Tag Archive for: montana

The 2023 Calendar Is Jam-Packed With Events in Montana

Montana Folk Festival is one of the largest free music festivals in the northwest USA. Held in Butte, it features spectacular views of the Northern Rocky Mountains and multiple stages with continual shows by top traditional performers, along with ethnic and festival foods, art markets and folklife demonstrations. July 14-16

Crow Fair, held on the Crow Reservation, features traditional regalia, a rodeo, artwork, craft and food vendors, and dancers competing from tribes from across the U.S. and Canada. Over 1,500 tipis are pitched on the riverbanks, creating the largest tipi encampment in the world. August 18-20

North American Indian Days, held on the Blackfeet Reservation, is one of the largest gatherings of U.S. and Canadian tribes with traditional dancing, stick games and horse relay races. July 7-9

Enjoy top musical acts in a cow pasture just outside White Sulphur Springs at Red Ants Pants Music Festival. The landscape, family-friendly atmosphere and variety of performances make it a must-attend. July 27-30

Miles City Bucking Horse Sale & Rodeo is a large rodeo, a major auction of rodeo stock, and a main social event for the community. It has evolved to include horse racing, rodeo and concerts. May 18-21

North American Indian Days, held on the Blackfeet Reservation, is one of the largest gatherings of U.S. and Canadian tribes with traditional dancing, stick games and horse relay races. Photo courtesy of Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development

For more information on Montana, visit VisitMT.com.

Celebrate Winter, Culture and More in Glacier Country

Western Montana’s Glacier Country has several annual signature events that will enhance any itinerary through the region.

For equestrian lovers, over five days in late July, Kalispell plays host to The Event at Rebecca Farm, featuring a horse competition of dressage, cross country and show jumping, along with food and a shopping fair. And it’s free.

Missoula hosts an annual River City Roots Festival the last weekend in August, bringing together exceptional music, food, libations and more at this two-day free event in the heart of the city.

Every February, Whitefish holds its annual Whitefish Winter Carnival and Skijoring World Invitational; or, if visiting in September, join the fun at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest.

North American Indian Days, held the second week in July over four days in Browning, is the signature celebration of the Blackfeet Nation and hosts Native Americans from every region of the U.S. and Canada. Featured events include a parade, powwow, stick games and horse relay races.

Delicious Flathead cherries are celebrated with their very own festival: The Flathead Cherry Festival takes place in Polson the last weekend in July on the southern shore of Flathead Lake – the largest freshwater lake in the western U.S.

Bundle up and join the fun at the Whitefish Winter Carnival, held each year in February. Photo courtesy of BrandMT

For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit GlacierMT.com.

There’s a Lot to Celebrate This Year in Billings, Montana

There are many exciting trails in Billings, Montana. One of the most beloved among visitors and locals alike is the Billings Brew Trail. The only walkable craft beverage trail in Montana, the Billings Brew Trail treats hikers to 1.5 miles of custom libations from six breweries, two distilleries and a cider mill. And that’s just the downtown section of the trail.

Nothing goes better with a cool one than some seasonal celebration. As luck would have it, this year marks the 40th anniversary of Billings’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Join us at Montana’s Trailhead on March 17 to celebrate all things Irish. Honor St. Patty as dozens of floats march through historic downtown, and then sample some of the best the Billings Brew Trail has to offer (which may or may not be dyed green for the occasion).

In Billings, the party goes on all year. The Alive After 5 (AA5) outside concert series was started in 2003 by a group of downtown restaurant and property owners. Over the years, the idea grew from five concerts each summer to, at its biggest, 14 shows. In 2023 – to celebrate AA5’s 20th anniversary – there will be another amazing concert series through summer.

2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the Billings St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Watch as dozens of floats march through downtown, and then sample some seasonally dyed libations. PHoto courtesy of Visit Billings

For more information on Billings, visit VisitBillings.com.

Discover One of Montana’s Quiet Places – Red Lodge

Red Lodge, Montana, nestled beneath the Beartooth Mountains in pristine forest, is the perfect place to slow down and enjoy local hospitality. With less than 2,500 residents, it’s easy to mingle with locals as you wander along the town’s main street, perusing its shops, galleries and restaurants, or explore the nearby Beartooth wilderness. The spectacular Beartooth Highway typically closes for winter, but there are plenty of other things here to draw your attention.

Take in fall colors on a drive along the “Loop Trip” to Fishtail, Absarokee and Joliet, passing ranches with some of the highest mountains in Montana as their backdrops. Wildlife is abundant in this area, both in the wild and at the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary, which houses typical native animals like bison, bears and wolves. Discover the talents of local artists at several fine art galleries, sip a local beer, or discover the great variety of restaurants that showcase the area’s commitment to local produce.

As winter approaches, hit the slopes at Red Lodge Mountain or explore groomed cross-country ski trails at Red Lodge Nordic Center. In March, Red Lodge hosts skijoring races, and its Winter Carnival brings wacky costumes and cardboard racing contraptions to the mountain.

Fall is the perfect time to spot wildlife in a spectacular setting in Montana. Photo courtesy of Merv Coleman

For more information on Montana, visit VisitMT.com.

Options Are Endless for Slow Travel in Glacier Country

What does slow travel in Western Montana look like? You could spend the day picking lavender in Lakeside or Florence and learning how to cook and make healing oils with your handpicked bushel of goodness. Or stop into a small town like Bigfork or Hamilton and shop for that unique souvenir. Plan a full-day workshop on plein-air painting with Glacier National Park as your subject; even people who don’t know how to paint will enjoy this relaxing activity and bring home a frame-worthy piece of art. Take an Indigenous cooking class and learn how native plants like elderberry and wild licorice, along with wild game, come together just as they did for the native Blackfeet.

The microbrew industry is more than alive and well in Montana, with 30+ breweries in Western Montana’s Glacier Country alone. Tour Missoula’s finest breweries with a downtown self-guided foot tour. Or, if you are looking for a less strenuous activity, River City Brews Rafting Tours lets you fill up a growler with your favorite brew and enjoy either the Blackfoot or Clark Fork rivers while sipping suds with 12 of your friends, or strangers who will become friends by the end of the tour.

Tour Missoula’s finest breweries on foot or, for a less strenuous afternoon, on the river with a Brews Rafting Tour. Photo courtesy of Glacier Country Tourism

For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit GlacierMT.com.

Winter is the Coolest Time of Year in Billings, Montana

When temperatures drop in Billings, Montana, the atmosphere of the city becomes a lot more chill. And Montana’s largest city beckons visitors to forge a path to some of the coolest experiences in the region.

Hike the walkable 1.5-mile Billings Brew Trail and enjoy a frosty mug or two of craft beer. When you get hungry, the amazing food scene is nearby, with many options including two James Beard Award nominees – Walker’s Grill and The Marble Table – within a short walk of most areas of downtown.

Warm the soul by taking in a performance at the historic Alberta Bair Theater or by discovering iconic art of the American West at the Yellowstone Art Museum. And no visit to Billings is complete without a stop at ZooMontana. This year, the zoo will be transformed into a winter wonderland for Holiday Nights, featuring millions of festive, twinkling lights to help families celebrate the winter season.

Winter outdoor enthusiasts can get their hearts racing with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at Billings’ local parks, and downhill skiing at nearby Red Lodge Mountain.

So, visit Billings, Montana’s Trailhead, this winter season and discover why it is the coolest time of the year.

When temperatures drop, warm your body and your soul in Billings, Montana. Photo courtesy of Visit Billings

For more information on Billings, visit VisitBillings.com.

Don’t Miss the Dazzling Views In and Around Billings

 

A picture-perfect adventure awaits in Billings, Montana’s Trailhead. Don’t miss these stunning views of the American West:

Swords Rimrock Park
Take in unencumbered views of Billings from atop the ancient sandstone rock formations that hug the historic downtown. The 60-acre park offers unlimited vantage points of the landscape below and blue skies above.

Four Dances Recreation Area
A leisurely hike that begins just outside downtown Billings ends with breathtaking views at Four Dances Recreation Area. Grab a seat at the outlooks along the trail and treat yourself to panoramic scenes of the Yellowstone River, distant rock formations and rolling prairies.

The Beartooth Highway
One of the most majestic roads in North America is a must-see. Visitors can travel the Beartooth Highway as well as Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to cruise through some of the most spectacular byways in the West. Easily accessible via Billings.

Bighorn Canyon
Set your eyes upon every type of Montana terrain at Bighorn Canyon, including forest, mountains, deep canyons, high desert, wetlands and more. Hop aboard a paddleboard for 360-degree views of the canyon from Bighorn Lake or find a tranquil spot ashore to take it all in.

Take in unencumbered views and breath the fresh air in Billings’ Zimmerman Park. Photo courtesy of Visit Billings

For more information on Billings, visit VisitBillings.com.

Bring Your Camera And Shoot Montana’s Breathtaking Scenery

  1. Pioneer Scenic Byway. Travel the length of the Pioneer Mountain Range along this quiet, winding highway surrounded by mountains, forests and meadows. Explore the ghost town of Coolidge or stop at the tiny town of Jackson along the way.
  2. Milk River Observation Point. Take a half-mile walk from the parking lot to the top of the hill where the Observation Point is located. This is one of the highest points in northeastern Montana, and it offers expansive views of the confluence of the Missouri River and Milk River, where the Lewis & Clark Expedition traveled.
  3. Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area. Visitors are rewarded with breathtaking scenery, solitude, wildlife and adventures such as hiking, camping and boating.
  4. Two Medicine Lake. One of the quieter locations in Glacier, this lake is surrounded by forest and mountains with abundant hiking trails. Or get out on the water on a canoe or kayak, available for rent, or on an historic boat tour.
  5. Southeast Montana’s landscape changes from dramatic open plains to the rugged eastern badlands to river canyons. You will find a picturesque view everywhere you drive, whether it’s by motorcycle, RV or car.

The Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area rewards visitors with breathtaking scenery, solitude, wildlife and adventures such as hiking, camping and boating. Photo courtesy of the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development

For more information on Montana, visit VisitMT.com.

Glacier Country’s Picture-Perfect Scenery Begs to be Photographed

There are certain places that exist in the world that are so beautiful, they almost don’t seem real. One such place: Western Montana. Glacier Country is filled to the brim with amazing scenery and picture-perfect scenes. Here are just a few:

Twilight at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park
Accessible year-round, this view of Lake McDonald from Apgar is located just inside the west entrance of Glacier National Park.

Missoula from Mount Sentinel
One of the most popular Missoula hikes, the zigzagging trail that leads up to the “M” on Mount Sentinel is an easy hike, with views all along its path.

Kootenai Falls and Kootenai Falls Swinging Bridge
Kootenai Falls (between Libby and Troy) from the swinging bridge. This picturesque bridge is suspended over the rushing Kootenai River, presenting the perfect photo op and an unforgettable experience.

The Mission Mountains
As you travel along Highway 93 from Missoula to Polson, you’ll be met by the impressive peaks of the Mission Mountains. A few favorite photo locations for this mountain range are cresting Ravalli Hill just south of St. Ignatius (use the designated scenic pullout) and Ninepipes Lodge in Charlo.

As you travel along Highway 93 from Missoula to Polson, you’ll be met by the impressive peaks of the Mission Mountains. A few favorite photo locations for this mountain range are cresting Ravalli Hill just south of St. Ignatius (use the designated scenic pullout) and Ninepipes Lodge in Charlo. Photo courtesy of Western Montana’s Glacier Country

For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit GlacierMT.com.

Take a tour of Montana’s favorite restaurants and watering holes

Bearcreek Saloon and Steakhouse, east of Red Lodge, Montana: Where pigs really do fly! Serving up award-winning steaks and more along with a full bar in a comfortable rustic dining room.

Livingston native Chef Sarah Faye creates a refreshing menu of local dishes served in a welcoming atmosphere in downtown Livingston at Faye’s Cafe.  Try the (not your average) Eggs Benedict and huckleberry bacon!

Pine Creek Lodge, located in Paradise Valley between Gardiner and Livingston, has long been known as a gathering place for local bands and great comfort food. Listen to the babbling creek from the outdoor patio and enjoy local beer or a concert under the stars.

The Newberry is a new event venue in downtown Great Falls with full bar and lounge. Featuring local and national acts.

Lewis & Clark Brewery: With a passion for good beer, the Lewis & Clark Brewery built the craft beer scene in Helena, Montana. Grab the local favorite An American Wheat Ale, sit on the patio, and listen to some of the best live music Helena has to offer.

Benny’s Bistro: A historic icon in the community. Experience a farm-to-table-style meal with live jazz in the evenings. Try a Montana-style ranch-to-plate steak with an incredible hand-squeezed lemonade.

Bearcreek Saloon and Steakhouse, east of Red Lodge, Montana: Where pigs really do fly! Serving up award-winning steaks and more along with a full bar in a comfortable rustic dining room. CREDIT Brand MT

For more information on Montana, visit VisitMT.com.