roadtrip 2019     

Vic and Anna's Desert Hills B & B gets six stars out of 5 for gracious hospitality, excellent food, and 24/7 availability of fruit, coffee/tea, use of the dining room table for carry-in supper. The atmosphere is truly one of being invited and welcomed into someone's home. Vic is a master in the kitchen. They have 40 chickens that recycle all the leftover food into eggs (and, Anna says, all the chickens have names). Vegetables come from their garden.

[rant mode on] This is a real B &: B and not an airB&B, an important distinction: airB&:B places are big business now, many are corporate-owned, and they actually putting real ones out of business the same way corporate farms are driving out family-owned farms. The goal is not hospitality, it is maximum profit, and these places should not really be called Bed &: Breakfasts at all: most of the time there is no breakfast. And the sad thing is that many people are missing out on genuine human interaction and genuine hospitality (welcoming the "stranger at the gate" is central to every major spiritual tradition, as well as learning to be the welcomed guest, and how to behave as one). [rant mode off]

Vic and Anna obviously love what they are doing. Their web page is HERE. Desert Hills is located just outside the south edge city limits of Moab, Utah, an easy drive to both Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. The backdrop of red hills and snow-capped mountains puts this place over the top.

Located halfway between Bozeman and Livingston, Montana, in Bridger Canyon (15 minutes off I-90), this B & B is an absolute gem. We've been here twice and yes, there are wolves. They are rescue wolves and Howler's is federally licensed to house and care for the wolves, but not licensed as exhibitors; guests are welcome to view and photograph the wolves during their stay, but the inn is not open to the general public for viewing. There are currently three adult wolves and one 10-week-old pup who was just acquired. The pup was the only survivor of his litter, abandoned by their mother.

The setting is incredibly peaceful, though the wolves will howl at the crack of dawn (3:00 a.m.-ish) and intermitently through the early morning. Nate and Aurelie are warm and excellent hosts: conversation, breakfasts... the whole place is just the best.

Their web page is HERE.


Koa is the new wolf at Howler's. Photo is from their website. though he was hanging around the dining room at breakfast. In a couple weeks he will be old enough, and have all his vaccines, and will then join Shasta outside in the enclosure.

Text and images copyright 2018 Thomas D'Alessio and Jocelyn Boor