Come along with us on our Big Sky, Montana trip recap! Today I’m sharing part I as we journey to the mountains!

We just returned from a beautiful week in Big Sky, Montana, and we had a blast! (Okay, to be fair: I had such a blast; the hubs was less-than-thrilled to be traveling from cold winter weather to even colder temperatures + a bunch of snow. But I think he had fun working on his skiing, so it’s all good 😀 ). Traveling can be a bit of pain if you struggle with it, that’s why having things to distract you is so important, for example, you can use your phone to stream content and help you pass the time, but it is important to first check out the best vpn for iphone or whatever handset you use, so you can remain safe whilst streaming as well as watch shows you may not get in your area. These types of things can help the time pass quickly.

I’m excited to get back into adding some video content to this blog, and so without any further adieu, check out part one of my trip recap: traveling to Bozeman, Montana (the closest airport) and then heading out to our mountain home for the week!

where to stay

Big Sky, Montana is somewhat different from other ski resorts in that it is spread out more. The town center is about a 15 minute drive from Big Sky Resort, and so the best place to stay would be somewhere right near the mountain so you can easily access the slopes, and then drive anywhere else you need to go for dinner, shopping, etc. There are a number of restaurants right at the resort as well, however, so you could probably get away without renting a car and just shuttle or Uber to and front the airport.

That being said, we chose to rent a car to make things easier, especially because we planned to do some activities besides just skiing. We chose to stay in a VRBO (AirBNB is another rental company) where we rented directly from the owners of a ski-in/ski-out condo on the mountain, and this turned out to be a fantastic choice: it was so easy to throw our skis on and head out to the mountain and then just ski home at the end of the day!

where to eat

The last time I went to Big Sky I was a teenager, and I recall only one meal that I had (because it was fabulous): at the Rainbow Ranch Lodge. Suffice it to say, the food game in Big Sky is on point! Here are our favorite eats from the trip:

• Rainbow Ranch Lodge: Surrounded by beautiful views, the Rainbow Ranch Lodge has been around since 1919, but a large portion of it actually burned down in 2008. I am so grateful they rebuilt, as the food was outstanding and the service was top-notch! They have a cute lounge-y bar area too. (What to order: scotch egg, and anything that has wild game in it: especially elk!)
• Everett’s 8800: This ranks right up there on the list of “life experiences not to be missed.” Everett’s 8800 is an on-the-mountain restaurant serving “American alpine” cuisine, and it does not disappoint! The best part? If you eat here for dinner you get to walk up to the chairlift and ride it up to the restaurant and back sans skis or snowboard for a truly unique (and mildly creepy!) experience. (What to order: honey brulee app, bison ravioli, veal.)
• Horn & Cantle: Talk about excellent: this place was so good for dinner on our first night in town that we came back for lunch later in the week! They have an awesome “skier’s buffet” option for lunch too! (What to order: char siu pork belly – don’t miss it! – and duck cassoulet.)
• Michaelangelo’s Big Sky: When I think of “out west”, I don’t think Italian, that’s for sure. But Michaelangelo’s did not disappoint: it was some of the best Italian food I’ve had anywhere! (What to order: beef carpaccio, gnocchi, bison ravioli, or the veal tenderloin.)

what to do

There are so many things to do around Big Sky, so be sure to take a day or two off from skiing or snowboarding for these other fun activities!

• Dog sledding: We spent one morning dog sledding with Spirit of the North Dog Sled Adventures and it was probably the most fun I had all trip! They are reasonably priced and teach you a lot about the dogs, and they even give you the option to learn how to mush!
• Ice skating: In town there is a skating rink that is available at some times for free skate. Be sure to check it out!
• Hiking: There are a tonnn of trails around Big Sky, so throw on your boots, grab a buddy, (make sure someone knows where you are), and head out to explore! You can see all kinds of wildlife on these trails, and I really enjoyed Beehive Basin Trail which was super peaceful and gorgeous.

Up next: part II of our trip! Stay tuned!

Share with me below: what is your favorite thing to do on cold-weather vacations? Share with me in the comments below!