We can’t say enough how touched we are that friends are traveling so far to celebrate with us! For those of you that aren’t from the area, we really want to help you have a great time and really experience all that Montana has to offer. We believe it’s the best place in the world, and we hope that you love it just as much as we do!

Below we have outlined some of the best places in the area and written out our recommendations. If you are planning a trip, please reach out to us for any help. Specifically, we can help you figure out the best route to hit all the places you want to see- Montana is huge and it really helps to have a local’s insight! Text us anytime: Jake- 406-794-2557; Dani- 480-444-8564

There is a reason that Glacier National Park is called The Jewel of the Continent. It is truly one of the most beautiful places in Montana! While it is a bit of a drive from Billings/Bozeman, it will unquestionably be worth the trek to get there.

Things to do in Glacier:

- Travel the Going to the Sun Road for epic views. If you are driving yourself you need to purchase a permit for your car. Otherwise there is a shuttle service.

- Lake McDonald is famous for its clarity, and its said that in the right light the rocks beneath the surface of the lake shimmer like jewels. There is a lodge at Lake McDonald where you can get a meal. There are also a number of easy hikes in the area (check out All Trails for suggestions

- Avalanche Lake is an easy hike with gorgeous waterfalls

Things to know:

- Check the National Parks Service Glacier page before going to make sure you have paid the necessary fees and made the necessary registrations. Book as early!

Things to do near Glacier:

- Flathead lake is near the park, and also very beautiful. You can rent a boat for the day, or do a hike near the lake (check All Trails), or have lunch on its shores (restaurant recommendations: The Raven, and Harbor Grille)

- Flathead cherries are a favorite in Montana. They will begin popping in mid to late July, so keep your eyes out for stands selling them! And even consider finding an orchard to go cherry picking.

- Go white water rafting- the views in this area will be gorgeous, and with the snow melt that time of year, the rafting should be really fun!

Yellowstone is located on top of a massive volcanic caldera, which gives is a wealth of interesting geologic features to see. It’s also a wonderful location to view Montana wildlife.

Things to do in Yellowstone:

For interesting geologic/volcanic features:

- Old Faithful

- Grand Prismatic

- Mammoth Hot Springs

- See bubbling mud pots

For animals: You will see animals throughout Yellowstone, especially bison, elk, and deer. If you would like to see some of the harder-to-spot animals (wolves, bears, moose) we highly recommend driving through the Lamar Valley (between Gardiner and Cooke City) at sunrise or sunset. Bring binoculars!

Things to know:

- Yellowstone has not implemented a reservation system the way that Glacier has, so it gets BUSY. We highly recommend going to Yellowstone sites as early in the morning as possible.

- Yellowstone Hot Springs near Gardiner is Dani’s favorite hot springs in Montana- if you needed a recommendation!

The Beartooth mountains are one of our most happiest of places! In the winter we ski there, and in the summer we backpack there.

Things to do in the Beartooth’s:

- Red Lodge: This is our local ski town where we spend many weekends in the winter. It’s an adorable little mountain town with great restaurants (our favorites are One Legged Magpie and Prerogative Kitchen), fun bars (go to Snowcreek Saloon), and cute little shops. There are also gorgeous hikes all around Red Lodge to check out.

- Bear Creek Saloon: at the base of the Beartooths and pretty near to Red Lodge, The Bear Creek Saloon is a local staple. In the summertime they hold pig races in the evenings on a little track out behind the saloon. It’s very fun to come, enjoy a steak dinner, and bet on which piggy you think will win! Its also very fun for little kids, who get to pet the pigs between races.

- Drive the Beartooth Highway: This is one of the most beautiful drives in America. Start from Red Lodge and drive up into the pass through to Cooke City. Have a bit to eat in Cooke City or stay the night and venture into Yellowstone the next day!

- Hike: There are endless beautiful hikes to take in the Beartooths! If you are driving through and want a quicker hike that will only take 2 hours, we really recommend the hike to Beauty Lake, it is true to its name and absolutely beautiful! (you can find all hikes on All Trails)

- Cooke City: Located high up in the Beartooth’s, Cooke City is a mecca for outdoor lovers. In the winter its full of backcountry skiers and snowmobilers, and in the summer its full of hikers and people enjoying the wildlife of Yellowstone. If you’re just driving the pass, this is a great place to stop for a bite to eat. Or, if you are heading to Yellowstone you can spend the night here and enter the Lamar Valley early in the morning.

Just over the border in Wyoming, Cody is a great place to learn more about the history of the western United States.

- Rodeo: Cody is called the rodeo capital of the world, and every night of summer there is a rodeo. Tickets can be bought at the door, and the rodeo starts about 8 pm

- Gun Show: Every night at 6 pm in the center of town there is a live reenactment of a gun fight in the old west.

- Buffalo Bill Center: A collection of 5 museums dedicated to the history of the West

- Horseback Riding: There are a number of ranches in and around Cody that will take you riding!

- The Shoshone: The Shoshone is one of our favorite places to raft, it is just beautiful! You can hire a rafting company for a day of floating, or drive the road along the river for a beautiful view on the way to the East entrance of Yellowstone.

Our home! If you are in Billings before or after the wedding please get in touch! While Billings is less tourist-focused than the other places on this list, there are still fun things to do!

Zoo Montana- Not the biggest zoo ever, but we love it! Its really great for kids, especially if they want to see bears and other wildlife that is local to Montana.

Hikes: Zimmerman Park, Four Dances, Phipps

Montana is gorgeous and wild. Please take necessary precautions to be safe here.

Carry Bear Spray: Anytime you are not in a city you should carry bear spray in an easily accessible place. Make sure you know how to use it. You can buy it at any convenience, outdoor, or hardware store. And since you can’t fly with it, we would love to take it off your hands before you leave!

Load Maps Before Driving: You will drive through patches of Montana where there is no cell service. Before setting out for a drive, make sure you have put your intended destination in google maps so that it works even if you don’t have service.

Hike navigation- All Trails is an excellent resource (both an app and a website) for learning about hikes wherever you are. Just please do not follow any advice to go off-trail. It’s easy to get lost, and very common to not have cell service to call for help.