I went to Montana to visit a friend of mine who finished up a travel nurse contract there. She asked me to go on a backpacking trip with her and I couldn’t say no! Here’s what we did in Bozeman for a couple of days. Jump to the end if you want to read more about the backpacking part of the trip!
Where to eat in Bozeman
Jam! (brunch)
When it comes to breakfast food, I can NEVER decide if I want sweet or savory. I love eggs, bacon, etc. But I am also a huge fan of a waffle or some yummy flavored pancakes. Lucky for me, a lot of my friends are willing to split things, and this was no exception (thanks Elizabeth for being like me!)
Jam! is a really cute cafe in downtown Bozeman. They had great menu options, but we went with the Elvis crepe and the biscuits and gravy, which also came with a side of home fries and 2 eggs. A crepe isn’t my usual first choice, but this was honestly so good. Peanut butter, banana, bacon, and a yummy sweet caramel sauce. It hit that sweet tooth for sure! I would definitely go back here if I’m ever in Bozeman again.
Wild Crumb
This patisserie is a great place to have a quick breakfast or snack before going out for the rest of your day. The locals know it too, this place was packed! They have delicious pastries, breads, and any other baked treat you can think of. I noticed quite a few people ordering boxes of certain things to take home. Elizabeth got a box of 4 – a blueberry muffin, a regular croissant, an almond bear claw, and a cinnamon roll. I got my usual pain au chocolate, which never disappoints! You can order coffee and tea here as well. Be sure to stop in!
Sidewinders (bar and grill)
This place was out by the mall, so it’s not right on the beaten path. It’s also a pretty basic seeming sports bar, but they have a rooftop which was so nice during the summer! We ordered drinks and the mozzarella appetizer, which were great starters! The mozzarella “sticks” are actually squares, and they had some good flavors in the breading that made them stand out from the usual expectation.
For my meal, I ordered the carne asada, which came with a bunch of sides and I also ordered a side of black beans. It was delicious and there was enough for me to eat it again the next day for lunch before I left for the airport. Overall, I think if you’re looking for some chill vibes outside the main downtown of Bozeman, or if you’re at the mall, this is a great option.
Sweet Peaks Ice Cream
If you don’t get ice cream in Montana, you’re missing out. Trust me and order (or at least try) the huckleberry ice cream. It is a specialty in Montana, I’ve only ever seen it once before and this one was so much better! It was perfect on a hot day and after doing some shopping. Sweet Peaks spouts being a true Montana grown business, with their dairy and flavorful ingredients all from the surrounding mountains. Plus they’ve got some cute photo ops outside!
Things to do in Bozeman
Bozeman Hot Springs
Right on the outskirts of town, there is a natural hot spring spa. Elizabeth and I decided to go after we had our backpacking weekend, and I am so glad we did. It was just what we needed for our sore feet and muscles. You can buy a day pass to access all of the pools for $21-28 (adult pricing) depending on the time of week. You can see the rest of their pricing on their website.
They have 4 large outdoor pools of varying temperatures. Indoors, there is a large moderate temperature pool big enough for laps. There are also two areas inside that have 2 small hot tubs with a cold pool in the middle. This was my favorite part because you can go from cold to hot very easily. Plus, there is a sauna right next to the cold pools. They have a kids pool inside and outside for those with children.
Walk and Shop in Downtown Bozeman
The downtown Main Street of Bozeman is adorable and has something for everyone. There are all means of shopping, from cute toy stores, to artists shops selling their paintings or photos, to Montana-themed trinkets and souvenirs. It’s a great way to spend some time while in Bozeman.
Go On a Hike
Although I didn’t have time (or energy after the weekend backpacking) for a hike, there are tons of hiking options right outside of Bozeman. Of course, my favorite go-to app is All Trails for finding a hike nearby and at whatever difficulty level is good for you.
Where to Stay In Bozeman
Since I stayed with a friend, I don’t have a specific hotel to recommend on your trip to Bozeman, but here are some great options if you need some help finding a place!
Backpacking
So for the backpacking portion of the trip, my friend Elizabeth met someone who just started an outfitter business. Lauren, from Moe Mountains, is also a nurse, and she takes groups of women into the mountains to show them how capable they are! She provided all of the gear for us which was really great because I’d never backpacked before and had basically nothing. There are options for renting gear- if you are interested in something like this, check out her instagram here!
We drove about 3 hours outside of Bozeman to go to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. I was so proud of myself! I flew there from California, so the elevation gain was 11,000 feet at our highest peak. My body had to adjust to that change over the 4 days I was in Montana, and I did better than I thought I would.
Being out in the wilderness for 3 straight days was really freeing. We had no cell service, so I was completely unplugged. We carried 30 pound packs up the mountain 9 miles, tent camped, ate freeze dried meals, made a fire. I mean full boon-docking. 3 days was the perfect amount of time I thought. I would highly recommend doing something like this if you enjoy the outdoors and want to do more than just hike.
Before heading out to the wilderness, we stayed a night in an air b’n’b in a nearby town called Red Lodge, Montana. We got dinner at Piccola Cucina, we shared a bunch of pasta, veggies, and Sicilian rice balls. It was the perfect meal before our big hike! When we got back down, we couldn’t wait to go to a brewery for a beer! We found Red Lodge Ales, which had great beer and bar food. After a few days of freeze dried meals (which actually weren’t bad at all) it was nice having some chicken strips and fries!
Have you been to Montana? Do you like to hike, backpack, boon-dock? Where are your favorite spots?! I want to hear from you! I did another quick trip to see my friend Elizabeth while she was working in Milwaukee. You can read it here.
