Two of the finest private residential clubs in the

Two of the finest private residential clubs in the Rockies call Big Skyhome. Perhaps you should, as well.

To live in Big Sky, to have a home here, is something many people aspire to - and for good reason.

What draws people here? For some, it's the world-class skiing at Big Sky Resort. For others, it's fly fishing the blue-ribbon Gallatin River. For still others, it's simply the inescapable experience of being amidst some of the most stunning scenery in Montana - mountains and forests that, when seen from the windows of a home, constantly beckon the viewer to be amidst them, look for wildlife, and just embrace the outdoors. To live in Big Sky is to love a lifestyle like no other.

The reasons are many, and that is why Big Sky, Montana is such a unique place to call home. It's a small and growing mountain town, where the people are not just passionate about the community, but equally passionate about taking full advantage of what it has to offer. It's a place not just to have a home, but to truly live. And two of the best places to do this are Spanish Peaks Mountain Club and Moonlight Basin.

Moonlight Basin is set on the northern side of Big Sky's iconic Lone Peak; Spanish Peaks Mountain Club is set on i ts southern side. While quite different, both Clubs speak to individuals and families who want to revel in the beauty of the mountains and enjoy a remarkable quality of life. While members hail from different backgrounds and all parts of the country, they share a common bond that has its roots in the simple desire to be in Montana. A desire that urges them to be amongst the company of like-minded people, sharing laughter and memories, relaxing, and playing in the outdoors.

MOONLIGHT BASIN, 8,000 ACRES OF WOW. Let's visit Moonlight Basin first on a typical powder day mid-winter. Moonlight Members have a true passion for skiing, and it shows. The excitement is palpable. Looking out at Lone Peak from the windows at Moonlight Lodge, the view is of untracked powder and a clearing storm.

It's time to ski, time to snowboard, time to get after it. Fun awaits. And out the doors of the Moonlight Lodge, straight to the chairlift they go. All motivated by their love of snow. Later, over lunch or cold beers at apres, stories of the day are shared, and plans are made for the next morning.

This is how it goes. Day after day after day. And that's just the beginning of outdoor revelry at Moonlight. With more than 8,000 acres to explore, most of it untouched by anything but wildlife, flora & fauna, and wide-open spaces, the opportunities are endless.

A hot spot for families and couples alike, both winter and summer, is Ulery's Lake. Members gather here for BBQs and to snack at the Carpe Diem food truck, paddle boarding, fly fishing and swimming in the summer; ice skating, sledding, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. The Yurt at Ulery's Lake is basecamp for Moonlight's guided trips, mountain biking, hiking, and fat tire biking, adjacent to 20 acres of private trails.

Just as impressive is The Reserve golf course, hosting some of the most spectacular vistas in Big Sky from every tee and green. Moonlight Basin is a place where the outside and inside create a confluence that delivers an adventurous lifestyle to its members like no other in the Rockies.

SPANISH PEAKS MOUNTAIN CLUB, THE COMFORTS OF HOME AND LUXURY. On the opposite side of Lone Peak, sits Spanish Peaks Mountain Club. Visit the Clubhouse on any given day, winter or summer, and you get a sense that members here feel at home with friends and family.

Whether it's second homeowners or full-time residents, this is a place where people come to relax, retreat, and spend time doing what's important. Families playing board games fill the lounge, members and staff greet one another with warm welcomes, children frolic outside together in groups of various ages, friends and siblings make crafts and ice cream sundaes at Fort Peaks, the epicenter for everything kids love to do at SP.

This all takes place with the Spanish Peaks mountain range in close view, reminding members daily why they are here and why they never want to leave.

While the Club amenities, outdoor activities, family programming, ski access, golf-with-a-view on the Tom Weiskopf designed course, and member events are all abundant at Spanish Peaks, it's the simple pleasures and subtle luxuries that make it a place to call home. Relax and stay a while, or maybe forever - that's the feeling one gets when arriving at SP.

Big Sky continues to grow and evolve in many ways, as do Moonlight Basin and Spanish Peaks Mountain Club. But what remains the same is the allure for people who want a full and healthy life, and a place to come home to in the mountains.