Wasted time is time well spent.
This last weekend Kris and I packed up ye old covered wagon and headed back to Big Sky Country for a couple days exploring in Bozeman, Montana.
We stayed in an AWESOME apartment from AirBNB in the perfect location within walking distance of the main street's restaurants and shops. It was clearly noticeable that the owners had spent time working hard to make the apartment comfortable and it was a reflection of the local history and culture. There's a shop on the main street that sells crystals and sage for burning, it was nice to see that the individuals renting their apartment bought local and made it unique- we definitely weren't staying in a cookie cutter hotel room and we liked that!
Bozeman is home to Montana State University (The Bobcats), and we had the chance to attend a concert on campus with Keith Urban, Brett Eldridge, and Maren Morris. It was an absolute BLAST and Keith Urban is definitely a performer!
After going to the show, here is a playlist of our favorite songs that you may not have already heard from these artists:
Late nights call for a good, strong cup o'joe in the morning. We stopped into Zocalo Coffee for our all-around summer favorite: an iced latte sweetened with honey. This local joint has a rustic, small-town vibe with friendly, easy-going staff that are willing to do a jig for you at your table when you find out you can't go check out the music and dance of the Sweet Pea festival beginning later that afternoon (BONUS). The work of local artists is featured on the walls and this place is filled with flyers, magazines and newspapers advertising local events. I would totally recommend this shop as a first place to stop after getting into town for a few days to get your itinerary together!
Zocalo Coffee.
Bozeman definitely has an artsy, creative side as we saw several massive murals on walls and the sides of buildings on the main street and throughout town. I think it's a great way to support local artists and share their work in a way that can regularly be appreciated.
Below: my new favorite catchphrase: "Friday is my favorite F-word, my second favorite is food." Amen to that, my friends.
Speaking of food, these Montanans really know how to cook. We had a great bison burger (they have gluten-free buns everyone!) and Parmesan Truffle Frites at Montana Ale Works to re-group after some major adventuring. Other great restaurants including The Garage (head here for outdoor seating), and Naked Noodle (delicious Pad Thai).
This shop displayed work from local artists including handmade leather bags, paintings, turquoise jewelry, and these two deer mounts were made of a collection of varying printed fabrics.
Kris and I found ourselves in many tiny towns across the state of Montana, stopping for gas, snacks and stretch breaks. The picture below was taken in Drummond, Montana. With the highway speed limits set at 80mph in most of Montana, you'll miss this town if you reach down to the stereo to switch the song. We happened to stumble across this run-down building's painted front doors that stretched over 10 feet high.
Bozeman is an active community and there are tons of nearby hikes and an extensive trail system close to downtown. Check out Pete's Hill and the surrounding trails. Hope to see you out there in the future!
August 2016