Gift Guide: Travel

World Travel medical kit

By Felicia Ennis, Big Sky Weekly Contributor

Adventure Medical Kits World Travel kit contains the necessary supplies for traveling to remote locations where medical assistance may be hours or days away.

It’s easy to integrate into any packing repertoire. A first aid kit is only useful if you have it with you.

I plan to take this kit with me to Morocco this spring. It’s well equipped for foreign travel. Why? A central piece in all Adventure Medical kits is included: a book called, A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine, by Eric A. Weiss, M.D. It is an excellent first aid book and easy reference. When in doubt consult the experts.

The World Travel kit provides:

Notable specs:

Felicia Ennis owns Bella Treks, an international travel business. She draws from her own travel experiences to create unique custom itineraries. Bellatreks.com

Moonlight Basin Value Cards

Looking for a budget-friendly way to enjoy skiing this winter? Try Moonlight Basin’s new Value Card—on sale until Dec. 16. The $49 value card gives you the first day of skiing free, plus discounts all season long at Moonlight. Purchase online at moonlightbasin.com.

Retro prints from White Creek Art

Inspired by old-fashioned European travel posters, Bozeman photographer Travis Andersen created an appealing and colorful series of retro-style images for Big Sky, Moonlight Basin, Bridger Bowl and other Western ski areas.

Andersen studied historic travel posters, which he says were common from the early 1900s to the 1950s, “when skiing was more romantic,” he says.

Based on posters from the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, Andersen’s skiers have wooden skis, leather lace-up boots, and white collars underneath ski sweaters. That post-WWII era was the beginning of American ski areas.

“I want them to be accurate to the places that they’re from,” he says. That’s easy for Sun Valley, which was built in the late ‘30s, but “it’s harder when you talk about Big Sky and Moonlight, because they didn’t exist.”
So he made silkscreen style prints that beautifully capture Lone Mountain’s moods and the nature of each ski area. Some of the images are stylizations of Andersen’s photos, and others are based on commissioned paintings.

Additional ski prints include Grand Targhee, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, Alta and Valdez. In summer, Andersen has vintage fly fishing posters from the Gallatin, Madison, Yellowstone, Snake and Missouri rivers. E.S.

18×24” posters available at Moonlight Basin, Plum Logo in Big Sky, and at the Old Main Gallery in downtown Bozeman. Larger canvas artwork available at Big Sky Furniture and at whitecreekart.com. $25 for posters

Weekend getaway: Chico Hot Springs

By Katie Morrison, Explorebigsky.com Contributor
I wouldn’t live in Big Sky if I didn’t love the snow, but ausually we need to defrost at some point during the winter. My favorite local vacation spot is Chico Hot Springs’ Winter Getaway special.

The healing hot springs and soapstone fireplace are just the beginning of the magic that warms from the soul outward. It continues with the generous and recognizable staff, dinner in a cozy nook of the award winning restaurant with a glass of red wine, and finishes with the orange flambé.

Breakfast and a morning soak make it difficult to leave, but don’t worry—you’ll be back.

If Santa’s reading this, Katie would like a Chico Hot Springs gift certificate because she’s really cold and it’s only December.

The packages are available Sun-Thurs, Jan. 3- April 26 (excluding holidays), and include a room with private bath, dinner, and breakfast. Add massages for $135.
chicohotsprings.com $189-$234

Duffel: Osprey Transporter

By Emily Stifler, Explorebigsky.com Managing Editor
I take this bag everywhere. I have the 95-liter size, which isn’t too big and definitely is not too small.

I’ve taken it on an expedition to northern Canada, to Dallas to visit my grandmother, and left it in the back of the truck in a rainstorm on the way back from B.C. last winter. It still looks brand new and my stuff even stayed dry.

The dual end pockets are good for long trips—put your crayons in one side and your makeup in the other. The top pouch on the lid is where I keep my leatherman and notes from my mom.

The QuikCarry™ harness system lets you carry it like a backpack, which is good for carrying more than one piece of luggage. It disappears into one of the end pockets, when you’re not using it.

The only issue I have with this bag is that when the zip pocket is open, it’s awkward to pick it up by the handle on the lid. Luckily there are handles on the side, so it always works out.

Also available in 75, 60 and 46 L sizes. The 46 is the maximum legal carryon size and fits perfectly in overahead compartments.

Sold at rei.com and backcountrygear.com, or check out Osprey’s dealer locator at ospreypacks.com. $69-$99.