http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/categoryname_montana/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ As you drive along S 19th Avenue you quickly become engulfed in spruce, fir, and pine trees, and to your right--a rushing stream; roaring with native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Arctic grayling, and Brook trout. As you weave your way through the canyon and approach the reservoir you’ll begin to gaze at the sweeping views and understand the beauty that Montana has to offer--welcome to Hyalite Reservoir. This serene spot just 30 minutes south from the center of Bozeman, MT allows you to experience the sought-out off the grid experience eleven months out the year--closed during the month of April. You are able to explore the Gallatin Mountains through hiking, mountain biking, swimming, camping, snow-shoeing, and ice fishing. You will find individuals of all ages enjoying recreational activities as there is something for every age group to enjoy!If you’re looking for a day trip, consider hiking to Hyalite Canyon’s Waterfalls: Grotto Falls and Palisade Falls--both under three miles round-trip!If you’re looking for a longer stay, consider pitching your tent and camping at one of Hyalite’s camping grounds: Lower Hyalite Group Campground, Hood Creek Campground, or Langohr Campground. Or, you can reserve a forest-service cabin; choose between Window Rock Cabin and Maxey Cabin for only $65 a night.Convinced this is the perfect weekend in Bozeman for you? Grab some friends, your paddleboard, or hiking shoes, and begin making new memories in the great state of Montana. No matter what outdoor activity you are searching for; you’ll find it in Hyalite.   http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/8821/outdoor-spotlight:-hyalite-reservoir/ Mon, 03 May 2021 02:30:45 -0700 With the forecast of Spring-like weather on the way, you may be wanting to get out and explore!  We've put together a list of 5 destinations within a few hours of Bozeman that will make your Spring Break one to remember!1. Chico Hot SpringsPhoto Courtesy of Chico Hot SpringsIn the heart of Paradise Valley, Chico Hot Springs and Resort designed for family vacations, romantic getaways, or as a basecamp for outdoor adventures. With two open-air mineral pools, multiple restaurants, and several lodging options, Chico is a great place to take the family or a group of friends for a few days.  Check out all of their amenities here.2. ButtePhoto Courtesy of TripAdvisorA historic and unique place to visit any time of year, Butte becomes especially intriguing over St. Patrick's Day weekend. Named by the LA Times as "The Most Irish Place In America", Butte hosts thousands of people each year at its annual St. Patrick's Day festivities, including a large parade, corn beef and cabbage, green beer, and leprechauns of all sizes. Check out some photos from previous years events here.3. Big SkyPhoto Courtesy of Big Sky ResortWhether you are a skier, snowboarder, ice climber, snowshoer, snowmobiler, or simply a lover of beautiful landscapes, Big Sky is the ultimate winter recreation destination.  With a huge selection of incredible restaurants and tons of lodging options, you could stay for a day or for the week!  Check out some of their most popular winter activities here.4. Red LodgePhoto Courtesy of TripSavvyIn just over two hours, you can drive from Bozeman to Red Lodge, a historic mountain town nestled against the Beartooth Mountains.  From miles of cross country skiing trails, to the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary, Red Lodge offers something for all ages.  Check out all they have to offer here.5. Norris Hot SpringsPhoto Courtesy of WeGoPlacesLess than hours drive from Bozeman, Norris Hot Springs boasts "The Water of the Gods", a series of artesian springs feeding a 38,000-gallon wood-bottomed pool.  You can catch live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night year round, plus they offer a full menu and beer and wine.  Check out all the info here.Do you have other plans for Spring Break? Let us know in the comments! http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/6843/spring-break-getaways-around-bozeman/ Wed, 13 Mar 2019 10:20:35 -0700 Nothing says festive like a full, deep green, illuminated Christmas tree. But where are the best places to find them? What type of tree works best? And how do you properly care for it?  Read on for answers to all these queries and more!Where to Find Your TreeIf you are looking to purchase your pre-cut Christmas tree, it is almost impossible to drive through town without seeing a retail location.  Check out local home improvement stores, hardware stores, big box locations, and grocery stores for parking lots full of pre-cut trees.  Prices range can start around $40 and can go well over one hundred dollars, based on the type and height of your tree.There are also a few locations where you can cut your own tree without venturing into the wilderness.  Rocky Creek Farms has a U-Cut Christmas tree program (by appointment only) featuring Blue Spruce, Western White Pines, and a few others starting at $10/foot.If you're feeling especially adventurous, purchase a tree permit for just $5 and venture into the surrounding National Forests.  Permit-holders can cut a tree almost anywhere on the Custer Gallatin National Forest, which stretches from West Yellowstone to South Dakota. The permits are also valid on the other national forests in Montana.  For the full news release on tree permits, click here.Choosing the Tree for YouThere are hundreds of varieties of trees that can be used during the holidays.  Below is a list of the most popular types readily available* in Montana:Scotch Pine – Perfect conical shape, medium to long needled, will hold heavy ornaments, good sturdy branching, dyed.White Pine – Soft, long-needled, dyed, weak branching so no heavy ornaments, pretty, hold up well unless in the sun.Balsam Fir – The most fragrant, traditional shape.Frasier Fir – Perfect layered shape for holding ornaments, short needled, fragrant, holds needles well.Grand Fir – Bright green, tiered flat needles.Douglas Fir – Open branches, don’t look as sheared as others, very naturalNorway Pine – Long needles, holds needles well.Alpine Fir – From high elevations in the surrounding forests, very tiered branching, holds needles very well, most are narrow.Lodgepole Pine – More open like other native trees- sometimes they will have cones still on them, Western look.Colorado Spruce – Very full but have sharp needles. Layered.*Info from Cashman NurseryChristmas Tree Care & SafetyOnce you've chosen the tree that's right for you, there are a few tips to follow to make sure it stays full and green all season long.  Before bringing your tree in and placing it on the stand, make a fresh cut.  Cut about 1 inch off of the bottom of the trunk to allow for maximum moisture absorption.  Next, you will want to water the tree right away.  Make sure your stand is large enough to allow for approximately 1 gallon of water.  Your tree will absorb the most water in the first few days, so it is imperative that you check the water levels daily.  Keeping your tree properly watered will help with the loss of needles and keep the green color as long as possible.In terms of safety, it is important to keep your tree away from heat sources like heat registers, space heaters, fireplaces, televisions, and computers.  These can speed up evaporation and dry your tree out, making it much more likely to lose needles, or worse, catch on fire. Make sure to test all electric lights and ornaments before placing them on your tree.  If they are not functioning properly, don't use them.  And finally, be sure not to overload electrical outlets with too many plugs from lights and decorations.Going GreenWhen the holiday is over, its time to recycle your tree.  Ensure that all tinsel and garland is taken off before removing the tree from your house. As a courtesy service, the City of Bozeman Forestry Division sets up several drop-off sites for residents to recycle their Christmas trees after the holidays. Their crew transports a chipper to each site to process the trees into compostable material which will be used at a later date for organic cover at the Logan Landfill. Only compostable material can be used, so trees must be free of any decorations, hardware, lights, etc. It is best to leave the trees in whole pieces as it is easier for personnel to handle. Wreaths and garlands are not accepted because they are held together with wire or twine and can damage equipment.For a list of tree recycling sites in your Montana town, click here. http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/6627/christmas-trees-101/ Wed, 05 Dec 2018 09:52:39 -0700 This past week in Bozeman we have been experiencing some beautiful weather.  Spring fever is all around.  This is evident by the people emerging outside for runs, bike rides and strolls after a long winter hibernation.  You may also have noticed some of these popping up in yards...When the tulips and daffodils begin showing up, it is a sure sign of spring.  For any gardener this is also the time you start to get the itch to dig in the dirt.  For any Montana gardener, you know that we're still a couple of months out from this.  Gardening in Montana takes a little more skill, but with some research and patience you can enjoy the abundance of fresh veggies all summer long!  Here are a few tips to take full advantage of our short growing season.1.  To enjoy those beautiful spring flowers plant your bulbs by the first week of October.  Good choices for Montana are daffodils, tulips, crocus and iris.  No need for bone meal...it doesn't do much in the soil here.  Put the work in during the fall and enjoy their appearance as soon as (and often before!) the snow melts.2.  Planting too early, before the final frost can mean a lot of work wasted.  To be safe from frost, most wait until Memorial Day to begin planting outside.  Of course there are some who are eager and willing to take the risk earlier in May.  If you do plant early, keep an eye on the weather forecast and if frost is in the future be sure to cover your plants.  Very rarely does it frost in June in Montana, but never say never!3.  Before digging in make sure there have been enough warm days for the soil to dry out and pull the frost from the ground.4.  Good early planting options that are hardy enough to handle some frost would be potatoes, carrots, parsnips and onion.5.  These aren't quite as hardy as the above, but are also good cool season options:  lettuce, spinach, zucchini and radishes.  Most lettuce actually have a hard time with too much heat, so are good to plant early6.  Resist the urge to plant tomatoes early!  They can't handle a frost.  Most Montana gardeners get a jump-start on tomatoes by planting them inside in April or May.  Plant them in a container that will make it easy to transfer such as a milk carton or peat pot which can be planted right along with it.  Place them in a sunny window until the danger of frost is gone.7.  Other great Montana veggies are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, peas and pumpkins.8.  When choosing seeds look for early ripening varieties for our short growing seasonFor more Montana gardening and planting tips visit www.cashmannursery.com.  With a little patience and practice you'll be eating a rainbow of veggies by July!  http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/5782/8-tips-for-gardening-in-montana/ Mon, 07 May 2018 12:00:00 -0700 Just because Spring Break is over, doesn't mean the adventures are over. Going to college at Montana State University is such a blessing with so many things to do in Bozeman, especially if you love the outdoors. Here are our top 10 things for college students to do in Bozeman:1. START FROLFINGHave a couple hours in between classes? Check out the Folf field at Rose Park off of Oak Street. This is the only official Frisbee golf course in Bozeman and it is maintained by volunteers which means you play for free! There are also folf courses at Bohart Ranch, Battle Ridge and Bighorn Ridge. 2. GET COMPETITIVEThere are all sorts of team or individual intramural competitions on campus throughout the year. With everything from dodgeball and bingo to laser tag and inner tube water polo you can register for just about any type of event. 3. TAKE YOUR PROCRASTINATING GAME UP A NOTCHSick of studying? The MSU Procrastinator Theatre is a student operated second-run theater, just steps from the library. Tickets are only a few bucks and they have no problem with you bringing your own snacks! Score!4. MAIN STREET TO THE MOUNTAINSThe Main Street to the Mountains trail is one of the coolest things about Bozeman. Winding all the way through town, the trail takes you through forested areas, to the heart of downtown and all the way to the mountains bringing you anywhere you want to go. The best way to see it all? Hop on a bike!5. EAT ALL THE PIZZAIf you plan on surviving the semester on pizza alone, we won’t judge. Matter of fact, we’ve done the same thing (with a little Ramen and Pickle Barrel thrown in for variety). So where are the best places to get pizza around here? Colombos is right on campus and their pizza is fantastic. For the times you just can’t quite make it off the couch, Cosmic Pizza delivery is inexpensive, fast and local. We are also big fans of Red Tractor Pizza. Their local ingredients make for some delicious combinations AND they have live music and beer!  If you are looking for a late night snack, Rosa's is the way to go. Their jumbo size is enough to feed friends and their cheese sticks with ranch dressing are a must. 6. GET OUTSIDEThanks to the MSU Outdoor Recreation program you’ll have whatever you need for your next adventure. With everything from canoes, kayaks, snowshoes, sleeping bags and paddle boards, thanks to the Rec Center you will be out enjoying the mountains in no time. They also host group trips and workshops and have a workshop where you can tune up your bikes & skis!7. SKI BRIDGERA semester at MSU and Bridger Bowl basically go hand in hand. Since Bridger Bowl is just 16 miles north of town, you can sleep in and still have time to hit the slopes all afternoon.  If you are new to Bozeman, keep your eye open for the blue blinking light on the Baxter Hotel...it means that the snow is falling at Bridger Bowl.8. HIT THE TRAILSLucky for us, Bozeman is surrounded by six incredible mountain ranges - which means there is no end to places to explore. The Bridger Mountains are the backdrop to Bozeman and offer tons of hikes for a variety of skill levels like Sacajawea Peak – a hike that gets you to the tallest point in the range in just 2 miles. The Gallatin Range is another popular place for Bozemanites with some of the most rugged peaks in Montana. On top of that we’ve got the Madison Range, Crazy Mountains and Tobacco Roots all within an arm’s reach. Click here for some of our favorite hikes.9. START CLIMBINGYou can find some of the best climbing in the country in southwest Montana. “Bozeman’s Backyard” Hyalite Canyon, is one of the best natural ice climbing venues in the lower 48. If you aren’t quite ready for the real stuff, there is a climbing gym on the Montana State campus where you can learn, practice and make friends! Montana State also has a climbing club “Vert-I-Go” which gets students outdoors to explore rock climbing routes on weekends on evenings. 10. 10. CHECK OUT DOWNTOWNFor a relatively small town, Bozeman’s downtown scene has become quite the cultural hub. With art galleries, breweries, locally owned shops and incredible restaurants there is so much do to, see, drink & eat downtown. There are also countless events like Music on Main, Art Walk, Christmas Stroll, Crusin’ on Main and many, many more! Check out www.downtownbozeman.org for more information.  http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/5606/10-things-for-college-students-to-do-in-bozeman/ Wed, 21 Mar 2018 12:00:00 -0700