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Bozeman, Montana
We don’t need to tell you that Bozeman is a stone’s throw from Big Sky ski resort and Yellowstone National Park, but you might be interested to know what Bozemanites know—there is more to Bozeman than camping, cowboys, and ski bunnies!
August 2007
By Erin Gulden
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 Lehrkind Mansion Bed & Breakfast
|  Gallatin River Lodge
|  Museum of the Rockies
| FOR: | The Relaxation | The River | The History | WHY: | Though there is plenty to see and do in this Montana outpost, it is far from a buzzing metropolis, meaning there is plenty of peace and quiet to be found. | The Gallatin River runs through it—well, close to it—making Bozeman a great spot for everything from fly-fishing to white-water rafting. | Lewis and Clark, railroads, cowboys, and fossils make a weekend in Bozeman like a crash course in frontier life. | STAY: | The Lehrkind Mansion ($129–$179, 406-585-6932), was built in 1897 and its owners have taken care to fill the B & B with period-specific pieces and strip guest rooms of modern distractions such as TVs and phones. But there is a hot tub and wireless Internet for those who don’t want to completely abandon the twenty-first century. | The Gallatin River Lodge ($1,175 for three nights without a guide, $1,575 for three nights with a guide, 888-387-0148) rests just off the banks of the river for easy access to fly-fishing. The lodge has its own outfitting service—plus in-room Jacuzzis for solace after a long day on the river. | The Gallatin Gateway Inn ($134–$174, 406-763-4672) was built in the 1920s to house travelers on the grand Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. The completely restored Spanish–style inn provides modern amenities and the feel and hospitality of the old West. | EAT: | John Bozeman’s Bistro (406-587-4100) features a diverse menu—including Thai seafood pasta and Rocky Mountain bison—with tapas, main courses, and desserts that seem to ask you to sit, relax, and savor. | There’s no need to leave the lodge. The Gallatin River Grill has an extensive wine list and a chef-prepared, regionally inspired menu, so there is little reason to search for food. | Set in a restored railway building in Bozeman’s historic East End, Montana Ale Works (406-587-7700) features more than thirty regional microbrews and an American–fusion menu. There is even an enclosed patio made from an old railway car. | DO: | Take advantage of the area’s natural hot springs and hit the Bozeman Hot Springs and Spa (406-586-6492) for a dip in the mineral pool or a spa treatment or two. There are also enough golf courses and hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails near Bozeman to more than meet the need for outdoor R & R. | Take advantage of the river! If you don’t stay at the GRL, there are plenty of independent fly-fishing outfitters, such as Bozeman Angler ($395, 406-587-9111 ) or Campbell’s Guided Fishing Trips ($275–$400, 406-587-0822), to help anglers nab nine-pound trout. Or hit up one of the white-water rafting services, such as Montana Whitewater ($47–$250 per adult, 406-763-4465). | Montana’s soil is known for housing a fossil or 2,000, and the Museum of the Rockies (406-994-2251), which is part of Montana State University, displays more than a few of them. There are also various sites dedicated to Lewis and Clark’s stop near the town, and a walk through historic downtown Bozeman offers many examples of Art Deco, Mission Revival, and Italianate architecture (walking tour info available from the Bozeman Convention and Visitors Bureau). |
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