. When emotions overwhelm, this task can be excruciating. 
 

Photos make one of the most potent memoirs you can create to celebrate and honor someone you love, their achievements, life and your lives together. I’m looking forward to a finished project I can be proud of sharing.

Jenna Caplette migrated from California to Montana in the early 1970s, first living on the Crow Indian reservation. A Healing Arts Practitioner, she owns Bozeman BodyTalk & Integrative Healthcare. For relaxation, she reads novels and walks the trails around Bozeman with her four-legged-companion. Oh, and sometimes she manages to sit down and write.