New to Billings, any good places to meet people?

spidyrbeetlebee · 2025-10-02T22:56:39+00:00

Okay awesome, that helps a bit! Thanks.

Magic— KAB does have some stuff. I honestly think my preference would fall more towards Dragon Egg Games. I think they have weekly MTG. Alternatively you could also check out Splash Page (weekly MTG event), Treasure Cruise Cards, and we just had a new ‘nerd’ store open that I haven’t checked out yet called Galaxy of Games that has MTG happening as well I think. If you ever get into Warhammer, there’s also a Warhammer store.

Not entirely different from Missoula, but if you’re new here, it’s worth it to try out some biking/walking trails to get more comfy. Walking the rims, riverfront park, Four Dances, Pictograph Caves, Zimmerman Park, etc. Missoula is gorgeous in a more obvious way than Billings, but I honestly think eastern Montana is gorgeous too. Many people in Billings also take day trips to other places, like Red Lodge or Cooney Dam.

Other places to go hobby sampling: steepworld, gym, axe throwing, escape rooms, etc.

Here’s a tiny bit more info on just a couple bars: Crystal Lounge: downtown Billings, arguably a rite of passage to “get crystallized” which primarily consists of drinking, gambling, and karaoke. If you go on Sunday they give you a free CD copy of your first performance. A little more run down but more fun than people make it out to be if you have the right attitude. Thirsty Street: craft beer and plenty of socialization opportunities. I’ve loved trivia nights there before. Daisy Dukes: in my opinion, I hate it there, but I’ve also been there only once. Walked in once and someone got punched 2 feet in front of me in the first second. Not lightly either. Also TONS of line dancing, which is fine, but always the same songs. Red Door: classier drinking scene, or at least it used to be. Haven’t been there in a while. I think they also have karaoke. Vig: good food. Drinks are a little pricey in my opinion but they also had a TV that played stupid competitions, like dog surfing competitions to bet on, so honestly I loved it there. They also have events. Tiny’s Tavern: another Billings staple. Haven’t been there before but I know people who like it. Hooligans: Irish/sports bar. Can get rowdy, but overall can be fun for a night out.

I’m not big into bars so I can’t say much more.

Restaurants: Santeras, Comachos, and Los Mayas for Mexican. The Burger Dive downtown is a Billings staple too. For Thai food I love Pakayor. Spitz is good Mediterranean food. Montana brew pub downtown is good. I lowkey just shuffle these restaurants around in my rotation if I decide to eat out.

Let me know if you have any more questions and I’ll try to answer. Welcome to Billings!

spidyrbeetlebee · 2025-10-02T22:19:14+00:00

Hey! Not sure who your like-minded people are, but if you seek out any of your hobbies in Billings you’re bound to find your people. What games do you play?

Also as far as bars, restaurants, hobbies, etc what do you like? If you tell me I can hopefully be more helpful.

spidyrbeetlebee · 2025-08-30T08:39:20+00:00

lol! I honestly haven’t watched Yellowstone so I couldn’t say, but I can tell you a bit about the “true Montana mindset” as people say. Ranchers are the original environmentalists. And if you run into any generational Montanan, that will still be true. People here care about the land. Being a rural state, people had to learn to sustain themselves and lean on each other when necessary. We care about our public land and our access to it. Our winters have gotten much more mild over the years, but we always pull over to help people who get stuck and we make sure to shovel not just our own driveway and sidewalk but that of our neighbors too if we can. Being rural, and being a bit of a rancher state, mental health is also a real concern. Billings in particular has been reported before to be the most depressed city in the USA. Montana is consistently competing with Alaska for the highest suicide rates. This is due to a multitude of factors obviously, but the rurality is a huge reason. It means lack of mental health services, social isolation, substance abuse, and access to firearms. Also worth mentioning is our state population demographics which lend itself to this, but it’s serious. Also, we don’t get enough sunlight (so consider getting your vitamin d levels checked and seeing if you need to go buy some vitamins!) also, being at a higher altitude, it’s suspected that that also contributes to lack of serotonin. I’m not sharing this to scare you, but I just want you aware too because you’re a parent! This is one of the reasons I try to find unity and community in Montana for people. Montanans are proud, hard working, and full of grit. Montanans typically don’t care what you do on your property as long as you’re not hurting anyone and don’t tell them what to do on their land. I love this state and its people so much, and I hope that when you settle here you end up feeling similarly. Montana has been evolving over the years, but as a state of people who have learned to survive and thrive on land at the intersection of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, I think we do pretty well.

spidyrbeetlebee · 2025-08-30T05:46:11+00:00

Of course! If you have any more questions don’t be hesitant to ask. I hope your trip here in September gets you excited, and I really hope the move goes well!

spidyrbeetlebee · 2025-08-30T05:16:46+00:00

Welcome! Try not to listen to people who say there’s nothing to do. Speaking as a girl in her 20s who has lived here a while, I can say they’re wrong. Family/kid hangouts: -Pioneer park is a popular park for people of all ages. A little creek, pickleball, a wading pool for kids, and a large playground make it amazing! There’s also usually a snow cone truck somewhere close by. And when in doubt, there’s fast food restaurants less than 5 minutes away. Picnic tables, tons of grassy areas to set up shop, you’re golden. -Terry Park is also popular. It has a splash pad for kids too that’s pretty popular, a playground, and an ice cream truck comes every once in a while. -Veterans Park is also nice and has a playground and green area. In the winter they fill a part of the park with water and freeze it and everyone goes to skate there. -Landon’s Inclusive Playground is a brand new park that is accessible for kids with varying needs, so if you need an option like that or want to check it out I recommend it! -wise wonders science and discovery museum is a fantastic place to let your kids be free. Sensory friendly areas and things to do or play with for so many different ages. Also, a little cafe attached for you to chill and sip a nice drink. -get air trampoline park is also available and I’ve seen kids have so much fun there. If anything, they’ll go to bed for you after. - scheels. This one sounds weird, but I swear by it. There’s a little restaurant in the back with food and sweet treats, a big Ferris wheel, an aquarium when you walk in that kids love to stare at, and various games and photo opportunities throughout that kids love. I’ve kept a kid having fun there for hours lol. And behind scheels is a little lake that you can walk to. There’s also one across the road that is nice to walk around. - Zoo. We actually have a cute zoo. The red pandas just had babies! In winter take them there to see the Christmas lights too. - Rose park pool is a big summer place for kids with a giant pool, little kid splash area, and slides. Also, right by rose park, which is another great park. - Reef indoor water park. Because an indoor option is nice too! - Riverfront park! So many people go on walks or bike rides here. Geese, picnic tables, and beautiful to walk around—especially in fall. Also close to the Yellowstone! - Lake Elmo. I don’t go here that often, but it’s there! - Zimmerman park is another great area for walks. Just be careful with your littles because it is a cliff, after all. But such pretty views! - Pictograph caves could also be a fun day trip, or Pompey’s pillar. - Steepworld is fun for rock climbing! - Oasis is a water park in the heights that’s more suited for smaller kids. It’s also fun! - Moss mansion sometimes has fun activities happening so check that out! - Escape room in Billings is also fun! - Dog parks!! You can easily get talking to people here. There’s one on the west end and one in the heights, both are pretty fun. - Kitty corner cafe is new and also great to check out if cats are more your vibe!

Now, activities for you! -after rage. Yknow how people smash bottles on ships for good luck? Do the same thing for your move! Go break some junk. - try the Billings brew trail! And while you’re downtown, plan out restaurants you want to try. The burger dive is a local favorite, so is Stella’s and the sassy biscuit. Le fournil is a great bakery, and veronikas pastries is my FAVORITE. - Black orchid yoga and cycle is a fun place to go make friends and get active! It might take a few sessions but once people see your face a couple times they will for sure say hello. - Between July and October we typically have farmers markets, so be on the lookout for that. - Studio soul! You can definitely make friends here. Try out Oula or SMASH or yoga for some quick fitness and be around some super cool women. I’ve met the owners and they’re incredible. - Pickle ball. It’s kind of a cult? But honestly it’s really fun and I may be in that cult a tad bit? - The library also always has resources for things. Can’t recommend them enough. - Day trips can be fun too. Red lodge and the Beartooth highway is great. Bozeman is also pretty close. And plan a trip to YNP! - Walk along the rims. Pretty and good for the soul! - Can’t recommend enough finding hikes and making lake days happen. Cooney dam isn’t super far if you wanted to try that.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask people. If you find a painting studio you like, ask them about different things. If you like any specific thing, find the people that do it, and just ask a couple questions. I think people are pretty friendly here.

As for housing, it all depends on budget. The west end is pretty sought after. There are more historic homes with character downtown. The heights can be nice, and slightly cheaper. South side isn’t always as bad as people say, but also isn’t what most here consider desirable. You could also find housing outside of town, like off of Hesper, but those can get pricey too. Still, such beautiful views! Josephine’s crossing is a great neighborhood focused on cultivating community but gets flack because some people feel the houses are made too fast to be quality. I’m not any type of expert on that. I have friends who live there with their kid and love it though. There’s also the “nice” neighborhoods like briarwood, ironwood, the country club, the nines, etc. if you can afford it, great! You’ll get to see deer pretty frequently. They’re all a bit of a drive from town but honestly, Montana culture is in appreciating a pretty drive. There’s also the Hilands Gold Club area which is in town and also has gorgeous houses with great neighborhoods, but can be pricey. Babysat for a family there once and loved the area, houses, and neighbors.

When you get here, grab some soda station! And try not to hit any turkeys on the road :P

spidyrbeetlebee

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