Last week, I shared with boomer readers about finding my paradise at Mystic Rose Cabin in Fishtail, Montana. However, I didn’t give you a thorough lodging review. In case I’ve convinced you to experience the area, here are a few more details of what to expect at Mystic Rose Cabin, which Alan and I discovered through Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO). Don’t forget to read our tips for researching vacation rentals online.
As interiors go, Mystic Rose Cabin could be described as clean, adequate lodging, offering all that boomers need for a rustic vacation. In a room that combines living with eating, the kitchen contains all the equipment necessary to prepare a meal; and the living area, with windows for viewing the great outdoors, has a smoky smell left over from cold nights when the wood stove burns. In one corner, books about Montana crowd a low bookcase. It was here that we found Day Hikes in the Beartooth Mountains
, which became our guide for hiking in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.
A narrow, spiral staircase winds upward to the master bedroom loft. Antique furniture crowds the walls of the room. The bed, covered in quilts, looks warm and inviting. With no bathroom facilities in the loft, maneuvering down the staircase in the dark for middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks requires careful negotiation.
The main bathroom, on the first level, is adequate. But after taking a bath in the tub on the first night, I opted for showers during the rest of our stay. It’s not that it was dirty, but the hard-water residue from iron-rich water made me feel that it was.
The lower level contains another sitting room with a bookcase crowded with more books. If we’d brought along boomer company, they could have stayed in the downstairs bedroom with a bath down the hall — no climbing a spiral staircase in the dark. During our visit, the only forays we made into the lower reaches of the cabin were to use the washer and dryer in the laundry room.
And, then, there is the deck with a view that certainly inspired me.
Boomer Travel Tips for visiting Fishtail, Montana
Are you a hiker? The trails in the area can’t be beat. Did you read our reviews?
Stillwater Trail
East Rosebud Trail to Elk Lake
Mystic Lake Trail
Red Lodge is approximately 40 miles away. We did our major grocery shopping here, filling in with items from the Fishtail General Store.
For eats, we recommend:
Grizzly Bar and Restaurant in Roscoe
Montana Jack’s in Nye
Cowboy Bar & Restaurant in Fishtail
Driving the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge into Yellowstone is a LONG excursion that we hope to do next time. The only problem is that it is a very long day — probably best accomplished by staying out one night. After all, you’re on boomer time.
Have you visited this area of Montana? Did you drive the Beartooth Highway? Join the conversation at the My Itchy Travel Feet page on Facebook or send us an email with your comments or questions.
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I have included an Amazon link to Day Hikes in the Beartooth Mountains for your convenience, however My Itchy Travel Feet does receive a small percentage for purchases made at Amazon.com.
