Things To Do
Headframe Spirits
A great place for a pre-dinner cocktail - favorites include the GFC, their many variations of Moscow Mules, and the Dirty Girl (trust us on this one).
Pekin Noodle Parlor
As the oldest family-owned, continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the United States - there's no question as to why this is a family favorite. The food is exceptional, so show up hungry!
Berkeley Pit
Once an open-pit copper mine, this 1,800 ft deep crater is now filled with more than 40 billion gallons of water. A unique place to learn more about Butte's history. Although we don't recommend you bring your swimsuit for this one.
Copper King Mansion
This 34-room residence was built in 1888 in the Romanesque Revival Victorian style. This piece of architecture has been carefully maintained and is a unique homage to the reign of the Copper Kings at the peak of Butte's mining boom.
Mountain Con Mine
A good place to see Butte's iconic headframes up close. The view of the surrounding mountains alone is worth the visit.
World Museum of Mining
Butte, once the largest city in the Rocky Mountains, and has been called the "Richest Hill on Earth" due to the mining operations of gold, silver, and copper. This museum is located directly on an actual mine yard - the Orphan Girl Mine, which makes for a very realistic experience of Butte's mining history.
Front Street Market
A cute market with a lot of Butte character that has a full-service Italian deli, lots of great wine and beer options, and homemade treats.
Ringing Rocks
18 miles east of Butte and just north off of I-90, the rocks in this unique geologic area chime when tapped lightly with a hammer. And in case you were worried about how you were going to pack a hammer, there are ones provided on site.
Fairmont Hot Springs
Fairmont not only has a great indoor and outdoor hot springs, but also has a great golf course! The "mile high, mile long" 5th Hole has a green that is a mile high with a Tee Box 649 yards away.
Old Works Golf Course
Old Works was designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who used unique design decisions that incorporated this area's mining history. The slag from copper's smelting process is used for bunker material, creating a beautiful black sand effect.
Philipsburg Brewing Company
This place is worth a visit for more than their good beer. The brewery is located in a beautiful historic bank building. If you're driving from the west to get to Butte and have a few extra hours, take Highway 1 (which takes you by this great spot) for some great views of the surrounding mountains.
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park
This insanely cool spot is one of the largest limestone cavern systems in the northwest. The tour is about an hour and a half and should be high on your list of places to check out if you're spending extra time in the area.
MAP Brewing Company
If you're planning on spending some time in Bozeman, MAP is a must. This was one of Phil and Haley's favorite spots in college.
Mountains Walking Brewery
Another can't miss if you plan to be in Bozeman. The beer is *chef's kiss*. We spent a lot of time "studying" here during our MSU days.
Museum of the Rockies
The Museum of the Rockies houses one of the largest collections of North American dinosaurs in the world - including Montana’s T.Rex, one of the few mounted Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons in the United States.
Hyalite Reservoir
17 miles south of Bozeman, this beautiful spot was one of Phil and Haley's favorite spots to take a drive to whenever we needed a break from studying. If you have some extra time, take the 1 mile hike out Palisades Falls.
Ousel Falls
If you plan to spend any time in Big Sky, stop to check out the mile and a half hike (round trip) to one of Haley's favorite waterfalls in the state.
Virginia City
Montana has some great ghost towns - including Virginia City. It still has a population of around 150 people, and hosts more than 60 well-preserved historic buildings.
Chico Hot Springs
Another family favorite spot for Haley - Chico was established in 1900 and is located in Paradise Valley. The views are incredible and the hot springs are surrounded by the historic hotel, a restaurant, and a bar.
Garden of One Thousand Buddhas
If you're planning a trip to Glacier National Park to tag on to the wedding, this is right off the interstate on the way north from Missoula. It's a rare attraction for Montana and is definitely worth the stop if you're in the area.
Tippet Rise Art Center
This beautiful art park is located 24 miles from Columbus, the town that Haley grew up in. This 12,000 acre area features massive outdoor sculptures that still somehow seem tiny against the backdrop of the mountains.
Mystic Lake
The Beartooths are the mountains that Haley grew up camping, hiking, and skiing in. There's plenty of mentionable spots, but if you find yourself in this part of the state, the Mystic Lake hike is a great place to start.