Thanks to our currently transient-like lifestyle ( we move every 3-6 months due to my husband’s job ) our opportunities for visiting amazing places are much higher than most people can boast.    We took advantage of hubby’s three day holiday weekend to visit Glacier National Park in Montana and camp at one of my hubby’s favorite places in the world, the tiny hamlet of Polebridge, MT.  So in the spirit of the F/Stop Artsy event here at Artsy Forager, I thought I would share some photos and thoughts from our trip!

Being among amazing natural beauty is a huge source of inspiration for me.  Getting out and hiking and camping refreshes and rejuvenates not just the body, but the mind and the soul.  It is in places like these that we unplug, give ourselves over to each moment and feel how very small we are in this vast landscape.

While the call of the wild is definitely a draw for us, sometimes what makes these trips so inspirational is how much we connect with each other when we’re unplugged and off-the-grid, as well as how we may find ourselves in the midst of an other worldly atmosphere.

For the past few years, my husband has regaled me with stories from his “Summer of Love”, almost an entire summer spent traveling from one amazing place to another.  He’s always described his time in Polebridge, MT, a tiny town less than a mile from the West entrance to Glacier, as his “falling down the rabbit hole”.  Like Wonderland, Polebridge is filled with quirky characters and when you are there, you become immediately immersed in its magic.

It is a place where happy and friendly dogs run free, a French ex-patriot and retired Santa Claus mingles with a former pharmacist turned saloon owner and an entire evening can be spent singing Bob Dylan songs around a bonfire with complete strangers who feel like old friends.

A place where the grass is cool and fragrant and the view from every direction inspires.  It’s a spot where winters are long and hard but summer is its own reward.  A landscape built for dreaming and creating.

Not every artsy place is full of galleries and museums.  Some are artsy by way of how they inspire and the community of people drawn to them.

Where is your artsy destination this summer?  Where will the road take you?  No matter where you are, look for the artsy.  It’s always there and it’s waiting for you.

PS– The folks at Polebridge like their little community small.  So keep it on the down low. 😉

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