Description: If you rent a car in Bozeman, MT and want a fantastic place to stay, I heartily recommend the Howler's Inn. The owners of this warm and cozy lodge is a friendly family with 2 young daughters who go out of their way to welcome you to their little slice of heaven. Situated on a slope surrounded by peaks of prisitine mountain scenery, the inn accommodates only 3 couples and a small family in an adjacent carriage house. The bright, clean bedrooms are decorated in contemporary Western style, have amenities such as mini fridges, microwaves, robes, television, free wireless internet access, and windows with mountain views. Two of the rooms overlook the wolf enclosure, a fenced space where currently 6 wolves reside.
A book in each bedroom tells the history, characteristics and personalities of the different wolves that live in the sanctuary. And at some point during the night or early morning you will certainly hear their distinctive howling. Even though it was the dead of winter, I left my window open a crack to ensure I wouldn't miss their haunting wail.
The gracious hosts offered complimentary wine upon my arrival, recommended city dining (I knew I wouldn't want to leave once I drove out here though--and brought a frozen dinner entree to simply heat up in my microwave!), and led me on a tour of the house. I wish I had planned to spend more than a night to enjoy all they had to offer! There was a jacuzzi downstairs along with a sauna, a big screen with a zillion movies to watch, games, even pinball machines for the kids in the rec room.
The location was easy to find. The drive along the highway was perhaps 10 minutes from town, and another 5 minutes along a paved road through gorgeous mountain scenery. In fact, once I checked in I went back out to drive around the mountains, and passed ranches with horses and an old fashioned one room school house.The exit from the highway is also the exit for the Grizzly Encounter, where I stopped to photograph grizzlies interacting in the snow for an hour.
The whole region is worth exploring for several days...an hour south and you're entering northern Yellowstone. Drive west to explore caves and hotsprings. Or continue further southwest to visit ghost towns connected by a train...
http://www.howlersinn.com
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