No Reservations in Montant (Parts 3 and 4)

One of the unique aspects of the U.S. is while we are one country, we really are made up of 50 different countries. Each state has it’s own unique character, people and place in our history. Whether it’s New York or New Mexico,  San Franciso or Savannah, there are so many unique places here. My “Bucket List” of the places in the U.S. that I have never visited, or want to return to is a long one. I’ll keep my list and hope I can start to tick some of them off in the months and years ahead.

But until then, we’ve come up with technology such as TV and the Internet to take us places we have never been, or places we have been, and maybe did not appreciate as much as we should have. It’s not to late to gain that appreciation. And my little home town of Livingston, Montana is such a place. Not a fond place to grow up in some respects, but in others, I think I’m a better person for having started my life there. Now, I have No Reservations about Montana.

A return trip last year in June and my new found sense of  “take your camera everywhere,” gave me the opportunity to see my hometown in a different light. It was fun to walk all over town and capture the sights I grew up with, some in a different state, and some just they way they looked when I left some “xx” years ago!

Just so you can capture the rest of what Montana looks like, and why it’s called The Big Sky Country, I’m sharing the last 2 parts of the No Reservations in Montana series in one blog. I hope you’ll pause for a few minutes and watch with me and experience what Montana is all about.

Number 3 has true family tie to it. Tim Bowers is my brother-in-law. The “base camp” where they have lunch after their horse ride is actually just behind their home in Paradise Valley, located on land given to them my my Dad. In the video, the lady with the blue plaid shirt is my sister, Cindy, the oldest of the three of us. If you want a truly unique vacation experience, check out Bearpaw Outfitters.

Thanks, for taking time to stop by. Thanks for reading my blog. And Thanks for spending a little time with No Reservations in Montana.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMprXeYHk1c[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBlF1WGtwPE[/youtube]

No Reservations in Montana (Part 2 of 5)

WOW! How amazing this is to watch for me! So I hope I can put a pit of a personal spin on it and even make it more enjoyable for you! No Reservations in Montana really brings back the memories for me!

Filmed in my home town of Livingston, Montana, when you see the scenery, maybe that tells you why I’m a down-to-earth, take-you-at-what-you-say kinda guy, and have had to “stiffen up” a bit living in a major cities like Houston, New Orleans, Miami, New York and Atlanta.

Some notes about this segment…..I have a Russell Chatham water color hanging right here in my office!

And I have a series of his paintings in poster format, dated from 1983!

Tom McGuane, the writer mentioned in the video….I interviewed him for a school report in high school!! And I use to ride minibikes with his son. His first wife, is now married to Peter Fonda, and I saw Becky in June, 2009 when I was home in Montana!

I’ve never been to Pinky’s…didn’t know about it, but intend to on my next trip if its still there?

Hope you enjoy No Reservations in Montana (Part 2 of 5) as much as I have/am!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMprXeYHk1c[/youtube]

No Reservations in Montana (Part 1 of 5)

Many of my friends, clients and real estate friends know I grew up in Montana. Any perhaps some of you don’t. Unlike my two sisters who still live in my hometown of Livingston (in fact they now both have places on what is left of OUR family ranch)

I flew the coop as soon as possible. First it was 3 years “over the hill” at Montana State University in Bozeman. Then I really took a leap and moved to Houston, Texas and the Hilton College of Hotel And Restaurant Management at the University of Houston.

I’ve never looked back. Until now. For me, there has been No Reservations in Montana. But just finding this series causes me pause. A moment to reflect on the beauty that is the state of Montana, and Paradise Valley where I grew up.

The first few mountain shots are taken very close to our family ranch (although only about 17 acres remain) As the lady comments in the video, for my family it was easy to sell off parts to other for pretty good money!)

Please enjoy this tour…and if you ever have plans to visit Montana, be sure to make Livingston a stop on along the way. It’s close to the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and you’ll travel the length of Paradise Valley from Livingston to Yellowstone.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3_MQbxjWl8[/youtube]