2025 Road Trip – Montana (2nd Visit)

2025 Road Trip – Montana: Big Sky Country (2nd Visit)

February 2025 …. 

Another Year down … and we are planning another epic trip to KYLE. 

It’s time to KYLE and plan our 2025 trip.    

Last year, we visited our son, Eric, who lives in Montana … we had a GREAT time, but we couldn’t do everything that we wanted, so we are going back to Montana to see him and do the things that we didn’t do last year.  Plus, some of the things that we did were so much fun, we plan on doing them again!

We went in August last year and the weather was in the low 30’s at the top of Lone Peak at Big Sky and it was in the 80’s in the valleys.  This trip will be in June and it should be consistently cooler. 

It will also be a Mom trip!  She is the only one who is going.  She wants to see her son and he wants to see his Mom.

We did so much last year.  We went hiking in the mountains and the valleys.  We went fly fishing (didn’t catch anything – that’s why they call it fishing and not catching) and we visited both Big Sky Resort and Yellowstone National Park (Olde Faithful).  This trip will be shorter, but just as EPIC.

  • How long to stay … Four (4) days … a long weekend.  SECRET, we have specific things that we want to do or do again.  There will be no long day trips, so a long weekend is the perfect amount of time. 
  • Where to stay … staying with our son … SECRET, when you have family where you are visiting, see if you can stay with them.  It significantly reduces expenses (no hotel expense) and it gives you more quality time with your family.  In this case, our son lives in a location that is central to everything that we want to do, so it is a perfect option. 
  • Car Rental … since we are staying with our son, we have access to his car.  SECRET, if you still want a rental car, book early and look for discounts.  
  • Set a Countdown Reminder … KYLE 

Now we can book flights … 

  • Flights … Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is still the only airport serving southwestern Montana.  We booked with Southwest Airlines again, because there is a major hub in Houston.  Again, we are flying through Denver, Colorado.  SECRET, remember to plan an EARLY flight when you leave for a trip and book a LATE flight when you return … this is like getting two (2) extra days on your trip.  SECOND SECRET, pre-book long-term parking at the airport and get a discount, it’s cheaper than using Uber/Lyft and it’s more convenient.  
  • SECRET … use a countdown reminder … it can be a calendar or an app on your but …. but use one to KYLE. 

Four (4) months away … and we are KYLE.  The main thing (flights) are booked and we are keeping track of the countdown on our iPhone app. Now, it’s time to look at specifically what we will be doing and see if we need to book anything early.  We are staying for four (4) days and identifying things that we weren’t able to do or that we want to do again.  We are not looking at specific days (unless we need to), we are just making sure that we are able to do everything that we want to do (subject to change). 

  • Thursday
    1. Arrive – early
    2. Hike to Hyalite waterfall – do again
    3. Use the telescope – maybe see the Northern Lights
    4. Visit Bozeman Spirits and Distillery
    5. Go off-roading in Jeep Wrangler LJ
  • Friday
    1. Shooting range – do again
    2. Visit Livingston, Montana
    3. Eat at Spectator’s Sports Bar
  • Saturday
    1. Visit a friend in Fairfield, Montana
    2. Big Sky Resort – do again
    3. Hike Ousel Falls trail – do again
  • Sunday
    1. Museum of the Rockies
    2. Leave – late

LOOK FOR THE NEXT UPDATE …