Kelsey Ogletree

Montana lives up to its nickname of Big Sky Country, with wide-open plains and star-studded skies. It’s a state whose livelihood was built on agriculture (Montana’s ratio of cows to people is roughly 2.6 to 1) and whose tourism industry has only recently gained national attention. New visitors may be shocked by how dark the nights are, how spectacular the sunsets are and how quiet the mornings are. Stay a few days and you may find it hard to drag yourself back to the city – the fresh air and kind people have a way of getting into your heart. RECOMMENDED: where to stay in Glacier National ParkRECOMMENDED: the best hotels in Montana Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.

We love emulsions and foams and pâtés just as much as the next food-obsessed Chicagoan, but there’s something to be said about taking it back to the basics. High on our list of dinnertime essentials is a basket of fresh-baked bread to tide us over until the main event. Following a rather sad low-carb decade, where even measly dinner rolls all but disappeared (thanks a lot, Atkins diet), bread service is making a major comeback. Chefs at the best restaurants in Chicago are happy to oblige with sourdough loaves, pillowy brioche buns and flame-kissed pita rounds. Take a look at the all-time best bread service in Chicago—we even tossed in a few freebies.