Hi all,
We will be spending a few days in Yellowstone this Christmas and then flying from Bozeman on January 1st to Chicago and spending a few days before we fly home. We would have loved to have been able to spend New Years in Chicago but unfortunately the timings didn't work soooooo, because our flight on the 1st is early in the morning, we will be spending New Years in Bozeman.
Does anyone have any idea what this will be like? Where we should stay? What we should plan to do???
I have searched and searched and can't find very much on it.
We are not party animals by any means but would like to be able to mark the occasion.
Anyone know if there will be any fireworks (have read there will be Fireworks in Big Sky but not sure we want to drive that far).

Thanks for any help!

Hmm...there might not be much going on in Bozeman for New Years.

You could go to the Gallatin Gateway for a great dinner in a beautiful old railway hotel. Or do John Bozeman's Bistro for dinner (downtown Bozeman).

We have twice been surprised to find all commercial venues closed when travelling through Bozeman. Very religious town.

On another occasion, travelling by RV, they wouldn't let us rent a space until after sundown...another religious observance.

Never been there during the holidays.

It sounds like it's going to be pretty quiet .. oh well, we'll just have to book one of those lovely restaurants.
Speaking of which, Hubby is a regular meat eater while I'm a strict vegetarian (no meat, chicken, fish or cheese) - think both of those places would still be OK?? Are they ok with 'modifying' dishes (most of the veggie options have cheese).

Does anyone have any recommendations on a hotel for that night?? I'm having a hard time figuring out where we should stay.
Hopefully things won't be closed on New Years - I don't think there is any religious significance of New Years Eve but I could be wrong.

First, I disagree with the assessment that Bozeman is a very religious town. It's a university town, and it's grown significantly in the last 10 years.

Look at the Gallatin Gateway Inn for a place to stay. It's a great, old hotel. I think you'll find lots of vegetarian options at any of the restuarants unless you specifically go to a steak restuarant that specializes in steaks.

Montana Ale Works is a more casual restuarant with good food. Also, Plonk is a fun wine bar. Both are downtown.

Fantastic, thanks Kureiff!
Are you a Bozeman native??? - You sound like you know the place pretty well.

I have just been on Tripadvisor and I see the Best Western GranTree Inn is rated pretty well AND it says that it has a Casino ... hubby likes a bit of a flutter and so do I som I'm wondering if you know anything about the Casino - is it OK?? Might be an idea for something to do after dinner?! Also, a lot of the hotels are $149 + taxes and the Best Western is going for $99 + tax - seems like a decent deal BUT if it isn't really that great (place & location) I don't mind spending the extra.

One more question - our flight on the 1st leaves at 8.40am. I just checked NWA's website and it recommends being at the airport 75 mins before all domestic flights within the US - is this enough time for Bozeman, or does it sound about right?

Thanks again for all your help.

I grew up close to Bozeman, and my parents live near there.

Most of the hotels in Bozeman are chain hotels. I haven't stayed at any of them with the exception of the Best Western and that was quite a few years ago. The GranTree looks nice. The Hilton Garden Inn is probably the newest.

You'll find several small casinos in town -- all video machines.

A couple other recommendations: Leaf and Bean for coffee and MacKenzie River for pizza.

The airport time is about right. We almost always flight out of Bozeman, and it depends on time of day, but it's a small airport and you can get through security quickly.

Hi - Kurieff is right. I had to laugh at the prior post as I would NOT define Bozeman as a "very religious" town, especially on New Years Eve!

I live in San Francisco now but grew up in MT and lived in Bozeman about 6 years (before and during college) - the bars will be hopping on New Year's Eve

Of course, keeping in mind that it is in fact a college town, you may not want to be in some of the bars with the college crowd! If you decide to stay in Bozeman proper (at the GranTree for example) I might recommend that you make a reservation at a restaurant on Main Street (Boodles, John Bozeman's Bistro, Looies Down Under, are all good and I'm sure would happily accommodate veg dishes) so you can enjoy a nice dinner and then decide whether you want to brave any of the bars/pubs in the near vicinity (Plonk, Bacchus Pub, Ale Works, etc plus there are more than enough "college dive" bars if you are feeling brave)!

Big Sky is nice but if you intend to have a New Year's Eve cocktail or two, I would not recommend as the road is windy and perhaps icy depending on weather. Gallatin Gateway is also nice but again, depending on whether you want to drink, it is a bit of a drive from the downtown area so wouldn't recommend unless you both ate dinner and stayed there.

As the time gets closer, you could probably call the hotel and they could give you the scoop on any New Year's activities....

You'll have no problems at the airport, especially since you're flying on New Year's Day. It is very small and I have often shown up 30 minutes before a flight and been perfectly fine although I don't recommend that as they may be on a short crew due to the holiday.

Bozeman is no Chicago but it's a fun little town and you'll have a great time!

Thanks to both of you for your help.

I don't think we're brave enough for those College 'dive' bars - we've done tham in our time but I'm afraid we're getting a bit too old to 'manage' them now
Do any of the hotels have decent bars? - That might be more in our line

Can I clarify on the Casino thing ... are they ALL video games?? No tables at all in any of them??? Poker tables / Roulette?????

NorCal_Jo - you are living in a city I have wanted to visit for a LONG time but still haven't managed to get there ... yet!!!

Hi

The GranTree has a bar - I don't recall it much but probably a typical hotel bar. I'd say that the nicest bars are attached to restaurants (Boodles, Looies down under, The Robin in the Baxter Hotel, etc) so you might stick with them or other nicer bars such as Plonk (winebar). College dive bars to avoid - R-Bar, Crystel, the Scoop, etc but you'll know when you see them!

In answer to your question on casinos. MT has legalized gambling only for certain "skill games" which basically means you will find video poker and video keno machines but no slots, craps, roulette, etc. There are a few bars/casinos that offer live poker but I don't recall which ones.

You'll have to make it to SF some-time - a great city! Best time to visit in my opinion is fall (or spring) as the weather is nice with less chance of fog.

Yellowstone is beautiful in winter so you'll have a great time! I'm jealous because I often spend Christmas in MT but this year I can't because I'll be 37 weeks pregnant and not able to fly!

I also like Bozeman. It's a great college town. I also reccommend Mackenzie River for pizza. We had whole wheat crust and lots of great veggies. Don't know what's on for New Year's but I'm sure you can find something to do even if it's just a quiet dinner.

CONGRATULATIONS Jo - that's a very good reason not to be going to Yellowstone for Christmas!!!

Thanks for the tips on the bars ... I'm sure we'll be able to figure which ones are the college kids once
Thanks too for the clarification on the 'casinoes' - we probably won't bother with them seeing as they are 'electronic'.
I'll look into those restaurants too - we will definately book somewhere nice and just let it be a chill out New Years.
We will definately make it to SF and hopefully sooner rather than later... it has been on my 'places to go' list for far too long.

Annie - thanks for the rec on the pizza place - it's on my list of places to eat>

Thanks again for your help!!

The Gallatin Gateway Inn is having a New Year's Eve Ball (ph. number 406-763-4672). I suggest calling them for rooms and reservations to the evening's event. The Montana Formal Dance Club of Bozeman is is hosting a dance at the Emerson Cultural Center on New Year's Eve ( www.formaldanceclub.com)