Montana: Big Sky Country, peppered with mountains, lakes, and as much of the great outdoors as you can breathe in. It’s our fourth largest state, and includes Glacier National Park, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and Yellowstone National Park.

Montana is also known for the Ranch at Rock Creek, a slice of the good life amidst the mountains in the town of Philipsburg. The Ranch at Rock Creek has received the Forbes 5-Star Travel Guide Award, and is an all inclusive luxury ranch resort. Want to know more?

Philipsburg (pop 930) is one of those towns that epitomizes US history. It expanded during the silver mining boom in the late 1800s – Hope Mill in Philipsburg was the first silver mill in Montana, and more than 3,000 people moved there to try their luck (or supply services, which was a much steadier job). The silver crash in 1893 led to all those new residents leaving; cattle ranching continued on as it had for decades. The Ranch at Rock Creek, originally a mining claim, has been a continuously operated, 6,600 acre working cattle ranch since the turn of the century. Now, it’s a fully-inclusive luxury resort in addition to a working cattle ranch. The ranch is located at the base of the John Long Mountains, and has 4 miles of Rock Creek frontage (think fishing!).

Pretty view in Rock Creek Valley, Montana (original postcard). Flickr cc: simpleinsomnia

Blue Canteen

At the Ranch at Rock Creek, you can choose from several types of accommodations. There’s the Granite Lodge (swoon), private log homes (swoon), or glamping (The Ranch was one of the first to offer luxury glamping! More swoon).  The accommodations are available for two people to larger families (think: ultimate family reunion). And, it would be the perfect place for a truly unique destination wedding – as actress Kate Bosworth did.

Granite Lodge Dining Room

So you know where to stay, but what to do? You can get outdoors (of course) – the Ranch offers bikes to get around, if you so choose. If you’re feeling active, try your ranch hand best at a variety of outdoor activities, such as horseback riding, fly fishing (and ice fishing!), sporting clays, archery, ropes course, horseshoes, paintball, geocaching, hiking, cross-country skiing, ice skating, sleigh rides, hockey, igloo building, sledding, wildlife, stagecoach rides, and even a kids club. If you’re not inclined to activity, never fear. There’s a pool and hot tub, and of course a spa, sauna, and yoga (personally, I’m of the relaxing on vacation mindset).

Horseback riding in Big Sky Country

After a long day relaxing playing outside, hunger will be the name of the game. It’s all that fresh air! You don’t have to pursue turn of the century dining options, however – both the Granite Lodge and Blue Canteen (outdoors!) offer locally sourced, organic food from renowned chefs.

Blue Canteen, outdoor dining

Thirsty? Mosey up to the Canteen for locally crafted draft beer, or to the Silver Dollar Saloon for happy hour and more. At the Silver Dollar, you can bowl, sing karaoke, play board games, billiards, and shuffleboard, or watch the game on tv while musing on how western saloons have certainly changed over the last 100+ years.

Silver Dollar Saloon (above and below)

What will you do first, at the Ranch at Rock Creek?

Note: This post was sponsored by the Ranch at Rock Creek. All photos courtesy and copyright the Ranch at Rock Creek, except where noted.