I am an antsy person. If I do not inject an adequate amount of adventure into my life, I become restless. As a result of this wanderlust I find myself taking more than the occasional day/weekend trip. If you are looking for a little excitement in your life, I am going to make the counter-intuitive suggestion of a trip to Three Forks.

As a base camp, I cannot recommend strongly enough the Sacajawea Hotel. Every experience I have had there has been excellent. It is a fascinating place, steeped in history and staffed by helpful, professional, friendly people. The first time that I stayed at the Sacajawea Hotel, the reservation was a birthday present, as I am a gigantic history nerd. Some time after the reservation was made, the hotel determined to shut down for a week of cleaning and repairs over the time of our planned visit. Although they made this decision, they honored my reservation, and kept the entire hotel open for my birthday stay. This was a ridiculous amount of fun, and the staff was incredibly hospitable despite the inconvenience.

My second stay was in the context of a holiday visit with my family, and they also enjoyed the experience immensely. The rooms are immaculate, and the lobby is an ideal place to snuggle into a massive armchair with a book or game. Unless you happen to be playing with my mom, who cheats like it is her job. Although the dining room was not open at the time, below the hotel there is a cozy pub that serves delicious food with well-made drinks. It was a great opportunity for my family to relax in a beautiful and historically interesting setting. We practically had to pry my parents out of the building.

Most recently, my brother and I went to the Sacajawea for one very compelling reason – the Sunday brunch. Even if you decide not to stay overnight, the brunch should be incentive enough for a trip to Three Forks. Allow me to describe, if you will, this delectable experience. I arrived at the hotel and was seated in a lovely dining room, where I could hear live music emanating from the lobby. There was a buffet-style table offering a wide variety of tastiness, and practically the entire bar surface was covered in desserts. There were desserts, cheese, and fruit as far as the eye could see. For the meat-lovers there was an incredible amount of bacon, sausage, shrimp, and roast beef that my brother enjoyed more than is normal or healthy. For me and any other vegetarians that might reside in this state (are you out there?), there was made-to-order French toast and eggs prepared any style to supplement the already overwhelming buffet offerings. In summary, make a reservation ASAP.

Once you have settled in at the hotel, there are loads of attractions to check out in the area. If you are interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition, or if you enjoy walking around soaking up natural beauty, the Missouri Headwaters State Park is the place for you. There are informative displays and some incredibly picturesque trails that I have walked with people of varying experience and physical ability. Atop the small plateau, you will find yourself surrounded by rivers and mountains. There are even cacti to check out. It is a great place to go anytime, but my favorite time is sunset, when you can watch the light fade behind the Tobacco Root Mountains.

Also in the area is the Madison Buffalo Jump. This historic landmark offers more interesting informational displays and gorgeous views of the area. If you decide to visit in the summer, the dirt-road drive out to the Buffalo Jump involves passing by fields of sunflowers. To round out your Three Forks outdoor endeavors, I recommend a trip to the relatively nearby Lewis and Clark Caverns. Per the cavern website, the approximately two hour cave tours will begin in May, but the park is currently open for other activities. A visiting friend and I took this tour during the summer, and descended into the dramatic underground landscape. The trail is highly managed with lights and enhancements to accommodate travel. Although I generally prefer caves in a more natural state, this does provide the opportunity to investigate the resource in a reduced stress environment that clearly highlights the cave features.
If you still haven’t had your fill of Three Forks awesomeness, the downtown area offers tasty local cafes and a fun/quirky local history museum, complete with barbwire display. All in all, this pleasant town and its environs have a great deal to offer for a day trip or a weekend stay. With the historically significant sites, the beautiful hiking opportunities, and excellent food, Three Forks is a wonderful place to explore.

Happy brunching, and whatnot!

After visiting the west at the age of fourteen, Jamie Balke has been coming up with progressively more elaborate schemes to never leave.