Montanaaaa, the state I never knew I needed. After months of working from home and being home Trae and I decided it was time to go on a trip. Thinking about where to go and still being able to stay safe from the pandemic cut many of our other first options down. This was the perfect time though to finally explore Big Sky Country. I can’t believe that Trae actually agreed to it, but I’m so glad he did!
We flew into Bozeman and it was the cutest mountain town ever! It was the perfect getaway.
Here’s what our trip looked like:
Where to Stay?
We stayed at The RSVP Motel. The RSVP motel is a renovated motel about a 5-minute drive from downtown Bozeman. It is probably one of the cutest hotels I’ve seen. Super pink, girly and most importantly clean. We stayed in a queen bedroom and it was spacious enough for the both of us.
The hotel also has a pool and guests get a complimentary glass of champagne when you stay there. The RSVP Motel is a unique stay anywhere but will make your stay in Bozeman more special. Let’s not forget the café they have connected to the hotel called “The Farmer’s Daughter.” Everything we ordered was very delicious and was a great first stop on our trip.
Where to Eat?
I mentioned that the farmer’s daughter is connected to the RSVP motel and was very good. It’s a great option for breakfast or brunch. Pro tip: get the avocado toast.
The PERFECT date night spot in Bozeman. This was a really beautiful and romantic restaurant in Bozeman specializing in pizza and Italian dishes. It was *chefs kiss.*
We ordered the Speck and Salsiccia pizza + the Ricotta Ravioli. Both pizzas blew it out of the water. I have no great photos of the pizza but I promise it’s great!
Get here EARLY. Lines start around 7am, so this was our stop before heading out to Yellowstone. Donuts are made fresh every morning and they have a variety of flavors, I wanted to try them all!
Ok, hear me out. We were driving the majority of the day so we were TIRED by Saturday night. We wanted something quick and I had seen Taco Johns throughout our trip. I decided I wanted to try it, because why not? Lol.
It’s like the west’s version of Taco Bell. We ordered the quesadilla tacos, hashbrowns, tacos and churros. Everything was as delicious as food can be from a fast food joint. I’m a taco bell loyalist but Taco John’s was a solid choice, I recommend if you’re in the area.
The perfect spot for breakfast/brunch. Get there early or be prepared to wait. We waited around 30 minutes. Pro tip: order the pancakes (any of them), they are SO good. I also ordered the eggs benedict and really enjoyed. Jam is right in the middle of downtown Bozeman so the location is convenient.
I knew my time in Montana wouldn’t be complete until I got to eat anything bison. In this case, it was a bison burger. I ordered the wildfire burger and it was everything I was looking for. It came with caramelized onions, crispy jalapeno, sriracha aioli and pepper jack cheese. Burger was juicy and flavorful. Two words: ORDER IT.
What to Do?
Bozeman is a lovely mountain town and is a nature and hiker lover’s paradise. My number one tip for a trip to Bozeman is to rent a jeep (anything but a sedan). We were fine throughout Yellowstone but getting to certain trails in Bozeman were rougher with unpaved roads, so a jeep is highly suggested.
If you want to safely get up close and personal with bears, this is your place. The bears here have been saved from abusive environments and I belive they only have a couple of bears now. When we went we saw one, named Bella. She was huuuuge. Its unreal seeing them so close up.
Go ATV’ing
This is the perfect activity for those who want to sight see but don’t care too much for the hiking part of it. There are a couple of companies that do RV rentals, you can find them here:
You’ll find different trail options whether you’re a beginner or expert. Some even note if the trail you’ll be riding has frequent wildlife.
This is an extremely easy and family friendly “hike” that gives you IMPRESSIVE views of the mountains. We went right for sunset and it was beautiful.
Have I mentioned how beautiful the state of Montana is? I’m still in awe that I got to witness it IN PERSON. Hyalite Recreation was nothing short of amazing. Hyalite Recreation has various trails, waterfalls, creeks and camping sites. The hiking options are endless.
I would recommend starting out with Palisade Falls. This waterfall drops more than 80 feet and the trail is mostly paved. It’s easy and pretty quick to get to. Bask in all of the coolness when you get there and take the views in.
Next, check out Grotto Falls. Pro tip: you will lose cellular service so screenshot all of your directions before you head out to them just in case. Grotto Falls is a longer hike out than Palisade and the incline is a tad steeper but just as worth it. Parking lot is bigger than the one at Palisade Fall.
Don’t forget to take in Hyalite Reservoir. This mountain valley truly had me at a loss for words, it’s just unbelievable that we live on an earth with such beautiful nature.
You can paddle board, fish, swim and kayak here and there is no hiking to get to this point.
My time in Bozeman felt short, but I had the most amazing and chill time here. I can’t wait to go back some day. If you’ve never considered venturing out to this area of the states, I encourage you to do some research and think about it! It was a trip that I more than likely would not have done as soon as I did (2020) had it not been to the pandemic.
Have you ever been to Bozeman? If so, let me know in the comments below!
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