Fodor's Expert Review Rainbow Ranch Lodge

The Rainbow Ranch Lodge's original 1919 main building has been painstakingly restored to its original glory after a 2008 fire, while guests stay in two separate room sections, and special events are held in the barn. The log-accented rooms perch alongside the Gallatin River, where guests can fish from the riverbank or in the rainbow trout–stocked pond (catch and release). An outdoor fireplace stands beside the infinity hot tub. Animal and fishing motifs decorate the spacious guest rooms, which have wood-burning fireplaces (most), filtered water, lodgepole-pine beds, and down comforters. The exceptional restaurant ($$$$), decorated with Western paintings, has one of the state's largest collections of wines, 8,500 bottles, displayed in the Bacchus Room, where groups of up to 10 can dine. Fresh fish is flown in daily. Among the game dishes are elk ragout and a 20-oz. boneless bison rib eye with tarragon salsa verde.