Summer Family Vacation in Big Sky, Montana
Summer 2020 threw everyone a curve ball and lead us rescheduling our family vacation. Although it was originally planned for South Africa, we were thankful to plan a family vacation to the mountains and enjoy the cool, fresh air of Montana. If you are looking for family travel ideas, heading to the “Wild West” is a great solution. Our girls were excited to look for animals like bison and moose during the day and getting to roast s’mores nightly before bed. Big Sky is a kid friendly destination with outdoor playscapes, easy river access, picnic spots and kid friendly hikes.
Wildlife in Yellowstone
Whitewater rafting on the Gallatin River
Uncle Ross caught lots of rainbow trout fly fishing the Madison River
Activities:
Montana is a great destination for domestic adventure travel. The area is known for world class fly fishing, and it did not disappoint. Outfitters offer float or wade guided trips to fish the Madison or Gallatin Rivers. We chose a float trip down the Madison River to enjoy the Montana scenery.
Other activities available in the summer are playing golf, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, ATV riding and whitewater rafting. Rafting was tons of fun and I think Merritt (our 4 year old) would love it next time. The water was chilly, but wet suites and shoes were available as well as a “dry jacket”. Big Sky is also a great winter destination with an abundance of snow skiing and snowboarding. It is a top skiing destination and is considered “The Biggest Skiing in America”. Sleigh rides, snowmobile tours, dog sledging and heli-skiing are a few of the other winter activities available.
With Yellowstone National Park an hour down the road, a day trip to visit Old Faithful should be on your to-do list. As luxury travel planners, we have organized private tours for clients to give them an in-depth look at the park, geysers and wildlife. You can also spend a few days in West Yellowstone for more park visiting including a glamping experience and guided in-park activities like Yellowstone horseback riding, fishing or even a helicopter tour for a unique national park vantage point. Young kiddos will also enjoy the ropes course and Grizzly Wolf Discovery Center.
Accommodations:
The Big Sky area has many multi-bedroom individual vacation home rentals available as well as ski in/ski out options and chalets. A new Montage resort is being built in the Spanish Peaks area and will be opening in 2021. All-inclusive ranches are another great option for an immersive experience (we have some favorites in the area). We will help you find the best location for your family whether in Moonlight Basin, Big Sky Resort or Spanish Peaks.
Packing Recommendations:
Active wear in layers
Backpack for hiking and exploring
Hiking shoes
Swimsuits for hut tubing (most accommodations will have one) and river activities
Insider Tips:
Bear spray is highly recommended for hikes but should be purchased on arrival. It also can be rented at the Jackson Hole, WY airport.
Elevation in the Big Sky area ranges from 7,000 ft. to 8,000 ft.+. If you are prone to elevation sickness, portable oxygen is available at most grocery stores in the area.
Pair your trip to Montana with a visit to Jackson to maximize your time out West, getting to explore Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park.
We visited in August to enjoy the long days of summer and beautiful weather. Montana is a great state to visit year around, but certain months are known to have more wildlife, better skiing, warmer weather etc. Whichever season and mountain destination excites you and your family, we are your vacation planners here to help!