Our route through Montana changed entirely once we encountered the flooding in the eastern part of the state, then wound our way through Yellowstone, down to Jackson and back up to Montana via Idaho only for the rain to follow our every twist and turn. Big Sky was out, Bozeman was too far to backtrack, Ennis was an unexpectedly delightful stop, but where to go from here? Enter: Tia to the rescue! She told us to go to Philipsburg, so go to Philipsburg we did.
Tia and I have been long-time Twitter friends, plus she’s helped me immensely with information for print stories in the past—and we finally got to meet, too, (twice!) when I was up in Glacier County—and as it just so happens, she also works for Glacier County Tourism. Talk about the perfect person to Tweet with you when you’re in a pinch in her home state.
But why Philipsburg, you ask? Well, Tia just threw out those three magic words, “the Sweet Palace,” and that’s all it took for me to leave I-90 and detour along the Anaconda-Pintler Scenic Route to make sure we got to “see” Philipsburg. And by “see Philipsburg,” I clearly mean eat my way through the minute town.
Here’s the thing: I’m usually not wild about candy stores. While I love to go in and browse on occasion, they’re usually heavier on the candy than they are on the chocolate, and the latter excites me far more than the former. I lived right next to Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York for a stint and managed to pass it every most days without so much as a second glance.
But this place! This place was two stories and had 1,024 different kind of candies. How could I not indulge?
And it wasn’t even that pricey either. I walked out with a bounty of two mixed bags and a small box of hand-crafted chocolates and it only set me back $15 (which still sounds like a lot, but compared to most candy stores? peanuts).
It was the closest I might ever come to being a cast member in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
After I rolled myself out of the Sweet Palace, I was so stuffed from fudge (complimentary at checkout!) and salted caramels that I didn’t even have the stomach capacity for an ice cream at Doe Brothers. Instead, I opted for coffee. But that’s OK, because there was hardly a meal that passed where I didn’t have a Wilcoxson’s huckleberry ice cream sandwich for dessert. Those little 99-cent delights kept me going for a good half of our trip.
There were candy-colored houses and plenty of coffee shops. There were trinket stores and gourmet food emporiums and all the cutesy storefronts you want out of such a town. Alas, it was Sunday night when we arrived—we put the pedal to the medal to make it to the Sweet Palace an hour before it closed—but most everything else in town was shuttered. So we peered in windows and vowed to come back one day.
There was even a resident circus monkey on one corner. OK, maybe not technically a monkey, but she did perform on command for a large group of tourists. They were all giving her high fives and asking her to do her polar bear and overall impressed that a six-pound dog could be so well trained (little do they know…heh).
So next time you’re in western Montana, follow suit and detour yourself! You may not find a circus dog, but I’m pretty sure the Sweet Palace isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
*****
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lovely story and great photographs, thanks. I’m also thinking about there being an Ennis in Montana, and that name likely coming from an Irish person missing the Ennis in County Clare…
Thanks for the virtual cavities!
Speaking of unrealized dreams…
I’ve been obsessed with Montana ever since my first college cross country race there (in the fall, this so cal girl LOVED the beautiful leaves, but racing in the altitude was a different story!), and have longed to go back ever since my college running days were over. And this candy shop, might just be calling my name!!
Oh man. Racing in the altitude, I can’t even imagine. Scott and I would get so winded just from walking up the stairs–and I think I’m in fairly good shape!
Love how you find the out of the way spots and take us all there with your great photos! We just spent some time in a candy store that looked almost exactly like that. But, like you said, not enough chocolate.
Thank you, Jessica! I’m so glad someone else gets how sad it is when a candy store has a low chocolate supply 😉
Aw, I hate that you missed Big Sky, but Philipsburg sounds like an awesome, ahem, sweet place!
Me, too, but we checked and so much stuff was closed until mid-June, plus with the weather, there wouldn’t have been a lot to do. BUT, we’re contemplating visiting during ski season, so there’s that.
My children wouldn’t know what to do with themselves in that candy store. They would want to buy one of everything!
Your children and I most definitely should NOT travel together. I’m an enabler and would encourage that action!
what lovely photos – such COLORS!! i got sugar shock just from reading, LOL!
Mmmmm, salted caramels. I had at LEAST 12 of those after stopping at The Sweet Palace! Love this post!
xox
I think I only bought five and then was seriously regretting that decision when they were all gone by the time we reached Missoula.
Gorgeous skies you had for photographs!
One of the few afternoons the rain let up long enough for me to take some pictures =)
There isn’t a single thing I dislike about this post. 1,024 different kind of candies? Yes, please. You’ve convinced me to go see Montana now 😉
My kind of girl! I’ll go with you. I’m craving those handmade chocolates and sea salt caramels something awful!
I loved this post – it looks like an incredible candy store – I don’t get up to Montana often, er ever, but when I do, this will be on the list!
Thanks for sharing!
~Becca
What a quaint little town… I love Montana! I am glad that in my visits there I never knew about this store or I would weigh approx. twice my current weight.
I would have detoured for that too! You have one of my favorites in your bag – the Brach’s Jelly Nougat – love them!
We’re going to have to mark this one on the map! I’m not sure when we’ll be back through Montana, but my husband would never forgive me if we were and I didn’t stop here.
Drooling over here just thinking about all that candy and the SODA FOUNTAIN, omg.
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we’ll be back through Montana
great post thanks for sharing
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