Shelby, MT…the epicenter of the boxing world nearly 100 years ago

Shelby Chamber of Commerce recently had their annual banquet to recognize the leaders of this northern Montana town with 3100 population. Hats off to the Chamber leading this small town on the Hi-Line. You could say Shelby hits above its weight class when it comes to the business community. As I sat at the table enjoying the corned beef and cabbage, this nice man sitting next to me struck up a conversation. After exchanging general … Read more

Tall Boys Tavern, Hobson, Montana

Tall Boys Tavern

You can bank on delicious food and great people Tall Boys, Hobson, Montana. I’m so lucky…getting to live like a visitor in 13 counties across Central Montana. I recently moved to Montana, from Iowa and accepted the director of Central Montana Tourism region. This means, Central Montana includes, Toole, Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Fergus, Petroleum, Wheatland, Judith Basin, Meagher, Cascade, Chouteau, Teton and Pondera.  To better acclimate me to the region, I travel the backroads visiting … Read more

Belgian Lace and Beer – The Connection

It was the strangest thing I had heard. Sitting with new friends at Triple Dog Brewery in Havre, someone excitedly said – hey look, it’s perfect Belgian lace! I had no idea what she was talking about. My lesson came next. An empty glass of beer sat at a nearby table. I turned to look and there were about nine rings of beer foam circling the glass forming what really did look like lace! The … Read more

Planning a Hunting Trip in Central Montana

Memories seem to pop up as I watch each season change. This time of year the changing colors of Montana’s fall landscape remind me of family times spent hunting. We rarely went upland game bird hunting although I’ve grown fond of that in recent years. Antelope (fastest land mammal in the Western hemisphere) and deer were on our hunting list. They’d provide good lean meat for the freezer and were usually nearby. I first remember … Read more

Learn History at Three Forts in Central Montana

If your Montana vacation dream includes learning history, plan some visits to these three old forts in Central Montana. Fort Assinniboine Fort Assinniboine sits tucked alongside US Hwy 87 about seven miles southwest of Havre. You can easily drive right past it, just noticing the compound of red brick buildings spread around rolling grasslands. A historic marker is at a highway pullout giving a brief history but the guided tour is the real gem. Our … Read more

Four Indoor Activities to Experience While Traveling in Central Montana

Bright sunshine, warm temps and long and leisurely summer days are what we look forward to all year. Sometimes though it’s great to take a break, get indoors and explore. Here are four fun indoor activities in four different communities in Central Montana. Carousel Rest Area of Shelby Located on US Hwy 2, this carousel, technically the Carousel Rest Area of Shelby, is great for the kiddos, and adults come away with some pretty big … Read more

Epic Country Drive in Central Montana – Over the Bear Paw Mountains, Into the Upper Missouri Breaks

History, mountains, rugged river breaks, a national monument and a ferry ride – this drive covers all of these and it is beyond epic! It was a sunny Saturday morning and we had a yearning for some quiet county back roads and amazingly diverse scenery – that’s all it took to stir up excitement for this drive. My first advice – this is a seasonal drive and definitely a no-go when roads are muddy or … Read more

Spend Three Days Exploring Central Montana After Visiting Glacier National Park

After you’ve absorbed all of the majestic beauty on a visit to Glacier National Park, save some time to explore the region on the eastern side of this national icon. Central Montana has a mix of it all when it comes to geography – mountains, rivers and plains. Day 1 in Central Montana After leaving East Glacier and then Browning, turn south on US Hwy 89 and follow this route that hugs the east slope … Read more

Yellowstone to Glacier Through Central Montana’s Scenic Corridor

Looking for road trip ideas? Visit one or both of Montana’s national parks, take scenic US Hwy 89 between them and you won’t be disappointed. Limited traffic, small town charm, and plenty of things to do all combine for a memorable trip. Let’s start where you exit Yellowstone National Park and work our way north to Glacier National Park. Gardiner is the first town just outside Yellowstone’s north boundary. In about 55 miles US Hwy … Read more

Highlights of the Hi-Line in Central Montana

We’ve heard it called quirky, iconic, historic, scenic, and a step back in time. Those monikers all describe US Hwy 2 as it stretches across Montana for about 650 miles. Locals call it Montana’s Hi-Line since it’s the northernmost route traversing the state from east to west. We call it an interesting and fun drive. Let’s talk about some of the gems along US Hwy 2 in Central Montana. On our western edge, travelers are … Read more