Distinctly Montana Magazine

76 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 "W HAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FIRST?" That's the question my little ones ask when we're driv- ing to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort outside of Anaconda. At seven and nine, they show remark- able 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 dif- ficult. 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 Fair- mont. 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 cou- ple 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 fireplac- es, 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' bounceability with a few trial jumps. Taking the Waters (and More!) at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort FAIRMONT by SHERMAN CAHILL

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