SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION family-style adventures REMEMBER THAT TRIP TO MONTANA? Your kids will. They’ll remember the sky. The mountains. The waters. The wildlife. The history. And how they shared it all with you. VISITMT.COM SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION 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 Missouri River) 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 Flathead Lake, 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 Wild Horse Island 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 Flathead River 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 CHECK OUT THESE THREE FACTS POINT POINT NATIONAL PARK NICKNAMES Montana has more 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 COUNTRY Yellowstone’s Backyard 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. DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG 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 SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION SPECIAL PARTNER SECTION WANTED: Missouri River coUNTRY The Heart of Adventure Great Falls FUTURE SCIENTISTS Along the Missouri River, Great Falls delivers the Montana you imagined: Missouri River Country seeks eager waters, wildlife and wilderness wrapped in a long coat of cowboy culture. young scholars (and their families) CENTRAL to study nature in world-class MONTANA settings. Travel required. Job title: Aspiring astronomer Experience: Camping with the stars royal route Where: Brush Lake State Park, Hell Creek State Park, Little Rocky Mountains, The 71-mile Kings Hill Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge Scenic Byway rules. It watch the birdies passes lakes and streams, Job title: Paleontology prodigy trailheads, campgrounds, old Keep an eye on the waterfowl and other wildlife that Experience: Discovering dinosaurs mines and wildlife. It’s also a flock to “prairie potholes” (shallow wetlands) formed by Where: Fort Peck Interpretive Center, gateway to snow sports, hot springs and museums for ancient glaciers. Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge the Phillips County Museum, the Great winter exploring. near Great Falls attracts 240 species of birds, as well as Plains Dinosaur Museum, the Garfield coyotes, badgers, porcupines, deer and pronghorn. County Museum Job title: Budding biologist Experience: Exploring the waters Where: Fort Peck Lake, Missouri River 156 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER MISSOURIRIVERMT.COM FLOWS BY EACH DAY AT GIANT SPRINGS STATE PARK, ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST FRESHWATER SPRINGS.