ALBANIA’S AGRO TOURISM Evolved from a Proud Heritage

Albania’s Agro Tourism

With its unspoiled landscape spread between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania presents a truly unique character and landmark. From the beautiful sandy beaches, the wild and untouched nature and the mountains along the rivers, charming Albania inspires with its mixture of civilizations and culture.

Agro tourism has long been part of Albania’s heritage, and this small country offers excellent traditional food prepared by real masters who have dedicated countless hours to their profession. Such is the case with Altin Prenga. Raised in Fishta, a village that still depends heavily on agriculture, his family left Albania to escape poverty when he was 15 he became more and more acquainted with cooking. In Italy he learned how to cook, how to pro-

Evolved from a Proud Heritage

cess milk, cheese and Italian meat. He also learned to make marmalades. As time went on his passion for cooking became bigger and he decided to continue creating his own story, but certainly in his hometown.

In 2009, Altin and his family decided to return to Albania and open a Slow Food restaurant in his native village, which respects the Albanian values and traditions. He makes a restoration of an old Albanian building to which he adds modern elements that fit ideally into the whole story. His restaurant is called “Mrizi i Zanave” which means traditional food. “Mrizi i Zanave” is part resort, part restaurant, part farm, part winery and part production facility, very popular facility in northern Albania and today the restaurant is part of the world gastronomic tourist maps.

Adventure Awaits

Forge your own path to Montana’s Trailhead and let the adventure begin. Born in the shadows of the Rimrocks, fed on the waters of the Yellowstone River, Billings offers you unparalleled views, just moments from downtown.

Foster the foodie in you in historic downtown Billings, busy with retail and culture by day, and a lively hot spot at night. Whether you are seeking an unforgettable dinner with hand crafted cocktails, award winning burgers, or a brunch so tasty you will look forward to mornings, Billings will take care of you. Many of the city’s restaurants pride themselves on locally sourced ingredients and creative chefs who are sure to impress.

Speaking of locally sourced, Montana has certainly embraced the Craft Beer Scene, and the Billings Brew Trail is the only walkable brewery district in the state. Billings’ boasts six breweries, two distilleries, and one cider house, most of which are within a 1.5-mile radius. To the west of the Brew Trail you can take in three more breweries and another distillery.

Within an hour of Billings are two historic National Monuments, Pompeys Pillar National Monument and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Pompeys Pillar displays the only remaining physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, where William Clark inscribed his name in 1806. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument memorializes the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn which took place is 1876 between the US Seventh Cavalry and Sitting Bull and the Sioux.

With over 50 miles of multi-use trails, Billings is an outdoor recreation town. For the mountain biker, Acton Recreation Area or Zimmerman Trail offer miles of trails for varying skill levels without the crowds. Hikers will enjoy it, too. Other popular biking and hiking spots include Phipps Park, Riverfront Park, and Dover Park. If you need paved trails, Swords Rimrock Park is a perfect place along the Rimrocks especially for sunrises and sunsets. And, don’t forget, some of the Montana’s best State Parks are easily accessed via Billings. Check out Pictograph Cave or Chief Plenty Coups State Parks. You can also rent a paddleboard, walk the trails, or enjoy the beach at Lake Elmo State Park.

Family-friendly adventures are around every corner in Billings, too. Start your journey at ZooMontana, the only zoo in the state! ZooMontana is home to more than 80 animal exhibits including Grizzly Bears, Amur Tigers, Red

Pandas, Bison, Wolves and more. Most of the animals are rescues. ZooMontana’s newest resident is Montana’s first sloth. Come meet Winston while you explore ZooMontana which also offers amazing grounds including one of Montana’s only accredited arboretums. Families also love to stretch their legs on one of the many trails at Riverfront Park where you can cast a line into near-by ponds or the Yellowstone River. You can check out the Montana Audubon Center and canoe, hike, fish, or bird watch. Want to extend the day? Pack extra pillows and blankets and plan a movie night at the Amusement Park Drive-In Theatre, too.

Montana is full of scenic drives, but perhaps none more scenic than the incredible Beartooth Highway. Voted by the American Motorcycle Association and USA Today as the Most Scenic drive in North America, it is your scenic route to Yellowstone National Park. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day, this scenic byway is sometimes open longer depending on the weather. The Beartooth Highway provides breathtaking vistas from start to finish. Reaching a peak of 10,977 feet through the pass, Roadtrippers or motorcyclists will take in Montana’s highest mountain range with 20 peaks over 12,000 feet.

Check out VisitBillings.com to start planning your trip! We can’t wait to host you.

Food Network Star Beau MacMillan

With stunning Paradise Valley as its backdrop, Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa cultivates balance and pure relaxation through inspiring treatments and tranquil environments.

Guided by the expertise of Food Network Star Chef Beau MacMillan and his talented staff, including Chef de Cuisine Samantha Sanz and Bar Chef Christiaan Rollich, dining at the mountain retreat is a special experience with a menu that features local, organic produce, sustainable seafood and hormone-free meat. Chef MacMillan recently spoke about his background and culinary philosophy.

HOW DID YOUR INTEREST IN COOKING BEGIN?

My interest in cooking began at a very early age. When I was a kid, I learned what true hospitality is by watching my grandmother and noticing everything she did for her family. I wanted to do that and bring that kind of joy to myself and others. My passion was accelerated by the cooking shows I would watch, like Great Chefs of America. I was mesmerized that those chefs could take something intangible and make it into something completely different. I knew cooking was my calling, and I’m thankful I’ve had the opportunity to make a career out of something I’m so passionate about.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR SIGNATURE DISHES?

While I’m constantly trying to evolve the menus and dishes at elements so they never become expected or stagnant, one of the most popular dishes at elements over the past 20 years is the Miso Glazed Wild Isle Salmon made with somen noodles, snow peas, heirloom carrots, ginger and coriander. Right now, my favorite menu item is the Wagyu Beef Cheek. It’s so tender and packed with flavor. For anyone who likes Korean BBQ, this is the dish for them. It comes braised with sweet corn puree, honjimeji mushroom shishito and green onion chermoula.

DESCRIBE YOUR CULINARY PHILOSOPHY.

My philosophy is to take simple and turn it into perfection. I always try to use ingredients that are recognizable. It’s not about overworking the ingredients but finding ways to turn food from its simplest form into something sophisticated and unique. Food doesn’t have to be complicated to be good. Sometimes the most flavorful dishes are the simplest ingredients prepared to perfection.

WHAT LED TO YOUR REGULAR APPEARANCES ON THE FOOD NETWORK?

One evening, a VP of production for Food Network dined at elements, and the next day he came back to ask if I would appear on Iron Chef. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

WHAT MAKES DINING AT ELEMENTS SUCH A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE?

Dining at elements is an incredible experience, and not just because of the food. Situated in Paradise Valley, the restaurant ambience features some of the most epic and mesmerizing views in the country. Accompanied with such quality food and cocktails, dining at elements is an unforgettable experience. We also pride ourselves on having a rock-star team. From the service team in the front to the masters of taste in the back, we are a team that works together like family and truly puts our guests at the forefront of our efforts. To complete our team, we recently welcomed two new powerhouse chefs - Chef de Cuisine Samantha Sanz and Bar Chef Christiaan Rollich. Chef Sanz started her career with us at elements and is now coming up with fresh new menu items our guests absolutely love. Bar Chef Rollich is an expert when it comes to spirits and is crafting the most incredible cocktails at jade bar. We’re thrilled to have both of them with us to elevate our already spectacular dining experience.

ADVENTURE HQ

CODY, WY

Cody is synonymous with whatever adventure synonyms you can come up with. Basecamp, adventure HQ, retreat, quintessential Western town, any and all of these are accurate descriptions of Cody, Wyoming. It’s a laid-back jumping off point for yearround adventures into Yellowstone and the magnifi cent surrounding areas. Whether you’re into deep river canyons, tundra, wildlife viewing or zip lining over a river that runs through a volcanically active area of fumaroles; your only limits here are the amount of time you’ve got and your tolerance for breathtaking natural beauty.

Unlike many of the other gateway towns to Yellowstone that were to some extent pitstops for weary travelers, Cody was the vision of none other than William Buffalo Bill Cody, a scout, solider, buffalo hunter, war hero and global entertainment icon. Buffalo Bill was by all accounts a rock star in his day, touring the world with his Wild West Show, entertaining heads of state and even a Pope along the way. Generations later, his namesake town has become a romanticized, delightfully quaint municipality fi lled with Western folklore, history and nostalgia.

Credit: @TRIGS_TRAVELS

At the eastern doorstep to Yellowstone, Cody is not only convenient, but it’s connected to some of the most spectacular ribbons of asphalt in the lower 48. One of those highways was described as “50 miles of the most scenic land in America” by the Rough Rider himself, Teddy Roosevelt; a man well acquainted with the epic outdoors.

The Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway follows the North Fork of the Shoshone River and winds through the Wapiti Valley where you’re likely to break the internet with your unending stream of wildlife photos featuring bears, bison, moose, elk and deer. The Lamar Valley, accessible via the Northeast Entrance, is another must-see in the area that has been nick named the American Serengeti, for reasons that will become all-too obvious to everyone pressing their faces up to the windows in your vehicle.

THE SERENGETI OF THE AMERICAN WEST

Clearly, wildlife viewing is one of the more popular activities here, but let’s not forget that recreational opportunities like climbing, biking, hiking, paddling, fl y fi shing, mountain biking and horseback riding are never more than a few minutes in any direction from Cody. Within the city limits, there’s much to see and do – like Cody’s rodeo legacy. Not only is it the nation’s longest running, continuous outdoor nitely rodeo, it’s also one that runs throughout the entire summer - June through August. Cody is also home to what some refer to as the Smithsonian of the West or the Buffalo Bill Center of the West; a place made up of fi ve distinct museums featuring exhibits that celebrate Western Art, Plains Indian cultures, fi rearm history, Buffalo Bill and so much more.

The bottom line is this; if you’re looking for a truly authentic, wide-open, American experience, Cody should definitely be at the top of your road trip bucket list.