In my travels around Montana, there are some places that I end up falling madly in love with. One such place: the Izaak Walton Inn. Named for English writer and fly-fisherman Izaak Walton and located just off Highway 2 between East Glacier Park and West Glacier, the inn is located in Essex—one of Montana’s tiniest towns.

Earlier this month, I had a bit of time to do some adventuring so I set off for Essex. My plans involved filling my tummy as full as possible in the Dining Car, listening to the trains roll past (the Izaak Walton Inn is also a whistle-stop location for Amtrak’s Empire Builder), soaking in the hot tub and snowshoeing in Glacier National Park.

Hello, Glacier National Park.
Peeking into Glacier National Park.
One of the stunning views along Highway 2.
One of the stunning views along Highway 2.
Hello, handsome.
Hello, handsome.
The lobby is just as it should be: quaint and cozy, with a wood-burning fireplace.
The lobby is just as it should be: quaint and cozy, with a wood-burning fireplace.
The railroad rolls through Essex.
The railroad rolls through Essex.
The view of the inn from across the tracks.
The view of the inn from across the tracks.

While in Essex, I was able to tour some of the other lodging accommodations at the inn. In addition to the lodge rooms, they have cabins (that are absolutely adorable), cabooses, luxury cabooses and a luxury locomotive. And to be honest, they’re all as cute as can be.

The appropriately named red caboose.
The appropriately named red caboose.
The bedroom in the luxury locomotive.
The bedroom in the luxury locomotive.
The living room in the luxury caboose.
The living room in the luxury caboose.

After dinner in the Dining Car Restaurant (sidenote: if you haven’t had dinner at the Izaak Walton, put it on your list right now. Chef Adam uses many locally sourced Montana ingredients in his dishes and his food is so good!) and a good night’s sleep, me and my traveling partners ventured into Glacier National Park for some snowshoeing. We set out from the trailhead at Marias Pass and had a fun day playing in the park.

Walking through a forest of lodgepole pines.
Walking through a forest of lodgepole pines.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, a visit to Glacier National Park requires a selfie.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, a visit to Glacier National Park requires a selfie.
Halfway through our hike, we were met with a blue sky and sunshine.
Halfway through our hike, we were met with blue sky and sunshine.
Taking in the view of Little Dog Mountain in Glacier National Park.
Taking in the view of Little Dog Mountain in Glacier National Park.

It was a good weekend.

xo,
TT

 

March 13, 2015

Related: Glacier National Park

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Russell Brooks
Rates? Season? Part time jobs?

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