Looking Forward to Beach Time!

Here are a few pictures from some trips we took to the beach last year. To say that I'm looking forward to this years beach time would be an understatement. I love everything about the beach...the sun, the sand, the ocean smell and breeze. Did I mention the sand?

When in Missoula

Missoula, Montana is one of my very favorite places to visit. My husband's grandmother was born and raised there and so the first several years of our marriage we went every summer or fall. There is so much to do there and during this time of year I always find myself longing to take a road-trip.

Here are some of my favorite things to do when in Missoula or the surrounding areas:

Places to Eat

Paul's Pancake Parlor: All I have to say is the breakfast there is absolutely delicious! We've been a few times and it is a great place to do breakfast or brunch. This time I ordered the Veggie Hash browns (mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, and cheese, sitting atop a pile of hash browns) and it came with french toast too!

The Montana Club Each time I've visited I have tried something new and can honestly say I've never had a meal that I didn't like. I especially love the salmon. The restaurant is lodge-style and it's fun to see all of the animals mounted on the walls around the room, and pictures of historical Montana events hanging around the room. My favorite stuffed animal is the grizzly bear.

Bob Marshall's Biga Pizza serves A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and very interesting pizza. My favorite pizza there is called the Flathead Cherry. It had homemade sausage, cherry chutney, smoked gouda, mozzarella, garlic oil and parsley. We also tried the Sweet Potato Bacon and Maple Chipotle pizza that had local bacon, caramelized sweet potatoes, toasted hazelnuts, olive oil, mozzarella and a maple-chipotle drizzle. The Mediterranean Salad is delicious too.  We've eaten in and have also gotten it to go and both were very pleasant experiences. Be prepared for a small wait if you go when it is busy because the restaurant is pretty small. 

Ekstrom's Stage Station   The restaurant is located in historic homesteader cabins and they serve traditional ranch meals. There is a huge variety including watermelon-pickles and huckleberry pie. I've only been there once but it was good enough to return. 

The Big Dipper has been one of our favorite places for years. We discovered this place on my first trip to Missoula and I highly recommend stopping there if you are ever in town. Even Sunset Magazine recommends stopping there, as do the 40+ people we waited in line with on a rather chilly night at 9:30 p.m.  IT IS GOOD! My favorite flavor is White Mint Oreo. I always get the Little Dipper which includes a huge spoonful of chocolate fudge in the bottom of the bowl, a fairly large scoop of ice cream, more chocolate fudge, a  few spoonfuls of nuts, whipped cream and a cherry on top. My husband loves their huckleberry shake. 

Entertainment

The Book Exchange: I could literally spend hours in this bookstore! It is the best new/used bookstore I have ever been too and I spend months collecting books to trade-in for store credit. They sell bargain books (new and used) and a lot of Montana authors. Many of the books are dirt cheap and another exciting aspect is that you never know what you're going to find, as the turnover of inventory is huge.

A Carousel for Missoula: It opened in 1995 and was carved by hand by a local cabinet maker and is very exquisite in the details. My favorite pony is named Paint. Not only is the carousel pretty, there is also an awesome game that is part of the ride. There is a big dragon mounted atop the admission gate, and the mouth is filled with plastic rings. There is a special brass ring hidden among the others, and the lucky rider who manages to snag it gets a free ride! There is a fun playground outside that our kids love to visit. 

Cycling is very fun in Missoula. There are lots of great trails and old paths to explore. There are several stores that rent bicycles on Main Street. 

Beautiful lakes and rivers abound. My husband's family used to have a yearly reunion at Seeley Lake which is gorgeous and not too cold at all. There is plenty of wildlife to look at too. 

Visit surrounding areas such as Whitefish. A few years ago we tried to go to Glacier National Park, only to have the government shut down happen a few days before we were supposed to be here. The drive from Missoula to Whitefish gives great views of the Mission Mountains. To get there you have to drive through the Kootenai Indian Reservation where there are several antique stores along the highway. 

We visited Whitefish during the off season so we were unable to ride to the gondola to the top of the mountain, but I am sure the views are incredible. We were there in the fall and Whitefish Lake was beautiful during that time of year. It sounds like a fun place to be in July as well because they shoot off fireworks over the lake. For one of the best slices of pie ever, stop in at Loula's and try the huckleberry. The Peach-Raspberry is really good too. They have a farmers market and a really cool toy store. 

Kalispell is also a fun place to visit if you need a place to stay for the night. While we were there we ate dinner at a place called Norm's News, which was an old fashioned diner that included a Soda Fountain, Candy Shop (over 400 + variety), and a ton of magazines. The food was typical for that sort of place, nothing gourmet but it definitely hit the spot.

My Favorite Old Family Photos

July is a fun month in the state of Utah. With the Independence Day at the beginning of the month and Pioneer Day on the 24th, it feels like we are sounded perpetually by fireworks and celebration. And it is so much fun! As a kid I always loved Pioneer Day because my neighborhood had a bicycle parade. All of the children got to decorate their bicycles and wear pioneer clothing which usually consisted of a bonnet and some sort of dress for the girls. I love that it is a holiday where we look back upon our ancestors and celebrate their lives and accomplishments. So in honor of Pioneer Day, here are some of my favorite photos from my family history. I love looking at old photos! 

My Great-Grandmother Alice with her first baby. Her head wrap looks like the turbands that are currently popular. 

 Alice preparing to go hunting.

 Photo shoot with her sister and brother-in-law.

 Polaroid "Selfie."

 Old fashioned photo booth with her sisters.

 Camping

 The summer before my Great-Grandmother passed away, I spent some time at her house looking at old photos. When I saw a bunch of photos of her on a motorcycle, I remember being shocked and exclaiming/asking: "Grandma, you were a biker babe!??"

 A photo of my Great-great-grandmother Sarah (Left on the front row) with her sisters. She travelled to Utah as a child during the Pioneer era. 

 My Great-Grandmother Alice (second from the left) with a few of her sisters.

 My Great-Great Grandmother Sarah. 

 My Great-Great Grandfather William. 

 William on a bike. 

 My Great-Grandma Alice throwing a snowball. 

 Bicycle Gang in SLC.

 A class photo of my grandmother in elementary school. I look a lot like her.

My grandmother with her siblings. She's the little one.  

 My Great-Grandma's (on the other side of the family) kitchen. 

 My Great-Grandma Jeanette. I never met her because she died several years before I was born.

 One of my great aunts. I love her outfit. So classic. 

 My Great Uncle wearing his Korean War Uniform, Great-Grandpa wearing his WWI uniform, my great-grandma, my Grandpa trying on his brother's uniform, and another Great-Uncle wearing his WWII uniform. 

 My Great-Uncle posing in front of the family's first car. 

 My Great-Great Grandmother and her mother (My Great-Great-Great Grandmother.) 

 My Grandpa in front of his stock car, lucky number 28. 

 My Great-Great Grandmother before she was married.

 My Great-Great Grandmother Sarah as a little girl. 

 My Great-Grandparents on a trip to California. I LOVE old vacation photos! 

 My Great Grandmother and her second husband preparing for a night out. 

 Awesome old car!

 My Great-Great Grandmother in her home. 

 My Great Uncle Ron in his Navy Uniform. 

 The home of my Great-Great Grandparents.

 One of my Great-Aunts in a washtub. 

 My Great-Great Grandfather.