Bozeman, Montana is right in the heart of the Rocky Mountain Range containing 50,000 people. This is a guide for first timers thinking about visiting the Montana Wilderness.

This summer, I went to go visit my best friend in Bozeman, Montana. I’d never been to Montana before and when I imagined Montana, I think of fields. Lots of fields full of lots of grass. And when I stepped off of the airplane and took my first steps outside of the bozeman airport, I saw lots of fields full of lots of grass. But by the time my friend picked me up and drove me into town, it was like another world. Bozeman, a city in the heart of the towering Rocky Mountain Range, is a small and trendy city of about 50,000 people, unsuspectingly, in the middle of the Montana wilderness!

Bozeman is home to Montana State University (that’s where my best friend goes) with about 13,000 undergraduate students studying anything from Business, to Agriculture. Montana State University also has one of the best Architecture programs in the nation, which might explain why there are so many beautiful modern homes in Bozeman with exposed concrete, funky angles, and giant windows spanning from roof to floor. And the city happens to be in a valley that’s literally surrounded by giant mountains. Really, I’m not kidding when I say ‘surrounded.’ You can turn your head in any direction from basically anywhere in the city and find beautiful and rugged landscape. That explains why most of the students at Montana State University spend their weekends skiing, hiking, rock climbing and taking in the view. I’m not the biggest skier, and I visited in the summer where, for obvious reasons: there’s no snow. But that definitely didn’t stop us from visiting the Bridger Bowl Ski Area, which is only a half hour drive from the Montana State University campus, for reasons other than skiing. We followed a little goat trail (but didn’t see any goats) and hiked all the way up to the top of Bridger Bowl. The ski lift seemed so high above us, and that’s because there can be tens of feet of snow that pile up on the ski runs there in the winter. It makes sense why Montana is known for skiing!

When I wasn’t spending time hiking on my trip, we headed to Downtown Bozeman, which is a little paradise in its own right. I was surprised by how many cute and Instagrammable coffee shops and restaurants there were on basically every corner! I was blown away and totally surprised by everything that Bozeman was and wasn’t, and part of me wished I considered Montana State University when applying to school. Regardless, I’m sure I’ll be back soon for more good food.

The School

Winter Break is great. But don’t go too crazy. Safety first! Whether you’re flying to visit a friend in New Jersey or backpacking through europe, here’s some important travel advice to remember when you’re miles away from home:

• Email or text an itinerary to your parents, and a sibling or best friend. Outline your entire trip for them, and if plans change—for example, on a rainy day you opt to just go see a movie in Times Square than visit Yankee Stadium—text your folks and let them know. It shows maturity, and keeps them from worrying about your whereabouts.
• Avoid traveling alone. We know, we know...easier said than done. Try not to walk around anywhere at night alone, especially if you don’t know the area. If you’re taking a taxi, stay alert, sit in the back seat, pay attention to your surroundings, and try to avoid talking on the phone so you can stay focused if anything seems awkward or uncomfortable. Trust your gut. Sitting in an uber or cab is a great time to text mom and let her know where you’re going.
• Indicate a health issue. You never know when a health emergency will arise. Know the name of the closest hospital or health clinic and where it is. Make sure your health insurance card is in your wallet or pocket, in case you get sick and need emergency care somewhere. If you need medical attention—for example, you’re a diabetic or suffer from seizures—wear a medical ID bracelet indicating you need a certain medicine, or just place a list of the medications you take—with the name of your doctor back home—in your pocket or wallet when traveling in case of a health emergency.
• Do not consume alcohol. Unless you are of legal age in the country you’re visiting, don’t drink alcohol, and even if you are of legal age, be careful. No one likes a sloppy drunk, not to mention, you don’t want to lose control of your mind and your body. Reminder, ‘cuz it never hurts to say it again: The legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21. Yes, 21. If you drink in the U.S., and you’re not 21, you’re breaking the law. Period. - AT staff

When in Bozeman, here are some places to check out that my friend and I loved:

Sweet Peaks Ice Cream has pine & chocolate flavored ice cream. Taco Montes has a sign on the wall warning you to never ask to order “a regular taco.” Sacks of Bozeman is a thrift store where I found a pair of red corduroy overalls. Cactus Records is a cute, funky record shop with new and old CDs and Vinyl records from Beyonce to Jimi Hendrix.