big sky dreams

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Road-tripping Yellowstone National Park | 

Even with sandwiches from the Pickle Barrel, drinks from the Coffee Creek drive-thru in Livingston and animal spotting along the way, it can be a very long day’s drive in Yellowstone National Park if you are two years’ old.

On this particular trip, we had to ‘entertain’ my daughter on the way home by burying her with jumpers in her car seat, so she could play hide and seek and then break out of them; again, and again, it was a LONG drive home. Yellowstone you are worth it.

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The Mint | Livingston, Montana 2009

Experiencing the Montana Farmers’ Market | Livingston and Bozeman

As soon as school is out for the Summer, our family’s heart lurches towards Montana. Only a couple of tanks of gas stand between us and the place we just love to ‘be’. 

We always plan our trip to maximize the number of times we can visit the farmers’ markets. Our favorites are:

Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market: Saturdays, 9 am - 12 pm.

This market is huge, be sure to get here early in order to have plenty of time to browse the stalls. Also, make sure you have plenty of cash, the first time we visited we arrived with very little time and not much cash and became very frustrated at seeing enough to know what we had missed! Great jewelry stalls, handmade crafts, homemade jams and llamas !  One Summer Saturday morning, I bought all my Christmas gifts here; there really is something for everybody.

Bogert Farmers’ Market: Tuesdays, 5 pm - 8 pm

One of my favorite memories from last year, was swimming with the kids in the outdoor pool at Bogert City Park, followed by an evening stroll around the Farmers’ Market and then dinner in Bozeman. PERFECT!!  Although, my kids strongest memory is the night someone was selling labrador puppies, they still haven’t forgiven us for not taking one home :-)

Livingston Farmers’ Market: Wednesdays, 4.30 pm - 7.30 pm (live music until 9 pm)

Follow the path of locals straight to the stall with homemade raspberry pies, get there early or they will all be gone. Amazing made-to-order lemonade and beautiful cards from Borrowed Acre Farm.

Check out Visit Montana for their full listing of farmers markets across the State. It is a great way to discover the wonderful creative talents of the Montana people and meet the locals; through the years we have forged great friendships.

Sleepy Man Banjo Boys | Earl Scruggs, Flint Hill

Sadly the underfunded public school system does not introduce music lessons until 4th grade! However, when my 7 year-old reaches that grade, she is in no doubt which instrument she will choose (fiddle), influenced I think by Little House on the Prairie and the awesome Fiddlers Picnic we attended in Livingston, Montana. 

However, after watching Jonny Mizzone on the banjo, she might be wishing that the banjo was offered as an option too. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. !

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Livingston, Montana.  2009

I was excited to discover Lynn Weaver’s Livingston 365 Project. In 2009, Lynn set out to take a photograph a day of someone, or something, from the town that she loves - Livingston, Montana. I first walked this street in 2000 and one day I dream of  calling it home; it was an absolute treat to wander through Lynn’s archive of images. 

My top 10 things to do in Livingston, Montana:

1. Pickle Barrel: legendary sandwich shop.
2. Rib and Chop House: definitely recommend the baseball steak.
3. Sax and Fryer: family owned bookstore, wonderful treasure of local literature.
4. Coffee Creek Espresso: drive-through coffee, friendly staff, perfect stop before heading to Yellowstone, baking from ‘On the Rise’.
5. Livingston Farmer’s Market: home-made lemonade, raspberry-almond pies, handmade jewelry and cards.
6. Chatham Fine Art: beautiful lithographs.  
7. Dan Bailey’s: let their guides show you fly fishing at it’s Montana best.
8. Murray Hotel: modern western hotel and and Calamity Jane once stayed here.
9. Sport Bar and Grill: brunch or lunch?
10. B Civilized: contemporary art, local handmade items, jewelry.