Opinion: This is THE Best Romantic Staycation Hotel in Billings

Look, I love my kids, as most parents do. But sometimes... You need a night. Just the two of you, with no kids, no pets, no responsibilities. Getting away from your normal routine, even if it's just a few miles from your house, is not only nice, but I feel like it's necessary.

For several years running, my spouse and I have spent our wedding anniversary at our favorite staycation location in Billings: The Northern Hotel. We really enjoy it, for several reasons, which I'll outline in this story.

Read More: Creative Ideas For Entertaining Kids During Parent Night Out

Some history about The Northern.

Groundbreaking on the original Northern Hotel began in 1902. Following two years of construction, it welcomed its first guests in 1904. Built by PB Moss and Colonel Henry W. Rowley, the proprietors reportedly wanted it to be the finest, most modern hotel in Montana.

And it was. Until it was destroyed by fire in 1940, completely burnt to the ground.

A new Northern Hotel was constructed in the same place. In 2009, the building was purchased by local brothers Mike and Casey Nelson (fun fact: Mike Nelson just became Billings' new mayor).

The Nelsons brought The Northern back to glory.

This downtown hotel is arguably one of the nicest in Billings. After tossing your car keys to the valet, it feels opulent - for Montana - as you enter the beautiful lobby, with a large fireplace gracing one wall. I've traveled a fair amount, and to me, this hotel feels like I'm somewhere else. And not somewhere else in a Travel Lodge.

The owners did a fantastic job of modernizing the premises while retaining some historic elements. The ventilation system is quiet, and the showers have great water pressure. You can tell the building has a water softener, which your skin will appreciate in always-dry Montana.

We usually dine at TEN, inside The Northern.

The hotel is located within easy walking distance to some of Billings' best restaurants. Walker's and Jake's Downtown are essentially on the same block, and the multiple-award-winning Burger Dive is a block and a half away.

Guests can also find a variety of more casual dining options and bars nearby, from local brewpubs to shawarma. While it was too chilly for ice cream on our late February visit, Big Dipper is right across the street.

This hotel location is very walkable to most of downtown's best attractions, including the lauded Alberta Bair Theater, two blocks to the north. The walkability and urban vibe are part of what makes this hotel attractive to me.

TEN is always an anniversary treat for us, and the food here is very good.

On this visit, I ordered the octopus appetizer, and it was fantastic. We also nibbled on a bowl of Brussels and the complimentary bread with herb butter while we waited for the main entrees; my wife had the beef bourguignon special, and I had the beef filet special that came with crab pieces/sauce on top. Both were delicious. I didn't take food pictures because I was too eager to dig in.

Great cocktails to complement your night.

The restaurant and bar have an impressive wine list, and their specialty, seasonal cocktails, are some of my favorites. In the summer, I always get their Pimms Cup.

On this visit, I had their featured smoked Old Fashioned. It's dramatically served with a smoking ember lid on top of your glass, which is fun for special occasions. My wife had the house Cabernet Sauvignon with dinner. Most of the specialty drinks and house wines are roughly $14 - $22.

Take advantage of the off-season.

In the winter off-season, The Northern typically runs a promotion. This booking, it was 15% off your room, with a $25 voucher to Bernie's Diner. More on Bernie's in a minute. We've stayed at several of the different rooms over the years, and they're all fairly similar, except for square footage.

This visit, we had a king bed with a TV, separated from a small "living" area with a desk, chair, mini fridge, TV, and an armoire. Our bathroom wasn't huge, but functional, with a shower, toilet, and sink/vanity. Our room was just over $200 with taxes and whatnot.

We slept great and did not hear any train noises from the nearby tracks.

I live in Laurel, so perhaps I naturally tune trains out, or maybe it's because our room was on the north side of the building, away from the tracks. Our 10th (top floor) room also eliminated any noisy stomping from upstairs neighbors. Your experience may vary, but we found the room/hallway pleasantly quiet during our stay.

Check out at 11, then breakfast at Bernie's.

Perhaps we had too much fun at the bar after dinner, because we used every minute of the 11 AM checkout. We left our bags with the desk and headed to Bernie's Diner. This place is typically busy on weekends, and it was packed on our visit.

A state wrestling tournament in Billings that weekend probably added to the wait time (about 15 minutes), but it's worth it. The 50s-style diner serves breakfast and lunch, along with old-school milkshakes and other tasty treats. Prices are inline with everything else nowadays, with most breakfast and lunch entrees under $20.

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My wife had the lemon blueberry pancakes with a side of breakfast potatoes, and I had the special, a Mexican-inspired skillet with eggs, potatoes, chorizo, and chili verde. We both devoured our plates.

No pool, no waterslide, no arcade.

You can certainly bring your kids to The Northern, but if you're looking for a super noisy, packed-with-activities place to take your rugrats for a good time, it's not really this hotel. And THAT is partly what makes it attractive to us for a romantic night away.

Note: This article is purely my personal review/opinion. I did not receive compensation or services in any way. -Michael