News, Updates, & More•
on March 10th, 2011•
Spring is on its way to Livingston and we all seem to be coming out of our winter slumps! There are a lot of great things happening this month that you might want to check out whether you are visiting or local.
One Livingston tradition not to be missed is the Mainstreet Show – Friday, March 18, 8:00pm at the Danforth Gallery (106 N. Main St). It promises to be a wonderfully entertaining evening with the Haywire Choir, poet Marc Beaudin, special guests and show regulars Mike Devine, Deb Corbett and Humorist Greg Keeler. Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 in advance at Sax & Fryer on Callender St. Doors open at 7:15pm.
If you have not been to any of the productions at the Dulcie Theatre yet here is your chance. Crazy Mountain Productions presents The King & I, opening tomorrow and running through April 10th. For more information call 406.222.1420 or visit the website.
The Blue Slipper Theater is in the middle of their production of Talk Radio by Eric Bogosian. It runs Fridays and Saturdays 8pm through March 19th.
If you would like to get out and support a good cause Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation will be putting on Spring Fling, Sunday, March 27, from 4:30 to 6:30pm, at the Chico Hot Springs Conference Center. This year marks the 33rd anniversary of designation of Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness. Red Lodge author Gary Ferguson will be speaking and there will be music by Mike Devine. To raise funds for upcoming wilderness projects there will be a raffle and ABWF merchandise for sale. For more info call 406.446.3628.
In addition to everything listed above, there is a packed schedule of music at The Murray Bar over the next couple of weeks. To see the lineup you can either visit their website or their Facebook page.
We hope to see you out and about enjoying everything that Livingston has to offer! And don’t forget about our great package deal that we are currently running with the Second Street Bistro.
News, Updates, & More•
on February 27th, 2011•
It has been a long, cold winter here in Livingston, Montana, as it has been in much of the United States. And while winter in these parts brings its own unique, breathtaking beauty, we are ready for a little sunshine and greenery. How about you?
News, Updates, & More•
on February 18th, 2011•
Looking for a fun night out on the town in Livingston, or want to treat your sweetheart to a romantic getaway? We have just the thing for you.
We are really excited to announce an amazing package deal that we have created in partnership with the Second Street Bistro. From now until May 15th* for $150 a couple can get a suite at the Murray Hotel for one night (normally $139 and up) plus dinner for two at the Second Street Bistro including a bottle of house red or white wine**! You can enjoy the best of Livingston all while staying on the corner of Park and Second Streets. When you call to book your room just let us know that you would like the package deal. At check-in you will receive a card to redeem for dinner and wine at the restaurant.
And since you already have a place to stay, be sure to go check out the live music and the new pool table at the Murray Bar right next door! You can find a schedule of upcoming bands on their website.
Don’t miss out on this great deal!
*Due to summer capacity, we have shortened the length of this promotion.
**Includes all suites except Peck’s Place and the two bedroom suites. Dinner for two is a value of up to $60 and does not include gratuity.
News, Updates, & More•
on February 12th, 2011•
Yes, it is a quick two days until Valentine’s Day! If you have been procrastinating getting a gift for your special valentine, you are in luck. The Gourmet Cellar (right across the street from our hotel) is a lovely little shop that has a wide selection of wine and cheese and also carries beer, chocolate, pasta and other specialty items.
They are not usually open on Mondays but they will be open this Monday from noon-6pm for those of you who really like to leave it to the last minute. And they are open all afternoon today as well.
Today they are sampling cheese and chocolate pairings in the shop. You might not think that cheese and chocolate go together but when paired correctly it is absolutely delicious! The chocolates, which are for sale in the store, come from La Châtelaine in Bozeman and are amazing little works of art.
If cheese is not your sweetheart’s thing, Debbie Endres (owner of the Gourmet Cellar) recommends buying a sparkling red wine to go with the chocolate such as the Pineto Brachetto D’Acqui or the Xyris. If you are feeling overwhelmed with deciding on a gift just stop on in and ask Debbie. She can help you select a delicious cheese, chocolate and some wine or beer to go with it.
They even carry individual sized champagne and sparkling wine for those of you who don’t need an entire bottle.
Or surprise your valentine Monday morning with a romantic breakfast of coffee, scones and Rose Petal Confit.
Whatever you decide to do, hurry up and do it! Time is running out.
News, Updates, & More•
on February 4th, 2011•
As you probably know, this Sunday is Super Bowl XLV. Most of America will be sitting in front of a TV by 4:30pm MST, if not earlier, watching the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers battle it out for the NFL championship. When you get right down to it there are four things that people look forward to on Super Bowl Sunday: the football, the half-time show (Black-Eyed Peas will be performing this year), the commercials, and the food!
For those of you looking for a place to join in the fun with others and cheer on your favorite team here are your options in the Livingston area:
The Murray Bar – right next door to us at 201 W. Park St. They are advertising great specials, $.25 wings and giveaways.
The Office Lounge & Liquor Store – on the corner of Main and Lewis. They have 11 high-def TVs and will also have drink specials and giveaways.
Chico Saloon – at Chico Hot Springs in Pray. Hot springs, great nachos and football. Their annual Super Sunday Party starts at noon.
Whiskey Creek – 110 N. Main St. Their Super Sunday Party starts at noon as well.
If you are having your own Super Bowl party, or just staying home and food is your thing, check out this Food Network link for some great recipes and inspiration.
And we can’t forget the commercials. Some super star appearances to watch for are Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne together for a Best Buy ad, Eminem for Brisk ice tea and Richard Lewis and Roseanne Barr for Snickers. Pepsi will be airing winning home-made ads that were voted on online by fans.
Whatever your reason for watching the Super Bowl, it is always a great excuse to get together with friends, eat delicious, unhealthy food that your normally wouldn’t, and see some of the best commercials you will see all year!
News, Updates, & More•
on January 28th, 2011•
This is the time of year when people start planning (or at least dreaming about) their summer vacations. Here is a list of websites and blogs that can help you in this endeavor. Whether you are just looking for some ideas and inspiration or are already starting your planning these are all useful resources.
Inspiration:
Lonely Planet – The publishers of the Lonely Planet travel books have a great website with lots of information on traveling all over the world.
National Geographic Travel Blog – Beautiful photos and interesting trip ideas.
Official Government Travel Information:
The TSA Blog (did you know they had one?) – Stay up to date on all of the latest news from the Transportation Security Administration.
Fast Lane – The official blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
General Travel Information:
Bing Travel Farecast – Searches other sites for best fares and also predicts when fares will go up or down.
Consumer Traveler – All around travel news and tips written for the consumer.
Weather Underground – It’s always a good idea to check the weather when heading to a different part of the country (especially Montana where it is very unpredictable). Take a look at the extended forecast when deciding what to pack and keep in mind that it can go from sunny and warm to snowing in no time at all around here!
Montana and Livingston Information:
Montana’s Official State Travel Site – This website is a great resource for anyone traveling to Montana and has beautiful photos of our state.
Go Livingston – Offers some nice ideas for those planning a vacation in Livingston.
Livingston Chamber of Commerce – Check out their visitor guide for all of the information you need on what to see, what to do, where to go in Livingston.
News, Updates, & More•
on January 20th, 2011•
A couple of weeks ago we wrote about downhill skiing and snowboarding in this part of Montana. For those of you who prefer skiing on relatively flat terrain, there are a multitude of options around Livingston. There is such a variety of trails in this area that you are sure to find something to suit any level skier.
For the complete beginner, we recommend Bohart Ranch, which is located in the Bridger Mountains about 30 miles from Livingston. They have everything that you need right there, from ski rentals, to lessons, to groomed trails. They teach both classic and skate skiing techniques. Their day pass rates and rental rates are very reasonable but according to their website they do not take credit cards so be sure to bring cash or check with you!
If you already know how to cross country ski and would like to get out and see some beautiful scenery you can choose to stick close to Livingston and ski one of the many trails in Paradise Valley or head into Yellowstone National Park for the day. Either way you will need equipment so make sure to bring your own if you have it, or if you do not, stop in and see the friendly folks at Timber Trails for some rentals. They are located at 309 West Park Street and you can call them for more info at 406.222.9550.
Skiing Mill Creek's West Fork Trail
From Suce Creek to Mill Creek to Bear Creek, there are ski trails throughout Paradise Valley. GoLivingston.com has a great write up of many of these trails with directions on getting there and levels of difficulty. You can read it here. As an added bonus, at the very end of Mill Creek (about 11 miles up Mill Creek Rd.) there is a sledding hill right next to the parking area! So, if you have children and decide to head in that direction for your skiing you may want to bring a sled along as well.
For more information on cross country skiing in Yellowstone visit the National Park Service website where you will find maps of trails with a key telling you the difficulty level of each trail.
This has been a great year for skiing so far with all of the snow that has fallen in Livingston. Cross country skiing is an excellent way to take advantage of that and a great activity for the whole family! Just make sure to do your research ahead of time and dress for the ever changing Livingston weather.
News, Updates, & More•
on January 10th, 2011•
Whether you plan all of your winter vacations completely around skiing or snowboarding, or you are planning on coming to Montana for other reasons but would like to fit some skiing in as well, you will find that you have some options once you get here.
Bridger Bowl
The favorite amongst locals because of its proximity to Livingston and its very reasonable prices, Bridger Bowl is actually a non-profit that was started back in the 1950’s by local ski enthusiasts. The mountain is located 30 miles from Livingston and boasts 2000 ski-able acres with the longest run being 3 miles. Currently they have the snow base listed as 61″ and continue to get fresh snow almost daily! As mentioned above, the pros of skiing Bridger are that it is the closest ski area to Livingston and the prices are better than you will find anywhere else nearby. For a full day lift ticket the cost is: Adult – $47, Child (7-12) – $16, Child 6 & under – free, Senior (70-79) – $21, Super Senior (80+) – free. The cons of Bridger are that it is a fairly small mountain, thereby limiting the amount and length of runs and it is also not the best option for snowboarders because there is a lot of traversing between runs with long flat stretches.
Moonlight Basin
Moonlight is located in Big Sky, just 76 miles from Livingston and is situated on the northern edge of Big Sky Resort. They have 1900 ski-able acres with their longest run coming in at 2.8 miles. Currently their base is listed at 50″. Pros of Moonlight include much less expensive lift prices than Big Sky. Full day prices are: Adult – $58, College, Junior, Senior and Active Military – $49, Children 10 & under – free. They also have several areas of freestyle terrain which include jumps, hits, ramps, fun boxes, jibs and rails. The main con of Moonlight is that most of its runs are located on the opposite side of Lone Peak from Big Sky which leaves it in the shade for most of the day.
Big Sky Resort
Big Sky Resort is located right next to Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, MT. It is by far the largest of the three ski areas listed here with 150 named runs covering over 85 miles on three separate mountains. Their longest run is 6 miles and their current snow base is between 47-70″. They also have a Terrain Park and they have an online interactive trail map. Pros of Big Sky Resort are its size which offers a wide variety of runs for all levels and great for snowboarding as well. It is also located on the sunny side of the mountain, which can be huge on a cold Montana day. The main con is the price of lift tickets which is comparable to some Tahoe ski resorts. They do offer a discount if you purchase your tickets online but regular full day price is: Adult – $81, Junior or College – $61, Senior – $71, Kids 10 & under – free.
There is also the option now to get one pass to ski both Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin. You can find more info on that at either one of their websites.
All three of these ski areas can be day trips from Livingston if you wish, with Bridger being a much more reasonable day trip. Of course if you spend the day skiing in Big Sky you can always stop in Bozeman for dinner on your way back to Livingston. If you are flying in to Montana you will have to rent a car to get to any of these resorts and you will want to make sure and rent one with either four wheel drive or all wheel drive! As always, if you have any questions about local activities just give us a call or stop by the front desk.
News, Updates, & More•
on December 31st, 2010•
News, Updates, & More•
on December 28th, 2010•
Can you believe that it is almost 2011? Wow! Where did the last year go? If you, like many of us, got so caught up in all of the holiday preparations that you totally neglected to make plans to celebrate the ringing in of the new year, here are some ideas for you.
Right now (as of the time of the writing of this post) the Murray Hotel has only one room left for New Year’s Eve. However, it just so happens to be the perfect room for two couples or a group of good friends or a family. The one room still available is one of our suites which includes two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom and much more for $339 plus tax. If you are interested in turning your evening into a really special occasion, then grab your closest friends and book this room! Once you have that taken care of you can make plans for dinner at the 2nd Street Bistro (call ahead to make sure they have room!) and then it is just a couple of steps to The Murray Bar where you can dance the New Year in with Big Quinn and the Jukebox Romeos.
If you happen to call and we are all booked up, you can always try the Best Western Yellowstone Inn. They have a wonderful New Year’s Eve package planned including live music by the pool. And if the 2nd Street Bistro is full for dinner, consider heading a couple of blocks over to The Sport (406.222.3800). Some of the other bands playing Friday night include Denny and The Resonators at The Office, and the Doors Legacy Band at the Mint Bar on Main Street.
Whatever you decide to do, please be safe! Give us a call if you have any questions.
