Jaunted

Outdoor Adventures:
Bridger Bowl is a good bargain for snowboarding and skiing—a lift ticket at this nonprofit ski area is only $45. Plus, teachers here are plenty patient with city slickers seeking lessons. Got experience?There are plenty of long slopes and chutes to test out “cheesecake” powder including expert-only Schlasman's chairlift which leads to the 8,700 foot “Ridge” terrain.

Yellowstone National Park is just two hours away, so it’s a must-do especially to avoid the summer throngs. If not renting a car, take the afternoon Karst bus from Bozeman to West Yellowstone and spend the night.

In the a.m. walk to Yellowstone Alpen Guides and climb inside a cool, 1950s Bombardier snowcoach (originally a Canadian school bus) for a park jaunt into Wyoming.

Elk, bison (don’t call ‘em buffalo, plz) and coyotes (pronounced “keye-oats” here) are on full display, and the Old Faithful geyser which erupts over 100 feet in the air. Get back on the bus at 5pm and arrive in Bozeman by dinner time.

Chill Killer:
Face protection against windburn is a must if you’re out and about. In deceptively sunny Yellowstone, we slathered on Neutrogena’s waterproof Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF70 after forgetting to at Bridger Bowl. Ouch!

Bone Warmer:
Beer! Montana is all about the hops,especially at Bozeman Brewing Company. This small, but widely loved biz doesn’t have a bar, but rather a “tasting room”, which looks like a…bar (expect for the children’s play section in the back). Starting at $3.50, you can sample a pint (3 max) of their award-winning Bozone Select Amber ale, a new Java beer made with locally produced coffee, or the aromatic Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine—so potent many can’t finish a pint—but not from lack of trying.

Winter Haven:
Bozeman has two distinct parts, the historic east side where buildings from the 1800s stand side-by-side next to modern, hipster-filled tapas, coffee, and sushi spots. Then there’s the citified section of town where Fuddruckers and Hilton Garden Inn-type places exist. In the east side hotels can cost less than $75 a night.

Rooms at the Western Heritage Inn won’t win any design awards, but the friendly staff, towering stuffed Grizzly in the lobby, free breakfast, WiFi and retro 1970s style indoor hot tub makes it an A-OK place to lay your head.

[Photo: Chanize Thorpe]

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