Big Sky, Montana
Big Sky, Montana is just the place if you are looking to spend quality time in the Great Outdoors. Located close to both Bozeman and Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky is an area of breathtaking scenery, frolicking wild life, and enough outdoor activities to keep you busy for a month of vacations. A day's itinerary in Big Sky can include hiking, fishing, golf, white-water rafting, mountain biking, and skiing (both the summer and winter varieties).Alpine fun is King in Big Sky! The resort is a series of three mountains working together to create one gigantic winter playland. With over 400 inches of snow per year, and hardly any lift lines, Big Sky has gained wide acclaim for winter fun. Skiing Magazine ranked the resort the 7th best ski area in North America. Lone Peak Mountain reaches up to 11,166 feet and offers mostly intermediate and advanced runs. Andesite Mountain is known for intermediate skiing, but also has trails frequented by beginner and advanced skiers. Flat Iron Mountain offers an even combination of trails for all ability levels. Snowboarders and trick skiers have two terrain parks and a half pipe where they can strut their alpine stuff. An experienced ski school is on hand that will get even the most novice skier or boarder up and moving.
As popular as winter fun is in Big Sky, summer fun is gaining momentum on the popularity scale. Hikers and mountain bikers can hop on Big Sky's scenic gondola and be dropped off where they can set out on an afternoon of adventure. Guides are on hand to take interested parties on horseback riding excursions. Golfers can tee it up on the Big Sky Golf Course, designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer, which winds along the Gallatin River and offers spectacular views of Lone Mountain and its surrounding peaks. There are a number of local guides who can take those who want to get wet out for a thrilling day of whitewater rafting.
If you tire of all the active fun, head north about an hour to the scenic town of Bozeman. Bozeman is a hub for cultural and historical preservation in the region. Home to Montana State University, Bozeman has a college town's energy mingling with a sophisticated ambiance. The Museum of the Rockies has an impressive collection of modern art, pioneer history, and astronomy. But what brought the museum to prominence was the significant collection of dinosaur bones found in the region. Among the collection is the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex skull ever uncovered in the U.S. Art and culture are alive and well in Bozeman. It is home to many museums, talented artists and excellent galleries. You can find opera, theater, symphony and ballet, as well as rodeo, the Sweet Pea Festival, the Montana Winter Fair and the Gallatin County Fair.
Head south for Yellowstone National Park. Although most of the park is in Wyoming, three entrances, West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Cooke City are accessible from the Montana side. The park is a bountiful feast for those who enjoy the natural world. The Museum of the Yellowstone offers an excellent preview of the park. The park offers endless active pursuits. Hiking enthusiasts should seek out the Blacktail Deer Creek-Yellowstone River Trail, a sprawling, 12.5 mile hike past a thicket of Frazier Fir trees and the Yellowstone River, and ends in Gardiner, Montana. Cyclists can take rides past many geysers in the park. Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, fly fishing, and cross-country skiing are other ways to enjoy this beautiful park park.
If you would like to bring your pet to Montana's outdoor playground, these pet friendly vacation rentals in Montana are just the ticket.
