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Home , Hell Creek State Park, Makoshika State Park, Wild Horse Island

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family-style adventures REMEMBER THAT TRIP TO ? Your kids will. They’ll remember the sky. The mountains. The waters. The wildlife. The history. And how they shared it all with you.

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GLACIER COUNTRY Kalispell a Mountain Mecca Just 45 minutes from Glacier National Park, Kalispell provides a dream base camp for epic alpine scenery, water adventures and winter bliss.

THE HUCKLEBARRY PATCH, easy to get to. For the best winter vacation ever HUNGRY HORSE Ride behind pups with Dog Sled Adventures in Olney, or hit the powder at Whitefish Mountain Resort in Whitefish hard to leave. or Blacktail Mountain Ski Area in Lakeside. Lewis and Clark took the adventurous route (the ) to Montana, but you can hop on a plane or the interstate. Pick an anchor town in one region of this big state (roughly 500 miles by 300 miles).

Glacier National Park Make Some

Waves KID-CENTRIC , the state’s largest body of water, 2 Kalispell Checklist provides prime paddling, even for first-timers. Sea Me Fuel up on muffins and java Glacier Park 15 Paddle Kayaking leads tours that match your family at Ceres Bakery. International Glasgow GLACIER Airport CENTRAL with the right water adventure. Want a more relaxed Shop Imagination Station COUNTRY MONTANA MISSOURI ride? Pointer Scenic Cruises in Bigfork launches boat Toys for creative playthings. 200 RIVER Great Falls 93 Great Falls COUNTRY trips to State Park, a primitive park in Eat a slice of pie at The Huckleberry International 200 Patch in Hungry Horse. Airport 191 Flathead Lake. For an adrenaline boost, cruise the 200 Missoula North or Middle Fork of the with Explore pioneer swag at the Museum at Central School. Helena Glacier Guides and Montana Raft. Missoula 90 Helena 94 International Regional Airport 12 Airport TRAIL OF THE Bozeman Yellowstone SOUTHEAST CEDARS, GLACIER Butte International Airport Billings MONTANA NATIONAL PARK Bert Bozeman Mooney 90 Logan International 212 Airport YELLOWSTONE Airport SOUTHWEST COUNTRY 90 MONTANA

15 GET Montana is never far from home, thanks HERE to several airports, FAST year-round or seasonal direct flights from many Yellowstone major cities and easy National Park connections from others.

FUN HIGHEST LOWEST WORLD’S FIRST STATE SIZE POINT POINT NATIONAL PARK NICKNAMES Montana has more CHECK OUT THESE THREE FACTS Granite Peak Kootenai River Yellowstone Big Sky Country, than 147,000 square SEA ME PADDLE CAN’T-MISS ATTRACTIONS 12,799 ft 1,804 ft National Park The Treasure State miles to explore. KAYAKING, at Glacier National Park: FLATHEAD LAKE Going-to-the-Sun Road, Trail of the PHOTOGRAPHS: CHUCK HANEY. (PIE) THE HUCKLEBERRY PATCH Cedars and the Apikuni Falls Trail hike. SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION

Helena biggest Family Room ever Montana’s capital captivates all ages with grand architecture, Hike the trails of memorable rides and adventures among some of nature’s greatest hits. SOUTHWEST MOUNT HELENA— MONTANA more than a mile above sea level and 1,300 feet above the city. It’s a great place to see both sunrise and sunset. go free-range Play follow-the-leader along the Missouri River Canyon Trail for up-close views of the storied waterway and stunning limestone cliffs. Or hop on an open-air train for a ride through Helena—and history. The Last Chance Tour Train rolls past the Mansion District’s elegant homes and the Cathedral of St. Helena’s soaring spires. Find classic toys and cool new ones at Lasso the Moon Wonderful Toys, where the name of the game is creativity and imagination.

IN HELENA, SADDLE UP AT SUMMER STAR RANCH FOR A RIDE PAST “WHOA!”-INDUCING SCENERY. OR TAKE A HORSE-DRAWN WAGON TO DINNER AT LAST CHANCE RANCH.

3 WAYS TO Soak or Swim HERE’S A HIGH FIVE: Tap to post pics. With Make science a snap. Make like old prospectors and sift for Broadwater Hot Springs, Helena. helena 1 4  majestic mountains and ExplorationWorks! dig for precious stones at the Spokane Bar Surrounded by mountains and treasure 1 just ten minutes from downtown. wildlife, Helena fills your science museum keeps Sapphire Mine and Gold Fever Rock trip with photo ops. So the formula fresh with Shop in Helena. You may find Boulder Hot Springs Inn and keep your phone handy hands-on exhibits blue-green sapphires. 2 Spa, Boulder. Anchored by a HANDS-ON and create instant social that change quarterly. 100-year-old inn. media memories with Outside, kids love the Elkhorn Hotsprings Resort, #visithelenamt. waterfall, stepping Polaris. Open year-round, with stones, supersized 3 snow fun at nearby Maverick TERRITORY 2 Lace up your boots. musical instruments MAN, CAVES! Mountain. Helena has miles and and big puzzles. It’s really cool at Halfway between Yellowstone miles of trails. Your Lewis and Clark and Glacier National Parks, Helena family hike can go from 5 Grab goodies. The Caverns State Park in BROADWATER parks to meadows to walking mall on Last Whitehall. Limestone HOT SPRINGS, extends a friendly wave and points HELENA rugged mountains—it’s Chance Gulch brims caves chilled by out hands-on ways to have fun in all up to you. with places to shop, dine “natural AC” show off and otherwise indulge, stunning subterranean the capital of Montana. 3 Hold the reins. This decor—stalactites, plus there’s an outdoor roundup’s all fun. Ride play area. And just stalagmites, columns hand-carved Montana and helictites. try to resist the sweet PHOTOGRAPHS: RYAN DONNELL RYAN PHOTOGRAPHS: HELENA VISIT PHOTOGRAPH: HELENAMT.COM animals at the Great treats at The Parrot Northern Carousel. Confectionery. SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION

YELLOWSTONE Yellowstone’s Backyard COUNTRY Bozeman destination missoula A jumping-off spot for the world’s first national park, Bozeman beckons hikers, climbers, rafters and tubers to play and stay close to nature. SET A PLAYDATE The Playful City USA award-winning city promises serious fun for families. Outdoor recess: Raft, bike or hike. Or take a field trip to Garnet Ghost Town. TRADE YOUTUBE FOR YOU Park and ride: Cool off in a water park TUBING. MADISON RIVER TUBING OFFERS UNFORGETTABLE FLOATS or ride a carved pony at A Carousel for Get Some IN SURPRISINGLY WARM WATER. Missoula. Do the floss: On Family Friendly Friday at Hang Time the Top Hat, kids dance to live bands. Wild ice cream: At Big Dipper or Sweet The high ropes course at Big Sky Resort, Peaks, try Mexican Chocolate, Honey an hour south of Bozeman, dangles Cinnamon or Huckleberry. you 20–30 feet above the ground (safely Kid science: Learn hands-on at the harnessed and spotted by a guide). It’s Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium, a great way to view Lone Mountain. or University of Montana spectrUM Discovery Area.

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HIKES YOU’LL LIKE Big Sky Sweet Trail Mix THRILL AND CHILL You can cover Drinking Horse The region is a natural amusement park Mountain Trail, right outside of town, with family-friendly ways to cut loose. in about an hour. Wild rides: Just try to keep a straight face Fairy Lake Trail, just over a mile, while whitewater rafting or ziplining. circles a lake in a forested bowl at Live tunes: Kick back with a free concert at the foot of Sacagawea Peak. Town Center Park on Thursday evenings. The M Trail, a gift from Montana State Power park: Go to Big Sky Community University’s class of 1918, lies just Park in Meadow Village for hoops, climbing 4 miles outside Bozeman—look for walls, a skateboard park, picnics and trails. the big white “M.” Kid-caliber hike: The easy Ousel Falls Trail rewards with a gorgeous waterfall. Lake leisure: At Lake Levinsky, rent pedal boats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Fort-ified fun: Let the kids attack a 500-square-foot tree fort at Kircher Park Why families love the Dreamcatcher Tipi along the South Fork of the Gallatin River. Rough It Hotel’s boutique tepees: RIVERS EDGE TRAIL (Sort of) • Near Yellowstone’s north entrance • Big enough to hold four people • Memory-foam mattresses, heat, Wi-Fi VISITBIGSKY.COM • Heated floors and privacy at bathhouse

DRINKING HORSE DONNELL RYAN PHOTOGRAPHS: PHOTOGRAPHS: (ICE CREAM) DESTINATION MISSOULA, (RAFTING) VISIT BIG SKY MOUNTAIN TRAIL, BOZEMAN COUNTRY’S LARGEST GALLONS OF WATER PARK, ONE OF THE FLOWS BY EACH 2 3 1 SPRINGS STATE Trio ofTraditions waters, wildlife andwilderness wrapped inalongcoatofcowboy culture. Along theMissouri River, Great Falls delivers theMontanayou imagined: DAY AT GIANT Great Falls FRESHWATER 156 MILLION SPRINGS. Historic Trail Center. Interpretive out theLewis andClarkNational Native American dance,pluscheck musicand withlive explorers (June 14–16), celebratethe At theLewisandClark Festival Finals Montana PRCA Pro RodeoCircuit orneriest animalsduringthe onthestate’srodeo cowboystake See nearly100 ofMontana’s best livestock showsandcrafts. of concerts, fun,food, carnival 26–August 3).Soak inwaves at theMontanaState Fair (July instateculture yourself Immerse 3 for the show show the 3 for (January 10–12, 2020). winter exploring. springs andmuseumsfor gateway tosnowsports, hot mines andwildlife.It’s alsoa trailheads, campgrounds,old andstreams, passes lakes Scenic Byway rules.It The 71-mile royal route Kings Hill

The Heart ofAdventure RANCH, GREAT FALLS HEAVEN ONEARTH SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION THE WILDERNESS WADE INTO at and yourgear. and mulestransport you in Vaughn—horsesSafaris multiday tripwithMontana horseback a riding.Ortake can spendadayfishingor in GreatFalls, whereyou flock to “prairiepotholes”(shallowwetlands)formedby Heaven onEarth Ranch near GreatFalls attracts 240speciesofbirds,aswell ancient glaciers. Bentonancient glaciers. Lake watch the birdies Keep aneyeonthewaterfowl andotherwildlifethat coyotes, badgers, porcupines,deerandpronghorn. coyotes, badgers,

MONTANA CENTRAL

PHOTOGRAPHS: TODD KLASSY

PHOTOGRAPHS: (MISSOURI RIVER) ANDY AUSTIN, (HIKERS) CENTRAL MONTANA MISSOURIRIVERMT.COM FUTURE SCIENTISTS FUTURE WANTED: Where: Experience: Budding biologist title: Job Museum Garfield the Museum, Plains Great the Museum, County Phillips the Where: Experience: prodigy Paleontology title: Job Refuge Wildlife Russell M. Charles Mountains, Rocky Little Park, State Where: Experience: astronomer Aspiring title: Job Travel required. settings. world-class in nature study to families) their (and scholars young Missouri River seeks Country eager , Missouri River Missouri Lake, Peck Fort Fort Peck Interpretive Peck Center, Fort Creek Hell Park, State Lake Brush Exploring the waters the Exploring Discovering Discovering stars the with Camping

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Central Montana Missouri River coUNTRY River Missouri the century-old Orpheum Theatre inConrad. Theatre Orpheum century-old the at ashow see and infree), get (kids Springs Sulphur inWhite Festival Music Pants Ants Red the hit gifts, and art Montana for Center Be creative. stargazing. and campfires meals, family plus kids, for program riding horseback a special offers Ranch Triple JWilderness families. to cater ranches Guest ranch. the at back Kick prairies. and mountains waterfalls, canyons, of Trail Edge views for River’s the on hop Falls, Great In outside! stay and outside Get and vibrant culture amaze and delight. beauty natural state, the of middle the In CENTRALMONTANA.COM/FAMILY EXPLORE THE CORE Browse the Lewistown Art Art Lewistown the Browse

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SOUTHEAST Billings A Real Eye-Opener MONTANA Glasgow naturally intriguing Even the food looks bigger in Billings, a city of large-scale landscapes A finger on a spinning globe gave this old railroad town its Scottish name. MISSOURI perfect for adventurers. Feast your eyes and feed your soul. Enjoy the beauty of Fort Peck Lake and dig into well-preserved history. RIVER COUNTRY

FORT BENTON

3 GREAT ESCAPES You can still pan for gold in Score Zortman, a historic mining town Parks & Rec Treasured in the Little Rocky Mountains. Old near Jordan Memories miners’ shacks stand by modern 1 feels like heaven for anglers, buildings. Hit a scenery jackpot off-road campers and boaters. It’s set on the while hiking and camping. Hell Creek Arm of Fort Peck Lake. perspective For wildlife watchers, it’s game on at Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Jump in a jeep for a four-wheel-drive 2 Refuge, about 60 miles southwest FORT PECK INTERPRETIVE CENTER AND MUSEUM, FORT PECK foray into the Rockies on Montana Fun of Glasgow. Spot bugling elk, mule deer, red foxes and coyotes. Adventures Tours. Or dive deep into Native American customs at Crow Fair Revel in solitude. The Upper Missouri 3 River Breaks National Monument (Tepee Capital of the World). in Lewistown is a haven anchored by the 149-mile Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River.

MONTANA FUN ADVENTURES TOURS, BILLINGS

RED LODGE, A BUNK IN A SMALL TOWN ON Rustic Room THE WAY TO Kempton Hotel, Terry. Built in 1902 and full of retro YELLOWSTONE, IS character—and some say ghosts. Famous guests include BIG ON OUTDOOR Teddy Roosevelt and Calamity Jane. REC: WHITEWATER Dude Rancher Lodge, Billings. Looks like an old frontier RAFTING, RELAXING ranch house—knotty pine paneling, custom Western FLOATS, TRAIL furniture and carpets stamped with ranch brands. TREKS, WAGON RIDES AND SKIING. Beartooth Basin Bunkhouse, Belfry. Rooms have rugged Dino-namic Duo names like Cowboy Up, Riding ‘n’ Roping and Hold Yer Peck’s Rex, a life-size model of a Tyrannosaurus rex found Horses. You’re guaranteed a mountain or river view. nearby, greets you inside Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum in Fort Peck. At Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station in Malta, spy rare fossils of hulking CHILDREN’S MUSEUM dinosaurs, delicate plants and ancient sea creatures. DINE DOWNTOWN OF NORTHEAST Heft a world-champion MONTANA, GLASGOW burger at retro-vibe fave, The Burger Dive. Try not to drool over the MUSEUM MASH-UP walk a dinosaur trail mega cinnamon rolls (14 ounces) at Stella’s Kitchen See a Western bar (with a bullet hole and and Bakery. If the giant slug intact) and a rare elk-hide tepee at the Or run it—you never know, right? pretzel appetizer (large Valley County Pioneer Museum in Glasgow. holds the pizza size) at Montana The Children’s Museum of Northeast Brewing Company Montana offers younger kids hands-on GREAT PLAINS fossil remains of dinosaurs, plus DINOSAUR doesn’t win over the learning in play settings like a post office, a paleontology lab. general store and tree house. MUSEUM AND kids, the nachos and THE BURGER FIELD STATION,

the mac ‘n’ cheese will. DIVE, BILLINGS PHOTOGRAPHY C2 PHOTOGRAPHS: PHOTOGRAPHS: C2 PHOTOGRAPHY, (DINOSAUR DIG) JOANN HAMMOND MALTA SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION

connect billings with nature • Set off on more than 40 miles of hiking and biking trails around ULTIMATE Billings and along the Yellowstone River, including one just for Take the Road TRAILHEAD craft beer-lovers—the Less Traveled Billings Brew Trail. It’s one of America’s Attention, pioneer families: Billings not only • Even if you’re not a most beautiful drives— rewards you with easy access to Yellowstone history buff, a gorgeous the Beartooth Highway, a 68-mile route leading National Park (via the Beartooth Highway), but also overlook makes it worth right into the northeast gifts you the inspiring Rimrocks, Pompeys Pillar and a trip to the new Yellowstone Kelly entrance of Yellowstone paths to adventure that start right outside your Interpretive Site. The National Park. Rising hotel room. The city’s proximity to unspoiled nature landmark honors one of almost 3,000 feet of Appreciate Art assures that your Big Sky Country experiences Montana’s most notable elevation in 12 miles, Check out contemporary include down-to-earth folks, restful places to stay, frontiersmen. it’s one of the world’s and historic art of the • Nature spots abound in highest roads, with memorable meals, refreshing beverages and big Rocky Mountain West at Billings, including post-worthy photo ops helpings of Western heritage. Plus, you’ll have the Yellowstone Art Pictograph Cave State at every turn. Museum. And browse opportunities to see native animals like grizzly Park. A short trail (less the collection of artifacts bears, river otters and eastern gray wolves—at than a mile) takes you and exhibits at The ZooMontana, the only attraction of its kind in the through a series of Western Heritage Center, Northern Rockies. caverns marked by showcasing the stories Native American art. of life in the Yellowstone Turn the journey into a River Valley. scavenger hunt with kids. VISITBILLINGS.COM/PARENTS Live it Up Downtown With award-winning burgers and James Beard-nominated chefs,

PHOTOGRAPHS: CHUCK HANEY, (FACING PAGE) VISIT BILLINGS Billings shows its restaurant chops. Here’s a must-try menu: • Locally grown flavors at The Fieldhouse • Ice cream at Big Dipper • Refined pub grub at Last Chance Pub and Cider Mill SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION

southeast montana Indian Country Rich Cultural Heritage Experience the varied languages, culture and histories of native tribes in Montana. BEAUTY AND BEASTS Ancient traditions carried on today enrich the state’s diverse cultural heritage. Parents fall in love with the scenery; kids get googly-eyed over creatures. Head to Makoshika State Park in Study paintings, sculptures and Glendive for rugged badlands and see native photography created by Northern dinosaur fossils. The visitors center’s art and Plains peoples at the Museum of the exhibits tell tales as old as time, while artifacts Plains Indian in Browning. Exhibits trails beckon hikers and cyclists. display tribal clothing, weapons and Follow the to household items. Makoshika Visitors Center, Frontier Gateway Museum and Carter County Museum. Marvel at life-sized replicas of MILK RIVER INDIAN DAYS, INDIAN dinos and take part in fossil digs. Prefer FORT BELKNAP BATTLE live creatures? ZooMontana in Billings, TOURS the state’s only zoo and botanical park, spotlights native Montana critters. VIEW TRIBAL CULTURE THROUGH

Expert Eyes SOUTHEASTMONTANA.COM On Blackfeet Cultural History Tours, a native guide rides along in your vehicle 1 to explain historic tribal sites. The Battle of the Little Bighorn (aka Custer’s Last Stand) comes to life via 2 a Crow guide on Indian Battle Tours. Montana Journeys offers small-group BANNACK, 3 tours led by native Montanan anthropologists and archaeologists. THE FRIENDLY GHOST TOWN The Old West echoes in deserted state parks streets and empty buildings. MOST POWWOWS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC—AN EMCEE EXPLAINS The site of Montana’s first big gold WHAT’S GOING ON. HEED ANY strike, once-booming Bannack, left RULES ABOUT TAKING PHOTOS. FYI: behind more than 60 log-and-frame YOU MAY BE INVITED TO DANCE! structures. Start your tour of Bannack powwow State Park at the visitors center. During Bannack Days (July 20–21), watch celebration demos of pioneer skills, try your hand at panning for gold or making candles, Come to North American Indian Days (July 11–14) in take retro rides and move to old-time Browning for drumming and dancing, a parade, fun run music. You may even see a gunfight or and rodeo. The Rocky Boy’s Annual Powwow (August) in stagecoach robbery. During Living Rocky Boy’s features cultural demonstrations as well as History weekend (September 19–22), ethnic and traditional food. The Confederated Salish and interpreters depict 1860s life at sites like a mining camp, blacksmith shop, Kootenai tribes hold the People’s Center Celebration and general store, school, saloon, boarding Pow-wow (August 17) in Pablo. The Fort Belknap Indian house, butcher shop and church. Community, home to the Nakoda and Aaniiih nations,

hosts Milk River Indian Days (July 19–21) and a Veterans STATEPARKS.MT.GOV Day powwow (December 21–22). PHOTOGRAPHS: MONTANA OFFICE OF TOURISM AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PHOTOGRAPHS: (SOUTHEAST MONTANA) CHUCK HANEY (BANNACK PARK) STATE ERIC SCHMIDT

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Visit montana LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE

Now that you’ve gotten a bird’s-eye view of Montana, go to VISITMT.COM/PARENTS to swoop down for details and updates on regions, events and attractions.

From general inspiration to specific trip ideas, TRAVEL RESOURCES

VISITMT.COM is your source for places to go and things VISITMT.COM/plan-your-trip.html

to do in Big Sky Country. With a wealth of information Road conditions (available statewide): on the national parks, Native American nations, 511 or MDT511.com outdoor activities, history, culture and more, Travel Info Mobile App: MDT.MT.GOV/TRAVINFO there is something for every adventurer. National Parks: Glacier National Park 406.888.7800 Yellowstone National Park 307.344.7381

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