Bozeman –
Big Sky Resort sits about 45 miles south of Bozeman, a college town that exudes Western charm. And the hundreds of skiers who make their way to Big Sky every weekend and want time out should check out the Museum of the Rockies, home to the largest collection of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils in the world, as well as other dinosaur bones excavated from Montana and neighbouring states.
Or take a guided snowmobile tour of nearby Yellowstone National Park to see Old Faithful and, possibly, a bison as big as a Prius.
You’ll find the best meal in town at Montana Ale Works, housed in an old Northern Pacific depot. Ask for a table in the restaurant’s converted rail car and sip on a curated collection of brews from around the state. Start with the bison potstickers, of course.
Foodies should order the sous vide pork chop, cooked to tender perfection, as a main course. But don’t rule out the burgers, known for their signature house-ground Wagyu beef.
(Especially the Smoke Stack, with its crispy onion strings and homemade barbecue sauce.)
If you want to kick back, head down the road to the Rocking R Bar, a popular nightspot for sports fans.
But if you have energy to spare after a day on the slopes, opt for the Broken Spoke at Big Sky’s Town Center, where locals gather for Wednesday-night karaoke and it’s not uncommon to see folks dancing on tables.
Looking to cram in the calories before a powder day?
Try Milkie’s Pizza & Pub, also in the Town Center, for friendly service, humongous pies and arguably the best wings in Montana.
Washington Post-Bloomberg