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Passions and Places

A travel + outdoors blog

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Anaconda, MT: An Offbeat Stop on a Montana Road Trip

April 11, 2019 By Ryan Victor 13 Comments

An outdoor mural of buildings and the text “Historic Anaconda. Where Main Street Meets the Mountains.”

When we planned a road trip starting in Montana, we knew the little town of Anaconda would be one of our first stops. With some offbeat attractions and almost no other visitors, it was exactly the type of place we wanted to explore.

Filed Under: Montana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: abandoned places, ghost towns

3 Days in Bozeman, Montana: An Itinerary for Outdoors Lovers

April 15, 2017 By Ryan Victor 8 Comments

Bozeman, Montana, is a haven for outdoors activities, from skiing and snowshoeing to hiking and kayaking. If you love the outdoors - and want your adventures complemented by good restaurants, strong coffee, and local beer - use our 3-day itinerary when you travel to Bozeman.

Bozeman has long been one of our favorite towns, not least because of its restaurant scene and abundance of outdoor activities year round. If you have a free weekend, use this itinerary to discover the best it has to offer.

Filed Under: Montana, Nature and Outdoors, North America, U.S. Tagged With: itinerary

Exploring the 3 Incredible National Parks in Montana & Wyoming

April 5, 2017 By Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor 8 Comments

If you’re thinking about a road trip or other travel in the American West, chances are you’ve got some national parks on your radar. Montana and Wyoming alone are home to three of the most popular parks: Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton. Here are our tips on the top things to do in each national park and the towns nearby. Highlights include Old Faithful, Going-to-the-Sun Road, Jenny Lake, and the towns of Bozeman, Whitefish, and Jackson.

Montana and Wyoming are home to three of the most popular national parks in the U.S. – and we were pretty lucky to grow up near them. Whether you want to visit Glacier, Yellowstone, or Grand Teton (or all three!), here’s how to make the most of your trip.

Filed Under: Hiking, Idaho, Montana, Nature and Outdoors, North America, U.S., Wyoming Tagged With: national parks

Ski Like a Local: 6 Lesser-Known Ski Areas in Montana

February 25, 2017 By Ryan Victor 7 Comments

Skiing and snowboarding can be pricey hobbies, especially at all-inclusive destination resorts like Big Sky or Park City. Fortunately, budget-friendly ski trips are completely doable, especially in Montana. Skip the exclusive resorts, and head to local ski areas instead. These six lesser-known ski resorts in Montana have great conditions, but they're also budget-friendly - and relatively uncrowded.

Skiing (and snowboarding) definitely isn’t a cheap hobby, but a ski trip doesn’t have to wipe out your savings. Skip the famed destination resorts, and head to one of Montana’s lesser-known ski areas instead. You’ll save a ton money but still get great ski conditions – plus a little more local charm.

Filed Under: Montana, Nature and Outdoors, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Skiing, U.S.

Hometown Tribute: A Travel Guide to Great Falls, Montana

February 14, 2017 By Ryan Victor 17 Comments

Our hometown of Great Falls, Montana, isn’t much of a tourism hub, but it attracts visitors for Western Art Week & the Charlie Russell Art Auction, the Montana State Fair, and occasional rodeos, as well as people on their way to visit Glacier National Park. We created a travel guide with tips for visiting Great Falls, including the top restaurants, coffee shops, things to do, and outdoor activities. If your will travels take you to Central Montana, use it to plan your trip!

It probably won’t surprise you that our hometown of Great Falls, Montana, doesn’t attract too many tourists. But with lots of new restaurants, tons of outdoors activities, and a handful of other things to do, the town has plenty to offer people who might be passing through.

Filed Under: Montana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, U.S.

Eat Global, Eat Local: International Cuisines in Missoula, Montana

February 4, 2017 By Ryan Victor 8 Comments

Montana may not be known for having diverse global cuisine, but a visit to the state’s hippie capital of Missoula says otherwise. With options like Indian, Brazilian, and Argentinian, try one of these restaurants for some of the tastiest and most interesting food around.

Filed Under: Foodie Travel, Montana, North America, U.S. Tagged With: restaurants

Ghosts of the Wild West: A Photo Essay from Montana

December 23, 2016 By Ryan Victor 17 Comments

Montana has a number of ghost towns, several of which are popular travel destinations. This photo essay tells the history of Elkhorn, one that’s further off the beaten path.

Why spend Black Friday shopping when you could spend it exploring an old ghost town in Montana? Ryan’s photo essay depicts what we found in Elkhorn and tells some of its history, from silver mining to town dances to a tragic diphtheria outbreak.

Filed Under: Montana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, U.S. Tagged With: abandoned places, ghost towns, photo essay

Close-up of a white man and woman both wearing black with trees in the background, and an overlaying green banner that says "Welcome!"

Hi! We’re Jen and Ryan, an American couple on a journey to travel the world while working from the road. We’re passionate about outdoor adventure, responsible travel, and getting off the beaten path. Passions and Places is a space for us to share our stories and tips with you, but most importantly, we hope to inspire you to seek your own adventure.

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