Despite the fact that I choose to rent a New York City apartment, wide-open spaces are my true calling – and no place answers that call like Montana.
Before the plane even lands, you’re greeted by a patchwork of majestic mountains, roaring rivers, sprawling cattle ranches and pine forests as far as the eye can see. It’s one of the most down-to-earth places you’ll ever visit, and the people you’ll meet here are proof. It’s why we had to include Big Sky Country on our Best in Travel 2024 list.
It’s also the fourth-largest state in the US, so I’ll zoom in on one iconic region: Gallatin County. Home to Bozeman and Big Sky, it’s also a fabulous gateway to Yellowstone National Park. My ideal first-day itinerary? Land in Bozeman, have a life-altering Monte Cristo sandwich at Feed Café, flip through vintage albums at Cactus Records & Gifts and drive an hour to Big Sky (panoramic views guaranteed). Then pick a hike for the next day: Beehive Basin Trail for an ideal hike-to-view ratio, or Hyalite Creek Trail for an epic 11-mile trek to a serene lake.
And that’s barely scratching Montana’s rugged surface. Luckily, I’ll be back for more this summer.
