Weespxx

Hi All -- -To finish up our trip (starting in Monterey and visiting Yosemite, Sequoia, Zion, Bryce, GTNP and Yellowstone), we will have 4 days to spend in Montanta. I have been to Glacier and found it to be extraordinary but think we would be biting off too much.

In 1990, when I made a road trip with a girlfriend, we fell in love with the stunning hills of our drive from Bozeman to Glacier and in Bozeman itself.

Open to all ideas and suggestions - we love art (contemporary esp), great food, farmer's markets, small towns, horses (esp mom - that's me), hiking ...

Thanks!

Gardyloo

Where are you going after these four days? Montana's an enormous state, so it could make a big difference depending on if you're returning to California, ending the trip and flying home from someplace in Montana, or ending in Salt Lake City, Portland, Seattle...? There might be options for you to visit as part of the drive toward your departure point.

Patty

Is this immediately after Jackson? And are you still flying home from Billings?

Patty

How about a ranch or cabin near Red Lodge, MT?

Nelson

Since you love contemporary art, do you know about the Tippet Rise Art Center?
http://tippetrise.org/

I've not been there but would be interested in a trip report.

We are staying here in Red Lodge after the eclipse, but the Tippet Center won't be open the days we are there.
https://blueskycabins.com/

It will be our first time to that area, but Red Lodge looks promising.

Weespxx

Gardyloo -- sorry I forgot that. Patty was right -- we are flying home from Billings.

Patty - love the idea of ranch or cabin. Will do some searching .

Nelson -- we'll check out Tippet Rise and post a Trip Resort for sure.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Gardyloo

I have a couple of ideas that are more "road trip" than going someplace and staying put; I suppose it would depend on your preferences and tolerance of a few hours in the car.

1 - Head east to the Black Hills - Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Deadwood, where you can see Wild Bill Hickok's and Calamity Jane's side-by-side graves in the Mt. Moriah cemetery. Then head back west via Devil's Tower (see if those nice alien people are still around) and Sheridan (very cool little town, home of Buffalo Bill) and finally the Little Bighorn battlefield. Map - https://goo.gl/maps/H7zxTSRpLyK2 Note if your dates overlap any of the activities at Sturgis during the annual Harley Davidson gathering (Aug. 4-13) give this option a pass.

2 - Head north to Helena, Montana's historic and very picturesque capital city. Stroll along Last Chance Gulch and look at the many remarkable Victorian-era houses. Helena has a vibrant arts scene too. Then over to Billings via Bozeman etc. Map - https://goo.gl/maps/fFARLhk3Cwj

You might also want to see if there are any county or state fairs or rodeos scheduled when you'll be close by. Look at https://www.countyfairgrounds.net/state.php?state=MT or https://www.countyfairgrounds.net/state.php?state=WY to start.