It’s just a coincidence that my family’s two favorite hot springs destinations are both named Fairmont Hot Springs.

Both have comfortable, and affordable, lodges for their guests. Both have large, clean pools filled with soothing hot mineral water.

Both are extremely family friendly.

Your vacation needs are covered either way, so you only have to decide if you want to grab your passport or not.

One of them is in Western Montana, while the other is in British Columbia, Canada.

Fairmont Hot Springs in Montana

The Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in Montana sits by itself in a small valley three miles off I-90 near Butte.

Its isolated location, plus the resort’s 500 acres, gives you a real sense of the wild, untamed west that the pioneers must have experienced.

That is, if they were sitting in a hot tub with a strawberry daiquiri in one hand.

The resort has 153 rooms and suites, two full-service restaurants, a spa, an 18-hole golf course, and even a miniature golf course.

But you’ll probably want to spend most of your time in the water. There are two Olympic-sized pools and two super-hot soaking pools. One of each inside, and one of each outside. The pools are open to resort guests 24 hours a day.

The outdoor pool features a 350-foot water slide, although it does cost extra to use. $10.50 for an all-day pass if you’re a guest of the resort.

Fairmont Hot Springs is about three hours from Yellowstone National Park, and makes a good stop before or after geyser-watching.

Not far from the resort, and on the road to Yellowstone, is Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, one of the largest limestone caverns in the northwest. It’s a 90-minute guided walk for just $5. I highly recommend making time to stop here.

Okay, so Montana’s hot springs has it going on. But what about Canada?

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Sure, lots of folks say they’d like to completely “unplug” from their busy lives. Leave behind the cell phones, the laptops, the PDA’s, and even cable television. But do they really mean it when they say they want to unplug? Would they be absolutely willing to not even pack their electronic communications devices? Would they really not complain if they didn’t have cable television in their room?

If you’re one of those actual, real, serious-minded unpluggers, one of these destinations might be for you!

Aurora Borealis - Bear Lake, Alaska

1. Visit Alaska. Alaska, overall, seems to be a state that encourages the unplugged lifestyle. With so much outdoor, off-the-beaten-path type activities to indulge in, it’s no wonder visitors find themselves powering off their electronics and completely forgetting about them until the airplane ride home. If you’re looking for a high-end destination, the Ultima Thule Wilderness Lodge in the Alaskan Wrangell Mountains is one of the most exclusive locations in Alaska and only accessible by their own private planes. They’re even out of cell phone range for the truly dedicated unpluggers. If your budget is rather less flush, the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast Glacier Bay comes highly recommended. The family-run B&B provides packages for a wide variety of outdoor recreational adventures and tours, and is located in a quiet, wildflower-filled meadow overlooking the Fairweather Mountains.

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October is the time my kids and I turn our attention to ghosts, ghouls, and goblins.

Especially ghosts.

In a few weeks various haunted houses set up by local community groups will begin to open up, with the promise that they’ll scare the bejeebers out of us in return for a charitable donation.

And they do a good job, too.  But their ghosts leave something to be desired.

A Ghostly Town

Because I know where the real ghosts are.

Ghost towns.

Some of the best are in Western Montana, where the discovery of gold in the 1800′s led to mining camps popping up all over the place.  Many of these camps turned into thriving towns over time, but once the gold ran out, few of them could survive as the residents picked up and moved on to the next lucky strike.

Over the past century, these ghost towns were left to fall apart and fade away.  You could drive all over the western part of the state looking for the remains of hundreds of old settlements, but you’d need a lot of time, a very sturdy vehicle, and an extremely patient family.

Luckily, several locations have been well preserved by the State of Montana, so you don’t have to go hunting high and low.

Masonic Lodge at Bannack

You’ll have the best experience at Bannack, the sight of one of the first major gold discoveries in the area.  During its 1860′s heyday, Bannack had a population of  over 3,000, and it soon became the first territorial capital of Montana.  The town didn’t thrive for long, and by the 1880′s the population had dwindled to just a few hundred.  By the 1940′s the last resident had died or moved on, and Bannack became a ghost town.

By 1954, the state turned the town into a State Park in order to preserve it.  And that’s one of the keys to the place.  They preserve the buildings, rather than restore them. This isn’t some glorified amusement park recreation of history.  This is the real thing.

As you and your kids stroll the walkways, it’s easy to imagine what the rough and rowdy town might have looked like filled with prospectors, settlers, and thieves.  Special guided tours allow you inside some of the buildings, and even into otherwise restricted sites.

There’s really no better way to experience a little bit of the Old West.

Oh, and ghosts?  Yeah, they have them.  According to some people, Bannack has ghosts a plenty.

And at the end of this month, the ghosts will be walking the streets with you during the Bannack Ghost Walks.  These special performances are based on actual historical events, including gunfights, hangings, and other ghastly misdeeds.  Call (406) 834-3413 for more information about the Ghost Walks.

Bannack State Park is open all the rest of the year, with other special events during the summer that are fun for the entire family.  Entry fee is only $5 for your entire vehicle.  The park is easy to access, located just 24 miles southwest of Dillon, Montana, about 20 miles off I-15.

Visit the Bannack State Park website for more details.

If you’re a camping family, they have two different campgrounds in the park.  But if you like something a little nicer, I highly recommend Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.   It’s about an hour north of Bannack, just outside of Butte.  We’ve used it as a base of operations for exploring Western Montana, and it’s always a joy to end a tiring day by taking a dip in the hot pools.  While you’re there, you can also take a side trip to the Lewis and Clark Caverns, Montana’s first state park, and one of the largest limestone caverns in the Northwest.

Bannack State Park is also not too far off the regular routes to Yellowstone National Park.

Carriage rides at Bannack State Park

Photos courtesy of VisitMT, the official Montana Travel Website.

Who can argue that autumn is one of the most colorful times of year?

That was a rhetorical question.

Fall is pretty, mostly because of the glorious displays put on by the fall leaves changing color.  This phenomenon occurs all over the United States, but some spots offer better views than others.  Grab your camera and a road atlas and take a day trip to one of the 11 best fall foliage sites in America.

11 Places To See Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves on Carriage Road at Acadia National Park

1.  Acadia National Park – Maine

Of course anywhere in the North East is going to boast spectacular fall foliage.  The Acadia National Park offers gorgeous views and extensive Ranger-led educational programs so that you can learn more about what you’re staring at.  Make sure to head to Bar Harbor Maine before the end of October to take full advantage of the sights and services available.

Fall Leaves at Oak Mountain State Park

2.  Oak Mountain State Park – Alabama

Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park.  This nearly 10,000 acre forest is featured on several sight seeing lists.  Admission is only $3 for adults on weekends and holidays.  You can visit the park for fall foliage viewing from 7am to sundown.

Fall Foliage in New Hampshire

3.  Mt. Washington – New Hampshire

While it’s typical to see fall foliage while you’re driving, the Mount offers guided cruises on the M/S Mount Washington.  Starting Sunday, September 27, the Mount will offer Fall Foliage Dinner Cruises from 4:30 to 7 p.m. each Sunday through mid-October. The cruise departs from Weirs Beach, boarding at 4 p.m. Cost for adults is$43. Visit Cruise Mount Washington for more information.

Fall Color in Colorado

4.  Aspen – Colorado

It’s no surprise that Aspen, Colorado is the perfect place to watch the Aspen trees change colors with the seasons.  San Isabel National Forest offers extensive trails for viewing of some of the most fabulous aspen trees in Colorado.

New York Fall Foliage

5.  The Catskills – New York

The Catskills and Hudson Valley region is about a two hour drive from New York City.  One of the unique features of this area is that the color changing season lasts about six weeks, with colors rivaling those of its North Eastern neighbors, Vermont and Massachusetts.

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