Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Talk about a country’s hidden treasure.
The minute I started telling people I was going to this location everyone informed me I was in for a treat. That it was their favorite place in the whole country and I should get my camera ready.
Being a girl that usually calls Iceland home, I’m no longer easily impressed by nature’s beauty because some would say Iceland tops the list for beautiful destinations.
So how did Yellowstone National Park and my visit to Montana measure up?
I was impressed. Very impressed.
The sheer size of the park and the incredibly diverse wildlife still leave me astonished. How can one park be home to so many animals?
Here are a few facts about Yellowstone that will probably blow you away:
- 67 different mammals live here, including many small mammals.
- As of 2016, an estimated 690 grizzly bears live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (I saw 3 of them feeding on a carcass. They never share. This was really rare.)
- Black bears are common.
- Gray wolves were restored in 1995. As of January 2016, 99 live primarily in the park (I saw a pack of adult wolves all playing for 20 minutes. This is also rare. Adults don’t often play like this).
- Wolverine and lynx, which require large expanses of undisturbed habitat, reside here.
- Seven native ungulate species—elk (saw many), mule deer, bison (saw many), moose, bighorn sheep (saw), pronghorn (saw one cutie), and white-tailed deer (saw many) call the park home.
- Also, there are many bird species found in the park.
I spent just one day at Yellowstone National Park and truly, if it was by choice, I would have spent at least another week there searching every nook and cranny of this hidden gem including the vast mountains, rivers, forests and waterfalls.
As for the other areas around the beautiful THIRDHOME property I was staying in called Elk Run, there is the local town, Livingston. And I will immediately admit that I will dream of this little town often.
It’s small but it is full of life and culture. Being an Australian, all I saw around me was a movie set replica. All of a sudden I got a very strong urge to become a Hollywood actress and drive down the Livingston streets in my red convertible.
Local breweries, local seafood restaurants (yum!), libraries, and cafes galore with exceptional cold brew coffee for those hot summer days and natural food stores with fresh, green, healthy juices for breakfast. Everything this girl needs.
A signature activity that is done around this area, is taking a boat out on the Yellowstone River. You can just float down the river or opt for a fly fishing boat if you want an exciting fishing experience. In the evening, swing by Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa to take a dip in hot spring pools and whilst you’re at it, try their exquisite restaurant for a sensational local meal.
If you would like to be involved in the local nightlife, you have two options – check out Bozeman city about a 40-minute drive from Elk Run. It’s heavily a college town and the vibe of Bozeman is young and fun. Otherwise, for a more local experience, minutes down the road from Elk Run is Pine Creek Lodge. They had live country music blearing in their outdoor courtyard on Friday nights filled with everyone dancing the night away, great food and local beer.
Thanks for having me Montana and Yellowstone National Park. And I hope to see you again soon.
-Sorelle Amore
Sorelle Amore won THIRDHOME‘s “Best Job On The Planet,” which garnered more than 17,000 applications from around the world. In her position as a Luxury Travel Connoisseur for THIRDHOME, she is traveling the world, staying in 12 luxury homes.
THIRDHOME is the exclusive luxury property and travel club that enables second home owners to exchange time in their home for stays in spectacular destinations around the world. Click here for more information on how to become a member.
Sorelle Amore, THIRDHOME‘s Best Job On The Planet winner, provides a tour of Elk Run in Livingston, Montana.
Members, want to visit Montana? Click here to browse THIRDHOME properties in Montana.
Click here to learn more about our luxury travel club.
Welcome to a cozy luxury home found on the brink of Yellowstone National Park in Montana.
You have arrived at Elk Run. A large open floor house with 3 bedrooms, two living rooms, a hot tub, a large porch surrounding the triple story home, breathtaking views of nature in every direction and a heck of an amazing host to make your stay the best it possibly can be.
Elk Run looks exactly what you would expect a home to look like that is in Montana and near the precious Yellowstone National Park.
It’s all wood, and inside you will find wooden tables, wooden kitchen cabinets, wooden bunk beds, wooden floors, wooden lamps. There is wood everywhere. The décor is mainly tones of brown, with added antler lamps and skin throws on the floor to give it a country feel.
The backyard keeps this vibe in tact with the pool being a natural rock pool with a small cobble stone beach and wooden reclining chairs. During the very hot summer days, this pool will be your saviour.
At night time, the weather drops which is the perfect time to make use of the hot tub and enjoy the sunset views over the mountains with a glass of wine. Follow that up with a BBQ on the porch (or whip up a feast inside the large kitchen), and dine under the stars, or sit within the warmth of the sunroom with the semi circle couch formation – perfect for long chats with friends until the early hours of the morning.
A great advantage of Elk Run is its location. Pine Creek Lodge down the road is always ready to entertain you and feed you at night.
You’re also right on the Yellowstone River, so make sure to grab a boat and float down just like the locals do, or do a fly fishing tour if you are a keen fishermen.
For the horse lovers, book a horse riding session at Chico’s and follow up the ride with a swim in their hot springs.
During the day, you’re a stones throw away from the town of Livingston where you can enjoy a local brew at the Katabatic brewery, have a great cold brew coffee at Café Crossings or have a green healthy juice from Wheatgrass Salon to revitalize your body.
And of course there are also plenty of restaurants for you to enjoy! The Farmers Market is a must on Wednesday nights to stock up on some delicious healthy fruits and vegetables to cook up at home.
It cannot go without mention that Yellowstone National Park is just a 50-minute drive away from Elk Run. This park will leave you breathless. The beauty of nature here is second to none, with explosive geysers, tremendous tumbling waterfalls and of course the enchanting wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, mountain lions, bison, elk, deer and so much more.
Enjoy your stay at the Elk Run in Montana. It’s a place you’ll want to return.
-Sorelle Amore
Sorelle Amore won THIRDHOME‘s “Best Job On The Planet,” which garnered more than 17,000 applications from around the world. In her position as a Luxury Travel Connoisseur for THIRDHOME, she is traveling the world, staying in 12 luxury homes.
THIRDHOME is the exclusive luxury property and travel club that enables second home owners to exchange time in their home for stays in spectacular destinations around the world. Click here for more information on how to become a member.
Sorelle Amore, THIRDHOME‘s Best Job On The Planet winner, spends a day in Yellowstone National Park and spots bears and bison. She was staying at THIRDHOME property Elk Run in Montana.
Click here to learn more about our luxury travel club.
Sorelle Amore, THIRDHOME‘s Best Job On The Planet winner, explores Livingston, Montana and shows off some of the best activities and attractions to put on your list for a trip to the area. She stayed at Elk Run.
Members, want to visit Montana? Click here to browse THIRDHOME properties in Montana.