Call of the wild

A short walk from Jackson's Town Square, the 30-room Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa offers luxury accommodations in a home-like setting. With freshly baked cookies served in the afternoon and attentive staff, I feel like I'm visiting a friend rather than staying in a hotel.

Guests enjoy a complimentary breakfast that's anything but ordinary ,including the signature eggs Benedict on croissant. Dinner at the in-house Wild Sage Restaurant is another gastronomic delight: Korobuta Pork & Key West Shrimp, Elk au Poivre, Grilled Vegetable Napoleon, and Montana Legend Beef Tenderloin to name a few. The extensive wine cellar includes Elk Cove Pinot Noir. And the Creme Brulee ranks as the best I've ever tasted. With contemporary cuisine like this, it's no surprise the Wild Sage is the only restaurant in Wyoming and Montana to earn the AAA Four Diamond Award.

The second-floor library has a large river rock fireplace flanked by tall bookcases. A step out on the balcony provides a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains, a chance to soak in the hot tub or to just relax on one of the loungers.

Besides the bed so big I need to jump into it, guests at the Rusty Parrot Lodge can also experience a treatment at the in-house Body Sage Spa.

Spa services include organic skin therapy, facials, body wraps, massage and indigenous treatments.

I try the Eh-Wah-Kee Mud Wrap. Known as the mud that heals, Eh Wah Kee originates from the Big Horn Mountain in Wyoming.

From my room, I'm escorted to the candle-lit treatment room by the massage therapist. As I lie on the table, a canopy is placed over my body, leaving my head exposed. A 15-minute steam, infused with a tranquil blend of lavender, lemon, clove and sage essential oils opens my pores and prepares my skin for the wrap. I'm quickly painted with the light grey mud and then wrapped up like a tortilla. While the mud detoxifies my system, I revel in a 15-minute foot massage. Almost too quickly, the treatment concludes, and I head to the shower to rinse of the mud.