Spend the day in Livingston, a welcoming mountain town that marks the northern end of the famed Paradise Valley. Long a hub for artists and outdoor enthusiasts, Livingston exudes turn-of-the-century charm — with several Old West downtown buildings that date to the 1880s and '90s — and offers plentiful opportunities to experience arts and culture, history, incredible outdoor recreation and a noteworthy restaurant and bar scene.
Start the morning with breakfast at French-inspired Tru North Cafe, where everything is made to order and the beverage creations are nothing less than artistic. Then explore downtown, with its brick storefronts and vintage neon signs. Appropriate for an area that's home to quite a few artists (as well as writers and well-known actors), you'll find more than a dozen art galleries. If history is more your thing, be sure to check out the Yellowstone Gateway Museum and the Livingston Depot Center, a grand 1902 train depot that features railroad-related museum exhibits during the summer.
After lunch at Los Pinos, Gil's Goods or — if it's a Thursday, Friday or Saturday — the Mint Bar and Grill, continue your exploration of Livingston or venture out on a fishing, horseback riding or rafting trip with an outfitter. If you're in town July 2, 3 or 4, don't miss the Livingston Roundup Rodeo, the premier rodeo in Montana. For dinner, head to Campione, an Italian spot that features local proteins, pastas, seasonal vegetable dishes and fresh-baked goods. In September 2023, the eatery, housed in a historic Main Street building, was included in the New York Times' list of its 50 favorite U.S. restaurants. And speaking of favorites, follow up your meal with a stay at the historic Murray Hotel — one of the late Anthony Bourdain's top 10 favorite hotels in the world: He recommended the Peckinpah Suite.
