From Bozeman to the Tetons: A Look Back at My Best Vacation Yet
- Benjamin Moxley
- Sep 16, 2025
- 3 min read
About a year ago, I took a trip that set the bar for every vacation since: Bozeman, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Tetons, and Jackson Hole. It was a few days of wild landscapes, good food, strong coffee, and more than a few late-night bar stops. Looking back now, it’s still the kind of trip that makes me want to pack my bags and move west.
Night 1: Bozeman Vibes
We kicked things off in Bozeman, a mountain town with just the right balance of outdoorsy grit and nightlife. That first night we landed at Bar IX — the perfect spot to watch football and playoff baseball before it transformed into a full-on dance hall. Great vibes, good energy, and the kind of place where you quickly feel like a local.
Day 2: Yellowstone Wonders
The next morning, we hit the road through Yellowstone National Park. Even if you’ve seen it in photos, nothing compares to the real thing. We checked most of the classics but chose to skip Old Faithful because we just missed the last eruption (it goes off every 90 minutes):
Grand Prismatic Spring
Mammoth Hot Springs
Buffalo grazing on the plains
Elk Bugling to warn us that we were too close
A family of grizzlies crossing the road
And even a wolf sighting, which felt surreal.
By evening, we were driving south past the jagged outline of the Grand Tetons and rolling into Jackson Hole.
Day 3: Tetons, UTVs, and the Cowboy Bar
In Jackson, we rented UTVs from Jackson Hole Adventure Rentals and spent the day exploring the National Elk Refuge. The ride through the hills gave us sweeping views of the Tetons that felt straight out of a postcard.
That night we cleaned up for dinner at Local Restaurant & Bar, which lived up to its reputation with a fantastic meal. Afterward, we walked over to the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where we grabbed drinks, shot some pool, and soaked in the atmosphere.
Day 4: Coffee, Idaho Roads, and Bridger Mountain Bliss
The next morning started at Cowboy Coffee Co, because a strong cup is mandatory before a long drive. From there, we looped north through Idaho, back toward Bozeman.
The next three days were spent at an Airbnb called Bridger Mountain Bliss, and the name couldn’t have been more accurate. The property had two horses we fed carrots to, plus a hot tub and bikes for riding along the base of the Bridger Range. It felt like the kind of place you never want to leave.
Bridger Mountain Bliss AirBnB →
Back in Bozeman: Small-Town Highlights
Over the next few days, Bozeman gave us plenty to do:
Ghost Town Coffee for laid-back mornings
A hike up Drinking Horse Mountain Trail for panoramic views
Steaks from Daniel’s Meats on the grill
And evenings spent just enjoying the cool mountain air
Final Thoughts
Looking back, this was hands-down the best vacation I’ve ever been on. The mix of national parks, mountain towns, and wide-open adventure left a mark. If money wasn’t an obstacle, I’d move to Bozeman in a heartbeat.
Until then, I’ll keep planning trips back west — because once you’ve had a taste of the Tetons and Montana skies, it’s impossible not to want more.
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