Taking the Waters (and More!) at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

"What are we going to do first?"

That's the question my little ones ask when we're driving to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort outside of Anaconda.

At 7 and 9, they show remarkable stamina in being able to ask it over and over, along with "how far are we now?"

We try to go to Fairmont two or three times a year. Once in summer, when we spend almost a week, and again in winter or spring, when we all agree we could use an escape from the snow and cold.

This year, with its snowy and storm-prone winter, proved difficult. Every time we had it on our calendar to go, something would come up - usually something cold and windy. We had to tell the kids that we couldn't go that weekend, and watch as their expressions drooped. This happened several times until we adults began to fear mutiny.

But finally, in mid-February, the weather and our schedules allowed it - we were able to slip out of town just before another cold front moved in, managing finally to book two nights and three days at Fairmont.

What we did first was swim, of course, but there's no shortage of other possible answers as well. We could have ditched the kids for a hot stone massage at the Whispering Willows Dayspa or had a wee nip at the stylishly comfortable Minerals Lounge. We could, and did, go to the gift shop and pick up some of the stuff we forgot to bring, get a couple of t-shirts or hoodies to remember the trip, and grab a few treats for the kiddos. That's not to mention the mini-golf, or its bigger cousin, normal-size golf. Or the arcade, where my son was able to play a Donkey Kong cabinet for the first time (and see a demonstration of his old man's considerable skills). After all of that, you could sit and read a book by one of their fireplaces, or explore the halls, like my little girl and I did. We wanted to do it all. We checked into our very comfortable room and the kids tested the beds' bouncability with a few trial jumps.

But as we promised the kids, we would hit the pools for a good long time first thing. We had a splash war and a lap race before I snuck away for a bracing twenty minutes or so in the sauna. Then it was back to the pool, where the kids took turns on the seriously impressive waterslide.

And while I always enjoy a swim at Fairmont Hot Springs, I must admit that, on this occasion, my mind was on the new golf simulators recently installed in the Pro Shop.

When we did check it out later, they were a huge hit. Though none of us are golfers we still had a lot of fun in the simulator bays, loaded up with golf clubs, baseball bats, footballs, soccer balls, and, of course, golf balls. Naturally, we bought some goodies from the pro shop's bar - a wine for my better half, a beer for me, a couple of soda pops for the kiddos, and some beef jerky and chips. The kids happily munched while they watched Dad try to hit the golf ball (it only took four or five swings!), and then we switched to Zombie Dodgeball, one of the many non-golf games available. In so doing, we discovered that our kids will do just fine in a hypothetical zombie apocalypse as long as they have a ball to throw and some snacks for fuel.

"I want to come back next time and play some more," said my little guy.

"Yeah, that was so fun," echoed my oldest, his nine-year-old sister, who discovered over the course of a softball simulation that she's got a very mean swing.

After that, it was off to lunch at the Springwater Cafe, the more casual of the two restaurants housed in the Resort. One of the kids had a personal pizza, and the other chowed down on a plate of chicken tenders, fries, and ketchup. I enjoyed a nicely spicy buffalo chicken sandwich. My better half said she'd like a taco salad. We were all happy with our orders, which counts in our house as a minor miracle worthy of special recognition. In fact, my kids usually don't have seconds on anything that doesn't have ice cream or Doritos as its base - yet here they were happily downing a second order of French Fries.

Of course, they'd need that energy for the hot springs themselves.

There is a schism in my family that nearly tears us apart every time we go to Fairmont, at least when it's a little colder outside. My son and I are "indoor pool" people. We enjoy the fact that, even in subzero temperatures, you can sit in a piping hot pool of water and watch, through frosted windows, as snow collects outside. "Why be cold?" is our motto. We walk all the way back to our rooms through the hallways, bedecked in towels and bathrobes, counting our lucky stars that no contact with the elements was necessary.

My better half and our daughter, however, love more than anything to go to the outside pools. As we went in early spring, there was considerable snow on the ground when we arrived. On the second day, a persistently blustery blizzard made us glad we didn't have anywhere to go. Yet, to my horror, they wanted to go outside, where a great billowing cloud of steam, beautiful even if it portended cold butts for my son and me, shrouded us like some titanic fog bank. The only things we could easily pick out of the mist were the resort's trees, lined in twinkly lights that lent them an almost unearthly glow. Yes, I am perfectly willing to admit that it was beautiful out there. My son and I enjoyed as much of it as we could, and then retired back to the indoor pool for a round or two of Marco Polo.

Which are you - an indoor or an outdoor pool fan? Our family's experience every year should demonstrate that however divided your loved ones are on this issue, sufficient common ground can be found to ensure a great soak for everyone, even those of us with a cold-sensitive tuchus.

The second night, we dined at the Water's Edge Cafe, which offers a refined and elegant dining experience. There we enjoyed a couple of very fine steaks while the kiddos were able to find fare they enjoyed - namely more pizza and chicken tenders.

Also, because credit must be given where credit is due, and because I'm a fiend for a good martini, I have to tell you, reader, that the bar was kind enough to make a perfect, and I mean perfect, dirty gin martini. I had two over the course of dinner. I didn't have to drive anywhere. I could still taste the olive juice and Tanqueray in my mouth while we strolled back to our room to get our swimsuits back on, happy once again that the resort had everything we needed and that I didn't have to drive anywhere.

Did we enjoy another martini poolside? Sure! Did we have another after that? We'll never tell.

Did the kids get a couple of Italian sodas that they sipped in between bouts of aquatic tag? Yes! And some ice cream later? Yes!

As we drove back home, I found myself thinking that maybe we should make it three or four trips to the Resort this year. Where else can you find a place that kids and adults love equally, where the whole family can find something to do and, more importantly, do it together?

To us, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is more than just a good time, better than just delicious restaurants and a great place to swim, and more meaningful than a mere gift shop and comfy hotel.

For me and my family, it's a full-blown happy memory generator.

My Fairmont Trip 
 

By Clementine, Age 9

I love Fairmont Hot Springs! It has fun, it has food, entertainment and so many other things that make it the perfect place to bring your family. Now let me tell you about my time with my family at Fairmont Hot Springs. On a crisp winter morning I take a step out of the confining car that I had been trapped in for an hour and beheld the building I knew so well. Me and my family don't hesitate to get in, rushing to the front of the amazement of a hotel and zooming to the front desk. I read my book while my parents sort it out. Soon me and my family are in our room getting work done and relaxing after. A cozy room and a nice bed make you want to live here. Afterward we go to the pools and even in weather like snow, we had a good time going on the waterslide and swimming around. Every time we go we always get Italian sodas next to the pool. Then we went on my personal favorite part of the trip, The golf simulator! But there are other ball games too like soccer, basketball, baseball, and even zombie dodgeball! Finally, me and my brother loved the kid's pizza. And that was our trip to good old Fairmont.      

P.S. We love to feed the cute goats!