Planning the Ultimate Montana Ranch Vacation at The Resort at Paws Up

We kicked off our summer with a bang! We headed off to an incredible luxury family vacation at The Resort at Paws Up in Montana. It was our first time visiting the great state of Montana and we couldn’t wait to take in the breathtaking landscapes. We knew from the photos we’d seen when we planned our trip that it was going to be great, but we never guessed just how truly special Paws Up would be!  My whole family loved every minute on the Montana ranch. And, it was truly love at first sight for my 7 year old son Harry.

Best Montana Resorts - Well Traveled Kids

There’s a reason so many celebrities flock to Paws Up with kids to get away from it all. With 37,000 acres of Montana magic, it’s amazing to escape to big skies, fresh air and old-fashioned fun. It’s one of the best nature resorts. Now summer is almost over, and we still reminisce about our extraordinary stay at Paws Up almost every night when we are putting Harry to bed. He talks mostly about missing his favorite glamping butlers, riding his horse, axe throwing and remembering the beautiful rainbow he saw in the fields after dinner at Pomp one night. 

Montana Resorts - Well Traveled Kids

Because our Paws Up family vacation experience was so exceptional, I’m overcome with a desire to share every little detail of this magical place with friends and readers. All of the specifics of our trip came together so perfectly and pretty quickly. It was a team effort- I did my homework and the team at Paws Up really worked with me ahead of our stay to plan an amazing family adventure. I’m sharing with you in the sections below every nugget of how to plan your ultimate Montana ranch vacation at The Resort at Paws Up. I promise you will thank me later!

Looking to book a vacation at The Resort at Paws Up? Click Here to email Sarah for the Best rates and special Virtuoso perks including special resort credits!

Read on to start planning your own unforgettable Montana Ranch vacation at Paws Up.

Best Montana Vacation - Well Traveled Kids

Best of all Montana Resorts for Amazing Montana Adventures!

There’s a reason the Resort at Paws Up is known as The Last Great Place. It offers an unforgettable luxury Montana ranch experience that everyone will love. A stay at The Resort at Paws Up is perfect for families, couples, girls weekends, guys weekends, and relaxing solo getaways.

The Resort at Paws Up is a great destination for a multigenerational family vacation. The Resort at Paws Up is kid-friendly for children of all ages. I saw happy families enjoying their vacation with infants in strollers, toddlers and teenagers. During our stay, we observed lots of grandparents joining in all of the fun activities on multigenerational Paws Up family vacations. At camp one night, we even had one grandma boasting about doing the ropes course with her grandkids!

luxury glamping Paws Up - Well Traveled Kids

I was pleasantly surprised by the display of girl power at The Resort at Paws Up. We had women as our glamping butlers, our chef at camp was a woman, our fly fishing instructor was a woman and we met so many cool, rugged women during our stay. As a mom, it was really empowering for me to show my son that both men and women can be outdoorsy and are able to have a great ranch vacation experience. I’d love to return sometime with a few girlfriends for a fun outdoor Montana adventure girls trip.

Tips for planning your luxury vacation at

The Resort at Paws Up

Montana scenery


Start planning your Paws Up Vacation online:

Begin by following The Resort at Paws Up on social media. Their Instagram feed will give you a taste of the best of Paws Up to help you prioritize how you want to plan your Montana adventures.

Next, reach out to a luxury Virtuoso travel agent like me to make sure you get the best pricing and extra while booking your visit.  Check out the Paws Up website when deciding on dates to visit, be sure to check for special event weekends. These weekends are very popular because The Resort at Paws Up goes above and beyond their already spectacular offerings. Examples of guest favorite times to visit include celebrity chef series weekends, wine weekends, photography workshops, Thanksgiving time, Christmas time, Spring break, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July week.

When you are ready to book I recommend contacting a luxury Virtuoso Travel agent like myself who knows The Resort at Paws Up well and can offer you extra perks. Not only can I help plan the specifics of your stay, but I can also give suggestions on where to stay for Montana side trips before or afterward to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

Deciding where to stay at The Resort at Paws Up:

Your first decision is whether you want to stay in a luxury glamping tent, a luxury home, or both! We decided to split our stay between the two, so we could experience the best of both worlds, and we’re so glad we did. If you’re staying for more than four days, I definitely recommend sampling both accommodation options. We stayed in the home first, then the cabin, while others liked it the other way around. Both options are so amazing, I don’t think the order really matters but I’m very glad we did the home first.

Luxury Homes at The Resort At Paws Up

There are 28 luxury homes on the property, with up to four bedrooms for your family. It’s not unusual for multigenerational families vacationing together to occupy a few homes next to each other to accommodate their group. I recommend viewing the floor plan online to choose the option that works best for your family.

Our two-bedroom home was perfect for us. The second bedroom was up on a loft above the living room, my son Harry loved being perched in the room above us. However, if you are staying with very young children, they may not be comfortable being upstairs by themselves. A Virtuoso travel agent like myself who knows the layout at Paws Up will help you select the right home for your needs when you contact me to book your Paws Up family vacation.

luxury dude ranch - well traveled kids

The luxury homes are expertly decorated, big, cozy, and awesome to hang out in. Our home included a full kitchen, a big front porch, giant fireplace, our own personal hot tub, 2 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms, and a laundry room. The marble bathrooms have big etched glass windows, plus heated floors and towels. Each home also comes with a Kia that seats five, which you can use to get around the entire ranch.

It’s like having your own private home, but with full five-star hotel service. The staff at Paws Up goes out of their way to make your stay as comfortable and luxurious as possible. This includes twice-daily maid service and they pre-build a fire in your fireplace so you only have to light it. There’s extra firewood on your porch and they are always happy to deliver your meals to your home if you’d like to dine in.

Luxury Glamping at Resort at Paws Up

North Bank Camp

The Resort at Paws Up coined the phrase “glamping” (meaning glamorous camping) and they have been known as the premier luxury Montana glamping destination ever since. At Paws Up, there are six individual camps, each with six luxury glamping tents located in different prime locations around the ranch. Each camp has a unique style and it’s own dining pavilion and fireplace for guests to gather at mealtime.

North Bank Camp with Kids

We stayed at North Bank camp, the newest of the glamping camps. We fell in love with our luxury glamping tent that included heating and air conditioning, chandeliers, huge marble bathrooms with heated floors and heated towel racks. We had one of the largest tents available, with 3 bedrooms, 4 beds and 2 fabulous bathrooms. Smaller, 1 and 2 bedroom tents are also available. We loved relaxing on our big wrap around porch overlooking the Blackfoot River.

The first people you meet at camp are your Glamping Butlers. They greet you when you arrive and attend to all of your needs for the duration of your stay. The Glamping Butlers wear a lot of hats at camp to make sure that everyone enjoys their stay. Our Glamping Butlers were the perfect mix of amazing hosts, fun camp counselors, expert s’mores makers, craft cocktail bartenders, and the best vacation friends you’ll ever meet!

luxury glamping Montana - Well Traveled Kids

One of the most fun things about camp is that when you’re staying at camp, you have your breakfast and dinner with other campers sharing your camp. It’s a much more intimate feel at camp because you’re only sharing it with four to five other tents.

Everyone gathers in the morning and at night in the dining lodge. The North Bank Camp dining lodge is stunning and modern. The floor to ceiling sliding doors at the lodge allowed us to enjoy the beautiful big sky views even when the glass was closed to keep us warm on a cool summer night.

Looking to visit The Resort Paws Up with family? Contact me about booking group travel to Paws Up!

We became friends with a few of the families sharing our camp over dinner. Words can’t do justice to describing the fun we had partying around the campfire after dinner at night under the stars. Montana summers at camp are just amazing.

 

Planning the details of your Paws Up Vacation:

atv and horses at Paws Up

After booking your Paws Up accommodations with a Virtuoso travel agent like myself, it’s important to do a little planning before you arrive. Having an idea of the activities you want to experience will help you to make the most of your time there. Someone from the concierge team at The Resort at Paws Up will call you in advance of your arrival to plan the full itinerary for your stay. Before this call, there are a few things for you to consider:

  • How busy do you want to be on your Montana ranch vacation? Do you want to spend most of your time relaxing and enjoying your surroundings? Or do you want to have action-packed days exploring the best of the Resort at Paws Up?
  • The Resort at Paws Up will typically recommend anywhere from one to three activities per day, depending on your selection. Check out the options online, where you can also see the age ranges for kids and per person prices for individual activities.
  • Have an idea of how you want your week to flow, and what you’d like to do each day, before having the call with your concierge.
  • Have a list of questions ready so they can be answered as you make your plans.

With all that said, you can easily change details if needed upon arrival. Having created a plan upfront will make for a more relaxing arrival to Paws Up.  

Scheduling Your Montana Ranch Itinerary

My suggestion is to try booking quintessential Montana adventures like shooting, archery, river activities, and horseback activities. For us, this was a great opportunity to try new activities that we can’t easily do at home.

For most activities no experience is necessary! We were impressed that the staff is very skilled at teaching first-timers. My son Harry learned archery, to safely shoot a rifle, ride a horse, and go fishing.

Montana Ranch Activities - Well Traveled Kids

 

Be careful not to over schedule. You’re surrounded by so much beauty everywhere at Paws Up. So,  be sure to leave time in your days to roam and enjoy leisurely hikes, fishing on your own, or to visit the cows and buffalo that live at the Ranch.

Paws Up is so picturesque it’s a photographers dream. Ask about booking a photo session for your family when making your vacation itinerary. The Resort at Paws Up has a partnership with award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Stuart Thurlkill, who regularly visits the ranch. We really wanted to book a family photo session but hadn’t planned in advance and he was completely booked during our visit. Don’t make my mistake!

Booking Appointments at Spa Town 

Don’t miss booking fabulous body treatments at Spa Town. This unique luxe Montana spa experience features a colony of luxury tents set in a meadow next to a babbling brook. The welcome tents have full baths and showers, while the treatment tents have heated massage tables and private views of the horses in the pasture.

I highly recommend a massage with Eric. The owners of the Resort at Paws Up brought him out to Montana from Las Vegas 12 years ago because they loved his massages so much. He and his wife started Spa Town and still run it. His massage technique was exceptional. Best massage EVER!

Scheduling Kids Activities at Resort at Paws Up

If you are traveling with kids, make time to Play at Kids Corps of Discovery. You can book kids camp ahead of time with the concierge. You can coordinate drop-off times for your kids to spend a full day or half-day while you enjoy adult activities. If you prefer, you or your nanny can attend the camp with your kids.

Kids’ activities are broken up by age group. There are Little Discoverers for children ages 3-5 and The Adventure Club for kids ages 6-12. There’s also a sports camp for kids ages 3-8, which is supervised by former pro-circuit tennis player Melissa Detwiler.

Montana Ranch for kids - Well Traveled Kids

Right outside the kid’s camp is a playground, a giant treehouse and a little petting zoo with baby animals. This was the highlight for my son Harry. He loved petting Lewis, Sugar, Cinnamon, Flopsie, S’Mores and Marshmallow.

Our son Harry spend two half-days at the camp, and he loved it both times! One day they did arts and crafts and played with the animals. The other afternoon they went fishing and played in the water. Harry made friends with lots of kids at camp and loved the instructors too.

Scheduling Water Sports at Paws Up

There are water activities galore at the Resort at Paws Up, just no swimming pool. It’s all about enjoying the water Montana style. The Island Lodge at Salmon Lake, or the Seeley Lake House both offer access to fun water play. These homes provide access to jet skis, boats and other fun water activities, and can be reserved for a half-day or a full day.

Salmon Lake Lodge

Scheduling Resort Dining at Paws Up

In addition to planning your Montana adventures ahead of time with the concierge, you’ll also want to plan your dining and make reservations ahead of time. Be sure to try all of the amazing dining options, even if you are glamping for your whole stay. Don’t miss scheduling the Chuck Wagon dinner, which is not offered every night. Pomp is the resort’s fine dining restaurant. If you prefer to stay in and enjoy your luxury home or tent, the Resort can deliver meals to you there too.

As with the ranch activities, you can always make changes if needed, but it’s best to reserve ahead of time, especially if you’re traveling with a large group. You can also reserve outdoor dining for your group with amazing views if you request it when you book.

Noting Special Preferences for Your Stay at The Resort at Paws Up

After planning out your itinerary, be sure to have them record any special preferences ahead of time. If you are booking with a Virtuoso luxury travel agent like me, make sure to let them know about any food allergies, special diets, bedding requests, etc. We found the staff to be very guest-focused, they were excellent with all of our special requests. I recommend having your travel agent confirm your requests again shortly before your arrival to make sure your stay is exceptional.

Transportation To and Around The Resort at Paws Up

Your stay at the Resort at Paws Up includes a round-trip shuttle from Missoula Airport. You can schedule your shuttle with the concierge as soon as you book your flights. If you choose to stay in a luxury home at the ranch, you’ll also have a Lexus SUV to drive around the property. The resort also has a complimentary shuttle service, summoned through their app, for your use at any time.

 

What to pack for a stay at The Resort at Paws Up

Montana Ranch Packing List - Well Traveled Kids

Be prepared to pack a lot for this vacation! Summer temperatures during our stay ranged from 35 degrees to 90 degrees, so we needed a lot of layers to stay comfortable. Depending on the time of year when you visit the concierge will send you a seasonal packing list. My friend Kim-Marie Evans also put together a great packing list that I found especially helpful. Here are just a few of my suggestions of what to really must pack for your Montana Ranch vacation.

Packing List for The Resort at Paws Up

  • Camera: the whole resort is a photographer’s dream. The scenery is stunning, no matter the weather, with big skies and beautiful surroundings you will be taking lots of photos. I was happy I chose to bring my SLR to get some high-quality photos in addition to having my iPhone. Be sure and give your kids a camera too! My 8-year-old, Harry, was captivated by everything at Paws Up and loved snapping his own nature pics!
  • Cash for tips: Your resort fee includes some gratuity, but the staff is so amazing trust me you’ll want to tip them more. 
  • Western Wear: You can dress the part or don’t, it’s totally up to you. I had fun picking out western wear and jewelry. You can check out the Paws Up social media pages to get a feel for how to dress. Some families get very dressed up for dinner, especially at Pomp, but feel free to wear whatever you are comfortable in. I have a friend who goes glamping here every year and loves to eat breakfast and dinner in her bathrobe! Really, anything goes. 
  • Makeup: For the ladies, you can do your hair and makeup every day, or just throw on a hat and skip the makeup, like Tyra Banks did when she visited Paws Up a few days before us!
  • Clothes that can get wet: Bring water clothes and bathing suits for playing in the water or rain.
  • Clothes that can get dirty: This is a luxury ranch, but it’s still a ranch. Plan on getting dirty while you play!
  • Polarized sunglasses: These are a must for seeing on the river!
  • Boots and lots of shoe options: You’ll want boots, water shoes, gym shoes, hiking shoes, and nicer boots/shoes if you decide to dress for dinner. I went a little wild and had a whole suitcase of boots and shoes. I loved having options and happily wore them all!
  • Bug Spray: Yep, bug bites are not the Montana souvenirs you want to bring home.
  • Hats: It’s fun to wear cowboy hats, but be sure to bring a baseball hat and a fishing hat too. The resort sells some really amazing hats, so no pressure to pack it if you don’t have a good one!
  • Booze: You can BYOB to the Resort at Paws Up. Montana beer and wine is included in your stay, and you can purchase specialty cocktails like the Huckleberry Mule or a Huckleberry martini. We brought a couple of our own fancy bottles of champagne and wine, which was nice to have in our luxury home and at camp in addition to the house drinks and craft cocktails that we purchased.

What to Do the Week Before Your Arrival at The Resort at Paws UP

  • The Resort is very allergy-friendly, but it can’t hurt to double-check with your travel agent to make sure that they’ve recorded your special preferences. 
  • Want to hang out and snack during your stay? Ask the concierge to have your kitchen stocked before you arrive in your luxury home. It comes with a huge fridge so have them fill it with any special foods you need!
  • Apply for your fishing license – every adult will need one if they want to fish. You can provide all of the info ahead of time, so they are ready for when you arrive.
  • Re-read everything the resort has emailed to you since your booking. Click through the links, and start getting excited!
  • Download the Paws Up Mobile App to your smartphone so you are ready to go upon arrival.

During Your Stay at Resort at Paws Up

  • Unplug or don’t, the choice is yours. The WiFi at Resort at Paws Up is excellent. We intentionally left our laptops at home, but we saw people working online at breakfast.
  • Use the Paws Up Mobile App! Use it to update your schedule, cancel activities, and request transportation. The team supporting it is prompt and exceptional.
  • Don’t be afraid to change your itinerary if the weather isn’t ideal. They are very accommodating to guests’ wishes. I did this at least 3 times on the app and it was so easy.
  • Ask about conditions before fishing or water activities. We went fly fishing on a day when conditions were bad. We went out with our guide and the river water was really high and fast, which was not ideal and actually a little scary. We hadn’t thought to ask about conditions ahead of time. Please be sure and learn from my mistake!

canoeing on the blackfoot river

  • Don’t be afraid to request what you want. For example, we knew we wanted to do hatchet throwing in Montana, and thought it would be offered be at the Chuck Wagon. It wasn’t, so we asked Shaun the food & beverage manager about it. He arranged for us to have hatchet throwing at camp one night and it turned out to be one of our best memories. We’re so glad we asked or we would have missed out!
  • It seems to me the staff at Paws Up must be trained to say YES! Everyone is extraordinarily helpful. Follow up on your special requests to make the magic happen. I get the feeling that they want you to have a wonderful vacation and that they’ll go the extra mile to fulfill your Montana vacation dreams.
  • Expect amazing meals, no matter what your preference. They really cater to picky eaters, so if you don’t like what’s on the menu, they will make you pretty much anything. Just ask ahead so that they are ready for you come mealtime. 
  • Shop ‘til you drop! The outpost has the best shopping for everything including clothing for men, women, and children, souvenirs, home decorations, toys, and artwork and jewelry from local Montana artists. Not to mention, amazing boots and cowboy hats!
  • Make friends! Camp is all about who you share it with. Plan to socialize, make friends with your camping butlers and others you meet along the way. Roast s’mores every night and have a blast!

Best Fancy Resort Smores - Well Traveled Kids

 

  • Expect to possibly see celebrities, but please remember they are on vacation too, and leave them alone to enjoy it.
  • Make time to appreciate the big skies, breathe fresh air, and roam the enormous property and explore.
  • Go on a relaxing or challenging hike, go for a bike ride or grab fishing poles and go fishing with your loved ones.
  • Go over to the village and play pool, borrow board games and DVD’s to take back to your luxury home.
  • Try all things local to Montana! I fell in love with huckleberry everything-Huckleberry pancakes, Huckleberry BBQ ribs, huckleberry cocktails, and more. We loved the Montana beers and wine and I’m now obsessed with Blue Sky Cherry Soda.
  • If you are in a luxury home and have your own Lexus SUV, go for a ride. You can drive all along the 37,000 acre property.

Leaving The Resort at Paws Up

Be prepared to be very sad to leave the Resort at Paws Up. It’s an amazing vacation to a special place like no other. My guess is if your vacation is anything like ours you will be dreaming of returning soon. We made so many unforgettable memories while glamping in Montana, we definitely look forward to returning soon for s‘more!

Best Fancy Resort Smores - Well Traveled Kids


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Photos courtesy of The Resort at Paws Up

Disclosure: The Resort at Paws Up is a Well Traveled Kids partner. Special thanks to Paws up for a spectacular Montana Ranch vacation! As always, all opinions are my own.


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Sarah Hirsch
Sarah Hirsch

Sarah is a Chicago-based luxury travel influencer, Virtuoso luxury travel advisor, luxury family travel writer, an Oprah Daily Ambassador, and the founder of WellTraveledKids.com. Sarah’s best travel companion is her sweet 12-year-old son, Harry. Her favorite getaways include a luxe hotel stay, quality family playtime, champagne & chocolate-covered strawberries.

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