Bozeman

Breakfast: It's got to be Sola Cafe on the south side of town.  Tiffany has the best granola ever!  Try it after a nice long run in the winter when it's 10 degrees out-hot and healthy.  Yum!!!

Lunch: Just the best lunch menu! If you love egg salad you have got to try Starky's! Homemade matza ball soup along with many others, cookies to die for! Kathy and Glen are awesome!  Check out at starkyonline.com . Stop by and say Pam sent you!

Dinner: So many to choose from, especially in the summer when you can sit outside and enjoy the Montana nights. If I had to choose one as my fav it would be Montana Aleworks.  Always happening with pool tables, cool inside bar and great food. I love the fish tacos! Best in town.

My choice for sports bars:

The Grantree-Best Western.  True story.  It is really where the locals go. Many tv's lot's of seating, clean and really good food. What's better than a huge pizza and cold beer while watching your game!

For the younger crowd, it's Spectators. Specs is always crowded, great burgers, pizza, plenty of beer  on tap.  Tv's all over, pool tables-not a quiet place for a romantic dinner.

Pam's picks for the best dog friendly hiking trails:

#1 Bozeman Creek: on the south side of Bozeman-plenty of water for "Rover" shade as well.  Lot's of walkers, joggers, bikers and most important DOGS!  In the winter-walkers, runners, x-country skiers, snowshoers, and yes plenty of dogs!

#2 Drinking Horse Trail: Across from the M-Water, trees, a nice two mile loop.

#3 Petes Hill: Once again, bikers, runners, walkers-old and young and dogs! Nice trail that leads to and from many other trails.

#4 It really isn't a hike but to some it could be-That's Snowfill.  Thirty fenced acres of just people and dogs (along with a pump and bowl for water) 1.25 miles make one lap-I usually choose to do two laps-My old dog just strolls (I don't worry about her because she can't get too lost) while the younger dogs just run around making new friends and running off some steam from their not so stressful day.

My favorite Bike rides(1.5 hours or less):

Sorry, I can get the word out to too many folks or they wouldn't be too special. Not many cars.

Shoot me an e-mail and I'll tell you where the low traffic roads are so you can have a great ride after a long days' work.

Livingston/Paradise Valley

For a real "Wild West " time it's the Old Saloon at the flashing yellow light at Emigrant. Don't eat there if you are watching your weight!  Huge plate fulls of pancakes, eggs and hash browns set in the historic saloon-it's just a fun experience!

Lunch-many folks would say Pinkies-which is pretty good but for me it's the Pickle Barrel biggest sandwiches around and good!  It will fill you up all day-Top it off with a few scoops of Wilcoxens ice cream and stroll around downtown Livingston.

Dinner has to be the Montana Rib and Chop house.  I think this place put Livingston on the map.  Always busy, always good. Great ribs, chicken and salads.

Livingston has many bars but the nicest one is "The Office" clean and new. Janet is a real promoter there is always something going on there from wine tastings to womans events. Many tv's make this a great sports bar. A computer for all of your business needs as well. They serve your typical bar food from soups, burgers and even salads.

Livingston has many great places to ride a road bike-lot's of wide open spaces make this one of my favorite places to ride my bike.

Paradise valley is not only known for the amazing fly fishing  but for Chico Hot Springs. One of the states top places for dinner.  Also a natural hot spring that you can swim and soak in, along with horseback riding, gift shops, hiking and yes a day spa.  I just love going mid week in January and February when its cold and snowing out-sitting in the hot pools of water is an amazing experience-There is also a window to the bar if you get thirsty!

The Paradise Valley Grill is just that! On the banks of the Yellowstone river-Josh Pastroma is a top chef. Dinners are unique and wonderful and you can't beat the scenery!

Now let's talk about the Pop Stand on Hwy 89 just a few miles south of Livingston.  Since 1964 it has been a true landmark. The best breakfasts-even healthy-I just had the most wonderful pancakes and 2 poached eggs-fresh and not greasy.  If you like milk shakes-the Pop Stand for certain is the place. The have several flat screen t.v.'s,really good dinner choises-come and check it out-watch your football games,drink beer and eat some great food as well. If you love burgers... well check it out for yourself.  The paradise Valley Pop Stand and Grill!

Best Hikes:

Gotta be Pine Creek Falls-just about anyone can make it up there-One mile to the falls which are outstanding-go another tough four miles and enjoy Pine Creek Lake-camp and fish for your dinner-plenty of big trout in there!

Mill Creek has several good hiking trails-Passage Falls is a delightful four mile round trip hike. Depending when you go the meadows are just filled with wild flowers.  I consider Passage Falls a nice peaceful hike.

Thompson Lake is another great hike about 10 miles round trip-many just jump on a horse-not my idea of a hike!