Alaska Airlines Adds MORE Aloha {BLI to KOA}

[trip style = sun + beach]

Earlier this year I was asked if I would be interested in covering the inaugural {and nonstop!} Alaska Airlines flight from Bellingham, Washington to Kona, Hawaii. Obviously... Hawaii is ALWAYS a good idea, and I *really* love the island's ultra-tropical cocktail blending sand-sational coastal life with otherworldly landscapes in the upcountry. I'm also a superfan of Alaska Airlines—in my opinion they have THE best customer service AND mileage program in North America—so the answer was an immediate, YES. {As always, I'm not being paid to say this; Alaska is my go-to airline for US travel.}

Instead of going solo on a quick reporting trip, I decided to bring all the Stylers using my Alaska Airlines Mastercard companion pass for Mr. Trip Styler and Blue Styler {Pink Styler flies for free because she is under 2}. 

I'm writing about this Vancouver-vicinity to Hawaii flight because it's a big deal. Currently, WestJet is the only carrier to do a direct from Vancouver to Kona {Air Canada starts seasonal service mid-December}, and it's not my favorite as the WJ flight times run in red-eye territory making it tough to adjust between time zones. Enter the new Alaska flight, which leaves in the morn from Bellingham and comes back to the mainland at 1pm, and the Bellingham Airport is just 20-minute jaunt from the border {or one hour from downtown Vancouver}. 

The Details
Alaska Airlines nonstop service from Bellingham to Kona just started on November 12th, 2016 and runs until April 1, 2017. The fuel-efficient next-gen Boeing 737 aircraft offers a three-and-three seating configuration and departs once weekly every Saturday. As for entertainment, you can connect to Alaska's inflight entertainment through your own device, or on a pre-loaded tablet they rent at the beginning of the journey.  

Not that you need any convincing to hightail it to the Island of Hawaii, buuuuuuuuuut:

Walking on the beach at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, a gorgeous stay edging the sunny Kohala Coast

Turtles in Anaeho'omalu Bay, otherwise known as "A Bay"

Pololu Valley Lookout, a must-do viewpoint and hike overlooking the island's northeastern coastline

Upcountry yee-haw: Horseback riding on an 11,000-acre working ranch stretching from the rainforest to the sea with Paniolo Adventures.

Savoring the sunset and farm- and fish-to-fork cuisine at The CanoeHouse, a Hawaii must-eat since 1989.

Sunset views c/o the Island of Hawaii

[Photos taken by @tripstyler, except the lead snap, courtesy of Alaska Airlines]

Montana on my Mind :: Whitefish

[trip style = adventure + food/wine]

{Editor's Note: This is the second post in a multipart series on Montana. Don't miss part one.} 

Like the rest of Montana, you breathe deeper in Whitefish, Big Sky Country's prime adventuretown at the cusp of the continental divide. Sure, the far-reaching forests add an oxygen boost to the air quality, but it's more than that. The ultra-kind western hospitality helps, too. As do the 360-degree mountain views, glacial lakes and raging rivers. Mostly, the air up there is filled with a spirit of creativity sparked by a place that fuels passions.

"Take a quiet walk with nature; it will nurture your mind, body, and soul."
- Anthony Douglas Williams  

As I wander our planet, I've noticed a commonality in every area code: Those who are inspired by their environment create well whether that's cuisine, handicrafts or art. Whitefish is a good example of this. The nature-centric activities—cue residents traipsing around town in their fly fishing waders, cycling armor, or hiking boots—encourage a well of inspiration. The result: A cool town where locals live life to the fullest at every elevation. 

Inspired by this place and its pursuits, here are the trip styled spots to stay, shop, sip and eat in Whitefish, Montana:  

Shop :: Miakoda in Stumptown Marketplace. I wanted to buy e-v-e-r-y piece of leather in this shop, though with only a carry-on in tow, I chose something small: A leather necklace. Using local hides in most of her designs, shopgal Alexandra relocated to Montana to explore her passion for leather-making and life in the rugged wild. 

Shop :: Meriwether of Montana, a cheeky-cool gift shop—so popular they are now selling their wares across the country—with campy mugs, handkerchiefs, and humorous keychains with inscriptions such as "Humble with a dash of Kanye," scattered throughout the store. 

Shop :: Harlow. If I lived in Whitefish, I'd buy my entire wardrobe here. When I visited, I became a regular stopping in to chat with staff and try on the gorgeous garments ranging from Mother Denim jeans to Free People dresses to Cleobella bags.   

Eat :: Sweet Peaks. Sweet Peaks is delicious in every way from its local dairy and oh-so Montana flavors. Hello huckleberry, and cardamom plum swirl, my mouth was VERY pleased to meet you. 

Sip :: Spotted Bear Spirits. Enter the bar of my dreams with its leather-bound menus, wildflower-filled vases and ultra-local spirit{s}. Stop in for a sip of their vodka, gin or liqueurs, or stay awhile and have a craft cocktail or two. Cheers.

Stay :: The Firebrand Hotel. Located in downtown Whitefish, this property is the newest and most boutique addition to the town's growing list of accoms.  

[Photos taken by @tripstyler—except lead and firebrand courtesy of town/hotel—when I visited Montana in partnership with Expedia. As you know, I only write about what I LOVE.]

Montana on my Mind

[trip style = adventure]

{Editor's Note: This is part one of a multipart series on Montana. Check out part two about Whitefish, the state's creative-cool adventuretown.}

Despite its A-list appeal {you KNOW a ton of celebs have estates in Montana, right?}, you don't see too many photos of Big Sky Country splashed across the media, like St. Tropez or Capri. Why? Well, it's very hush-hush. When heads of state, CEOs and stars arrive, they don't parade around in paparazzi-ready outfits or fancy wheels; instead they "get lost" in Montana's 94,109,542 acres of rolling hills, dude ranches and snow-capped peaks. 

Many travel stories talk about the merits of getting lost, proclaiming this is when you'll "be found," or find what you're looking for; rest, relaxation, insight, love, etc... At the risk of being cliché, I had a sense of that foundness. I found peace losing myself in Montana's natural state pairing straight-up nature and good country folk.

Unhindered by mega-cities or shiny anything, I saw why Montanans—both the born and bred and those who've relocated for a reality check and rest—have a deep reverence for their stomping grounds. Sure, private jets come and go, but Montana stays the same, and that's its magic.

Here are a few highlights from my trip a few months ago.

First stop: Missoula with Mount Sentinel in the background.

Wildflowers and views for miles while hiking to the M {see the tiny "M" in the background of the previous photo} etched into Mount Sentinel.

The hour-long hike gently zigzags up the hill, making the trail ideal for an easy-breezy climb or a heart-racing run.

Watching award-winning Native American and First Nations dancers from the USA and Canada at Ninepipes Lodge as they celebrate and prepare for summer powwows. Note that every stitch and piece of their traditional dress is made by hand. 

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. 

Beep beep! All aboard the vintage Red Bus tour—so retro the fleet has been in service since 1914—of Glacier Country. 

Revelling in the views—and making mental notes of which adventures I'd like to come back and do—in Glacier National Park. 

Stampede! Welcome to Flathead Lake Lodge, a dude ranch and waterfront retreat that's so authentically "western," you wonder if Clint Eastwood will ride by on a horse.

Flathead Lake Lodge, one of Montana's iconic stays, has been welcoming guests since the 1940s.

Learning about horses with Flathead Lake Lodge's head wrangler and her fairytale horse.

"When in Rome." At the ranch I purchased an authentic Stetson felt hat. This fine gent sized it to my head with steam and a steady hand. 

Wearing "the hat" while trying my hand at lassoing.

The sunset of all sunsets over Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.

[Photos taken by @tripstyler when I visited Montana with a group of travel writers from around the world. As always, I only write about what I LOVE, and I'm already planning my next trip to Glacier Country with the rest of Trip Styl'in crew. Yahoo!]