Go bowling at Big Sky.Big Sky's a laid-back, Western kind of place, sitting smack dab in the rugged Rockies of southwestern Montana. Skiers come here to escape the crowds, ski dry powder and get lost (at least temporarily) in its expansive terrain.
Arguably among the top 10 largest U.S. resorts, Big Sky boasts 3,500 skiable acres, with long, fall-line runs for intermediate skiers as well as steeps, cliffs and other expert terrain. But Big Sky means more than skiing. Begun in the mid-1970s by news celeb Chet Huntley and others, it's definitely a destination resort, with everything from economy to extravagant hotels to all sorts of non-ski-related fun. One must take a day off the slopes for a day on a snowmobile — through Yellowstone National Park. The daylong ride includes stops at Old Faithful and other geysers, which grow even more visible in the cold of winter.
RESTAURANTS
Huntley Lodge Main Dining Room (406) 995-5000
Best breakfast buffet in all of Big Sky.
Lone Mountain Ranch Sleigh Ride (800) 514-4644
Take a sleigh ride to the North Fork Cabin, eat prime rib from an open wood stove, listen to storytellers and other entertainment and ride back to the ranch. Reservations recommended.
Buck's T-4 (406) 995-4111
High-profile gourmet, specializing in wild game, 12 miles from Big Sky slopes.
First Place (406) 995-4244
Classic American, from pasta to rack of lamb.
LODGING
Lone Mountain Ranch (800) 514-4644
Deluxe one- to three-bedroom cabins.
Buck's T-4 (800) 822-4484
75 Western-motif rooms, some with kitchenettes, 12 miles from Big Sky slopes.
Huntley Lodge (800) 548-4486
Big Sky's largest, with skiing from the lodge; all-purpose hotel at core of Mountain Village.
River Rock Lodge (800) 995-9966
Boutique, 29-room hotel, decked with lodgepole pine and Native American patterns. Each room comes with its own copy of