Perhaps the phrase “family vacation” conjures for you the soothing sounds of the beach or the magical world of Disney. For flourish Designer, Steve Shuman, it recalls the sights and sounds of Montana’s Glacier National Park. Vacationing here is a tradition started by his mother’s family in the 1930s.
Steve, his wife Kellie and their 1-year old daughter, Kennedy, are keeping this tradition alive and recently returned from a trip to the “Treasure State.” In fact, Steve’s entire extended family headed to the Pacific Northwest. A phenomenon known as “the converging Shumans,” resulted in the entire Shuman clan meeting at the Belgrade, MT home of Steve’s brother, Sam and his family.
Their days were spent at Montana Wilderness School of the Bible; a college level school that is operated by Steve’s Aunt and Uncle, and Apgar Campground nestled on the shore of Lake McDonald. Day hikes, including one across the famous Highline Trail, were highlights of the trip for Steve. “Everyone was together and Kennedy giggled with every bounce of her Baby Bjorn,” he recalled with a grin. Montana is called “Big Sky Country” and hiking the Highline Trail always provides proof that this is no misnomer. “Everything is just so spread out. The horizon goes on forever,” he described.
Planning a trip to Montana? Must see sights and destinations, according to Steve, include: Glacier National Park, Izaak Walton Inn for a great meal, and one of the highlights of Glacier National Park; a drive down the engineering marvel, known as Going-to-the-Sun Road. Whatever your plans, prepare for breathtaking adventures. And who knows? You just might have a Shuman sighting or hear a bear like Steve’s wife, Kellie, swears she did!
