I won’t lie- domestic destinations have never held as much allure to me as international ones. I’ve always saved my dollars for overseas trips- in fact, I’ve visited twice as many countries as I have states! (That would be 38 and 19, for your information. The shame, I know.)
But there’s something about Montana that has always intrigued me. Maybe it’s because I love horseback riding, or because I like Westerns, or because I not-so-secretly dream of living in the country someday. Regardless, when my friend McCall (the friend I went to India with!) invited me to her Montana ranch for Labor Day weekend, I booked a ticket immediately.
Well, it turns out there’s a reason they call Montana Big Sky Country, and there’s also a reason why celebrities are buying up all the land. Montana is gorgeous.
After some obligatory cowboy boot shots at the ranch, we headed to town.
Livingston is as cute of a Wild West town as you can imagine, though it’s a little more yuppie than cowboy with both a yoga studio and sushi restaurant. And thank God- I would never be able to do country life without sushi in a thirty-mile radius.
I came close to buying a cowboy hat but opted out last minute. Because when will I ever wear a cowboy hat again?
Plus, I would’ve had to buy a men’s hat because fun fact- I have a huge head. (I’d like to think this is because of my hair. Or my brain. Or both.)
On the way back home we passed a golden field filled with grazing black cows. Naturally, Eleanor and I hopped out to snag some new profile pictures.
Once we got home we tried to coax Lulu, the shy Bernese mountain dog who melted my heart, out of the car. No cigar, but look at that face!
And then (and this makes me a terrible travel blogger as I didn’t take a single photo), we had a huge barn party with kegs of Blue Moon and local ales, a live country band and even some celebrity guests. (Well, sort of, but I was told Aaron Eckhart’s parents stopped by.)
The next morning we woke up (a bit groggily, I admit) to this view from the kitchen.
For breakfast we had homeground whole wheat pancakes with homemade chokecherry syrup. They were so good we didn’t even bother to pass out plates, and ate them standing in our pajamas.
We then headed outside to play with more dogs. I was kind of obsessed with Pepper, the English setter. Isn’t he handsome?
Cowboy, the aptly named Leonberger, was pretty dapper as well.
And in effort to burn off those pancakes we then went for a mild hike in the woods. As in like 15 minutes. That probably burned off like a teaspoon of chokecherry syrup. Right? No? 
After our “hike”, we spent the rest of the afternoon riding four-wheelers through the property and soaking up views like this:
Once we had our fill of big sky views, we high-tailed it back to the cabin for beers and the best peach cobbler I’ve ever tasted.
We capped off the weekend by swinging by a local country bar for dirt-cheap beer and dancing. And for my last night in Montana, Big Sky Country went all out with these cotton candy clouds.
Well thanks Montana, for contributing to my country life fantasies and just for being so goddamn gorgeous. And thanks of course to McCall and her lovely family for having me!
Have you ever visited Montana? Would you want to?
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Fantastic! I have never been, but from boots to dogs (I am a hovering “Helicopter Dog Mom” to 3 canines, having had 5 before) this was so very fun! It looks beautiful! AND, when in San Antonio, I had to buy a men’s Stetson, (due to the female hats not fitting), and so this posting made me smile! Let’s hear it for women with big hair and huge brains! Great post! Cheers! – Leah
I loved spending so much time with the dogs on the ranch- all so cute!
I underestimated Montana and also Wyoming until I moved to Jackson, WY in college. Undeniably beautiful, and full of western “culture”. While I love the summer and fall, I don’t know if I would be able to take either states bitter cold winters.
I’ve heard the winters are bad. But I guess how much worse could they be than Chicago or Michigan?
Looks like such a nice weekend! I’ve been to Montana before on a family road trip and it is beautiful. I bought a cowboy hat on that trip and I have maybe worn it twice since! So good choice, haha!
Haha I bet having it brings back good memories though! :)
Looks great! I wish I could see more of the US. When I was doing travel nursing that was my plan (but moving here changed all that) & I sort of wish I had a couple years to travel in the US before this move. MOntana looks great. I saw a little of it on the real housewives of NY lol
Lol I wasn’t aware they went there. I was always more a fan of the Real Housewives of NYC personally, lol.
That looks absolutely amazing and sound like you had a great trip. I too feel like i’m more drawn to international travel and sometimes forget that places like that are right here! I will definitely have to take a trip over there before I leave.
I know what you mean! It’s so expensive to travel the US though that at this time in my life I feel like international destinations make more sense.
The scenery there looks gorgeous! It looks like you had a fantastic time!
I really did! I’d go back in a heartbeat :)
I’m bad with domestic travel as well. The appeal never seems as good as other countries but I’m always happy when I do go somewhere close by.
The town looks like classic mid-west. Killer landscape and love all the dogs.
The town was like the set of a western film. I loved it! :)
I feel like the American West is the U.S.’s unsung hero when it comes to tourism. Unbelievably beautiful, with so many natural wonders, parks, and wilderness areas protected for posterity–yet the big cities like NYC, Chicago, SF, etc. are (understandably) focused on when non-Americans come to visit, I’m always like “You HAVE to go to the Rockies” or what have you.
Love the gorgeous photos you took in the Big Sky Country!
That’s so true- I feel most foreigners do California, D.C. and NYC and miss everything in the middle! Which is a bummer because there’s so much good stuff there.
Montana is my FAVORITE place on the planet! I lived in Bozeman for a summer and it was amazing. There is a great Mexican place and an antique shop in Livingston. I got the coolest cowhide coasters there! The best place I ever had sushi was a place called Louie’s Down Under in Bozeman. My friend use to work at a resturant near Yellowstone and met Katy Perry and John Mayer there. Your right, a lot of famous people have homes in Montana. Who would have thought?!
I sadly didn’t get to see much of Bozeman but I’ve heard great things! I’ll have to check out Louie’s the next time I’m there :)
The boots are so cute. Looks like a great trip! Montana is such a great place, and the people there are awesome!
The people we met were SO nice! And sophisticated and well-traveled too. I’d move there in a heartbeat!
It looks stunning there. I have never ventured to Montana or many other states in the US. It’s not until you get away that you realize how much there is to see in your own backyard! I too have a very large head. My dad has always said big head, big brain!
Haha I love that. My dad says the same actually!
Oh my gosshhhhhh this looks so amazing! The more I travel abroad the more I find myself wanting to actually do a US roadtrip because, let’s be honest, our country is pretty fricking beautiful. And I want an excuse to dig my cowboy boots out of the closet, sigh… Your photos are gorgeous!
A US road trip would be so much fun. I did one years ago with my grandparents to the south but I’d like to do the classic Route 66 one someday! And thanks so much- I didn’t have my usual camera and had to borrow my dad’s G12 so it was a bit harder shooting :)
Ok, I’ve never visited Montana and never wanted to either. But now I’ve seen these photos and find myself daydreaming of big sky country! I’ve always known that the U.S. has a ton of great areas well worth exploring, but this was never on my radar before. So thanks for adding that to the list, I guess! ;)
Glad to hear it! I definitely want to go back to see Yellowstone as well as Cowgirl up, which is a camp where you and other women ride horses and drink wine for a week. Sounds pretty great to me! :)
Oh man, I love Montana. I went for a work trip once and I was so pleasantly surprised by the beauty and tranquility! If it wasn’t so crazy cold for a huge part of the year, I would consider moving there!
What a cool place to go for a work trip, wow! And yes, I’ve heard the winters are pretty fierce :)
I’m in the same boat as you, having traveled internationally more than domestically at this point. I would definitely like to go Montana though! I grew up on the East Coast and I have loved exploring the west but haven’t been to Montana yet. These pictures are quite enticing!
For someone who grew up on the east coast or in the midwest Montana’s like a different world! I can’t recommend it enough :)
Holy COW! Gooorgeous. I’ve been wanting to go out west for some time now, but this has cemented it. I NEED TO GO OUT WEST.
xox
giedre
ps. Just found you via Paper Planes – can’t wait to read more!
Glad to have you here, Giedre! And going out west is incredible!
I have really started to appreciate exploring my own backyard (if I can consider THE ENTIRE US my own backyard, that is). The past year had a lot more domestic travel for me than usual and I have even more on the docket coming up. I spent a bit of time in Montana in high school and would love to go back now. Gorgeous!
I felt a bit silly as I was literally there for about 48 hours so I will definitely be making a return trip too! It was too gorgeous not to go back!
I am always so impressed with your photos, Ashley! What camera and lenses do you use? Montana looks gorgeous, and I’m a sucker for big dogs!
Thanks so much, Sonja! The dogs were soo cute. And actually I used my dad’s camera for this trip, a Canon G10, because I left my camera at my friend’s. Normally though I use a Canon EOS Rebel T2i :)
Thanks for the info! I’m in the market for a DSLR after shooting with my compact Canon S95 (which is awesome, by the way) for the past few years. Definitely not retiring the S95, just time to add a more serious one into the mix :)
I used my dad’s S90 for a while and really liked it! Personally I would go for a mirrorless camera, they’re compact but seriously powerful.
Nice Blog Ashley,
Thanks for sharing your pictures. Iv been to Montana twice to visit family in White fish and in Livingston.
If any of your followers choose to go to Livingston…Be sure to take in the view of the “sleeping Giant” Mountain.
I definitely will! Montana is so beautiful :)