When you live here in Bozeman, you know you are fortunate. Going on a vacation offers a quick break from winter, bigger shopping malls, and a change of scenery, but it is amazing how many locals say that the drive down the Frontage Road from the airport to home always brings a sigh of relief.
Kids growing up here realize very young that there is always something to do each season outside. Many cities and states have indoor play areas with anything from arcades to ice skating. Bozeman is an outdoor play area. Kids spend their winter days sledding, ice skating and skiing. We are blessed to have two great shi areas close to us. Big Sky Ski Resort is a quick hour away and offers amazing skiing, dining and a resort feel. Bridger Bowl is the local ski area. It is a quick twenty minute trip from town and has great skiing and a local feel.
One of the great services that Bridger Bowl offers is the “Kids Free Ski Bus”. Only for kids, they meet at the local fairgrounds and Bridger Bowl runs as many busses as there are kids. Leaving at 8:30am, the kids make the early run. They ski all day and catch a return bus at 4:00 at the ski hill closing, arriving back to town at 4:30pm. The bus runs both weekends and all school holidays, making it a convenient way for the kids to meet their friends and get outside to spend the day on the hill.
The morning drop off looks like an ant hill of excited and animated kids surrounded by ski gear, sitting on the snow bank planning the days adventure ahead of them. At pickup, a far quieter group comes off the bus, tired from a full day, but eager to retell their adventures and accomplishments and show off their pictures and videos.
As a parent of a 12 and 15 year old, I was initially hesitant to send my kids on a day when we did not ski as a family. But, time and time again Bridger Bowl has proven itself to be an efficiently fun ski hill with an amazing staff that is always present to help if needed. That and the reminder that I could not keep up with them skiing if I tried make the bus a great option.
By Kristen Hoell
Broker, CRS, GRI, ABR
Prudential Montana Real Estate
1925 N 22nd Ave, Ste. 201
Bozeman MT
59718
406-556-7708
