On The 11 Day Of Christmas, I Asked For This Gift....

Stay north of Yellowstone Park on the Gallatin Gateway at the 320 Guest Ranch in southern Montana for 4 days.

We had planned on taking this trip this past summer, but you know, when you farm/run livestock and that's what most of your paycheck comes from, it can plan (or in this case, cancel) your trip at any time.  All the wet weather we had made for a feedlot that wasn't at capacity for a while and then we had to haul in clay. 

I'm sure hoping that with fruit and vegetable money, a good lamb crop, and a great tax return, we may just be able to go out there. 

We would take all the kids and our friend as an adult babysitter to help us, that way no more missing the little kids...they will be there with us.   

It was so cool that we would be going somewhere that we'd never been before and there is so much history.  None of us have ever been to Montana.  What a thrill!  There's also many stops along the way too.  It would just be a blast!

Back to the 320.  What an amazing place.  AND affordable.  Believe me....I've checked.  There is some unimaginably great places out there, but so expensive....some were to the tune of $10,000 for 11 of us.  I know...I thought that place maybe screwed up...nope. 

This place is so beautiful....here's their website:   http://www.320ranch.com/home.php

Here's a blurb from their site:

"This means guests can pick and choose from various seasonal activities like trail rides, Western style barbecues, fly fishing on the Gallatin (right on the property), and rafting. In the winter, their popular sleigh ride is always a hit for families, as well as dog sledding and nordic skiing. New this year, 320 introduced free shuttle rides to and from their restaurant, as well as free rides for guests up to the ski hill and to other nearby restaurants.

This hospitality is a throwback to the time when Dr. Caroline McGill, the first woman doctor in Montana, purchased the property and used it as a resting place for patients. McGill worked and died there, and as she aged, she donated most of the items from the ranch to the McGill Museum in Bozeman (now Museum of the Rockies).

The 320 team is made up of 20 winter staff, and 50 in summer. Providing staff housing creates “an informal, professional and relaxed environment,” said Richardson. “We want guests to feel like they are coming to a relative’s home they haven’t seen in awhile.” -From their website

Plan a family trip will ya!?!

My fun Christmas memory is from last year, when we wrapped up the paper for Ron and Cody's turkey hunt in a 12 pack of Mountain Dew...which by they way Big D despises giving pop for Christmas.  Boy was he sure surprised!

My favorite charity of the day is:  McCrossan Boy's Ranch out of South Dakota  http://www.mccrossan.org/

"McCrossan Boys Ranch is a private non-profit organization that reaches out to troubled boys between the ages of nine to twenty who have experienced conflict in their lives. By working on values, goals, education and skills we prepare our boys to live a balanced life outside the Ranch. We also provide the boys with one-on-one counseling as well as specialized educational services so they can heal and grow intellectually.

For more than 55 years, McCrossan Boys Ranch has changed the lives of many young boys. It is our goal to continue that success of providing New Hope for a Better Life for many, many years to come."  From their website

Sincerely,

A Hopeful Fairchild Farmgirl