Your Weekend Guide to Billings, MT: Couples Edition
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed with the busyness of life, work, kid’s school schedules and everything in between that you start to crave a weekend away from it all?
A short time away to reset, rejuvenate and reconnect with the one you love most.
But then when it comes time to plan something, it ends up feeling equally overwhelming and you never find the time to make it happen. Instead, it just becomes something that you’ll do “one day.”
After all, there’s the research to find the best spots to visit, booking hotels, making dinner reservations and planning an itinerary to make the whole weekend worth it.
But picture this for a moment 📸: you book a luxurious hotel room, make five star dinner reservations, scout out the best brunch spots and hit the road to enjoy a full weekend in Billings, MT filled with adventure in the mountains - kid free, just you and your person.
And the best part? You don’t have to plan it alone 👀
How would you feel if all of the hot spots could be scouted out for you?
What if your itinerary was taken care of and all you had to do was finalize your bookings?
That’s possible for you with the Weekend Guide to Billings blog series. 🙌🏻
Throughout this series, I’ll be highlighting different places to stay, things to do, where to eat and of course all of the sights for you to check off your list when you find yourself in Billings, Montana.
You might be wondering… “but are you a travel agent?” Nope! I’m a Billings Realtor that’s super passionate about helping you intentionally explore all of the greatness that the area has to offer with ease.
Whether you’re with your spouse, with the girls, in town for a big game, consider yourself a wellness junkie or are an avid outdoorsman, I’ve got you!
In this Weekend Guide specifically, we’re covering all things for the couple just in time for Valentine’s Day so you can take the overwhelm out of planning and know exactly where to start.
Book Your Stay
First things first, let’s book your stay because we all know it’s not a proper weekend getaway without a ‘gramworthy hotel or AirBnb.
A few of my top picks include:
The Northern Hotel - right in the heart of Downtown Billings, the Northern is a great place to stay if you’re looking for that luxurious hotel experience that’s also walkable to many restaurants and activities. The hotel itself has two restaurants inside and beautiful amenities!
C’mon Inn - a classic Montana experience with in room fireplaces, jacuzzi suites and hot tubs galore making it the perfect spot for a romantic couples getaway.
Mountain View AirBnb - if you’re the type of couple that likes a true home away from home, you can’t go wrong with this ADORABLE Montana mountain AirBnb. This tiny house style accommodation is just a short walk from downtown and greets you with gorgeous views of the Beartooth Mountains.
Your Weekend Itinerary to Billings, Montana: Couples Edition
This 3 day itinerary has been crafted for you to enjoy a fun filled weekend in Billings with the one you love most.
It’s packed full of adventure, sightseeing and classic Montana moments that you can’t find anywhere else while also leaving time for you to soak in some well deserved R & R!
Most people don’t realize that Billings is the largest city in the state and features various different communities that each bring its own vibe. As you explore during your weekend getaway, you’ll get a mix of the traditional Montana life along with our very own version of city living!
Day 1 (Friday Evening):
Upon your arrival at your home away from home, unpack and settle in before heading out to explore all of the fun that Billings has to offer.
Since travel day can be a little tiring, you can keep things casual on night one with a few downtown favorites.
For starters, cheers to the weekend with tasty drinks along the Billings Brew Trail. 🍻 This activity is ideal for brewery loving couples, but even if the brewery scene isn’t typically your thing, I’d still encourage this as a fun way to kick off your getaway.
It’s a self guided tour made up of six breweries, two distilleries and one cider house that are all within walking distance of each other. You’ll also see tons of fun historic sites along the 1.5 mile walkable route - here’s how it works!
If it’s too cold for you to endure the walking tour (we are in Montana after all 😅) choose one or two of the stops along the route - I’d recommend Thirsty Street Taproom for welcome drinks paired with live music and then a short walk to Montana Brewing Company when you get hungry.
This downtown classic has been around since 1994 and is Montana’s first brew pub which means you’ll get to enjoy the atmosphere of a brewery, full bar and entire restaurant under one historic roof when you visit. I highly recommend the mac and cheese - it’s never let me down!
Before returning to your hotel or AirBnb, top off your first night in Billings with dessert from Big Dipper Ice Cream. They’ve been serving up handcrafted ice cream since 1995 and have made many national media appearances so you’ve got to experience it for yourself!
Day 2 (Saturday):
Is it just me or do you sleep better on vacation? Has to be the hotel style pillows 🤣
After a good night’s sleep, it’s time to gear up for a day full of adventure throughout Billings and the surrounding areas. And a full day will of course start with some of the best brunch in town!
Make your way to West End Billings for all of your classic brunch favorites, like french toast, omelets and delish breakfast sandwiches at Sophie's paired with a specialty mimosa if that’s your thing. 🍳🥞🍊🥂
After you're fueled up it’s time to hit the road, but not before you make one more pit stop for a car ride coffee from Big Sky Coffee Roasters.
Then, it’s time to choose your own adventure for the day! Depending on the time of year, you have a few options:
Go horseback riding at Bitter Creek Outfitters 🐴
If you want to experience a true Montana weekend, take advantage of this unique horseback riding experience with Bitter Creek Outfitters. Located just 10 minutes from downtown Billings, you can choose from a 1 or 2 hour guided tour along scenic trails making it one of the best ways to take in the beautiful views!
Explore the Rimrocks at Zimmerman Park 🌄
Billings is known for its famous Rimrocks, so it’d be a shame to miss these views while you’re here. The easiest way to explore and capture a photo for the memories is to take a hike at Zimmerman Park.
Stay indoors with Axe Throwing at Ox 🪓
You never know what you’re going to get with Montana weather, especially in the winter, so if outdoor activities are completely out of the question, opt for an indoor option like axe throwing at Ox!
Visit the shooting range 💥
Similar to axe throwing, the Black Butte Shooting Range offers a fun indoor activity that puts a unique twist on your average day date!
Drink wine at Yellowstone Cellars and Winery 🍷
End your sight seeing with a visit to this beautiful winery to sip on delicious Montana wines and soak in more gorgeous views.
Choose one or all of the above to fill your Saturday before you grab lunch at one of the local favorites:
Blues BBQ - if you’ve never had BBQ from a gas station, just hear me out! This is hands down the best BBQ in Billings and has been a crowd favorite since 2004. It makes for the perfect casual lunch option after a day out.
Off Main Deli & Bakery - if you aren’t feeling BBQ, Off Main Deli is another great choice. They offer piled high deli sandwiches, your favorite chip choice and cookies the size of your head.
After lunch, grab a special treat from Soda Station (a traditional soda shop experience) while you shop for souvenirs at The Joy of Living, because let’s be real no trip is complete without a sweatshirt, mug or postcard to take back home!
(NOTE: many boutiques and gift shops in the area are closed on Sundays, so make sure you make your stops on Saturday)
After a late lunch, make your way back to your hotel or AirBnb for a quick snooze and to freshen up before your last night in town!
When in Billings, you’ll find that it’s a pretty chill, casual mountain vibe, but don’t be fooled - there’s a few hidden fine dining gems that you’ll definitely want to take part in while you’re here.
So, put on your best date night outfit and make your way to one of the following:
TEN at the Northern Hotel (bonus if you’re already staying there!) - the menu changes based on the season, but you’re sure to find delicious apps, entrees and desserts to commemorate the perfect weekend getaway. OH and if you’re in town for Valentine’s Day, they always have a special menu to celebrate!
Walkers - a well-established downtown favorite, Walkers is another great choice for date night serving up a mix of international cuisine and western comfort foods in a casual yet urban setting.
Bistro Enzo - Italian food just screams romantic date night and Bistro Enzo is the place for that! The vibes of this place are truly chef’s kiss.
After dinner, make your way to the Alberta Bair Theatre to catch a performing arts show while you’re here. It’s one of the most popular go-to spots in Billings for entertainment, so make sure you grab your tickets beforehand!
Day 3 (Sunday morning):
Before you close out your trip and make your way home, enjoy one last Billings brunch at The Sassy Biscuit - I have two words about this place: waffle. biscuits. 😍
The options are truly endless for a couples weekend in Billings and you won’t run short of things to do, places to eat or sights to see.
These are the highlights that I would recommend to anyone visiting and my hope is that this guide helps you navigate the area and make memories with ease!
As a local, I love seeing visitors throughout town and I can honestly say that almost everywhere you go, you’ll be greeted with a smiling face! We’re all so proud of what Billings has to offer and hope to see you soon. 🤩
