Central Montana 
On my last visit to Meagher County I starting counting the reasons why people came to vacation in the area. I saw hikers, hunters, campers, retired couples out for a getaway, and people who came to soak in the thermal springs. All in all, that covered quite a variety of people. Here’s a bit of history of the area. The largest town in the county is really a small quaint town of about 1,000 people. … Read more
Most kids seem to have unlimited energy and an endless curiosity to discover new things. Quench that thirst for exploring and take your kids for a hike. Learning moments often begin with finding something new – a pine cone in the forest, a trail that ends in a waterfall or discovering unique shaped rocks. With just a bit of pre-planning, it can be fun for all and the kids will come back excited about what … Read more
A “city” made out of rocks, people made out of trees and a lesson in history – the fun way to learn! Kids love exploring and I know three that are always up for an adventure. Read along while I reflect on some recent experiences. Let’s talk geology and geography. I took the kids to an area called Rock City six miles north of Valier, Montana. I wasn’t sure what their reaction would be. This … Read more
Locals call the area the Big Sag or the Shonkin Sag and it really is a geologic wonder. On MT Highway 80 between Fort Benton and Stanford, this paved highway takes you through a variety of scenery. It’s wheat country when you leave Fort Benton but as you continue southeast things start to change – the result of a geologic event that happened about 65 million years ago. Magma traveled between layers of sandstone along … Read more
Was I looking for ghosts or was I looking for gold? Neither. I think ghost towns are interesting, a bit sad when you see the remnants in disrepair, but you realize there are lots of memories there. I had heard about the ghost town of Kendall and I had some spare time so my journey began. I had a brochure from the Lewistown Chamber of Commerce (406-535-5436) about Ghost Towns & Gold Mines for Fort … Read more
Rebekah Jarvey gazes out her living room window near the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation as she begins to tell her story. She is Chippewa Cree and her well-kept home sits along the reservation border in northern Montana. When she was a little girl her job was threading needles. She was doing beadwork at age five and at age eleven her mother taught her to sew. That struck chord with me because I started sewing at … Read more
A family connection to homesteading led me to do some research about it. Both my maternal grandfather and grandmother filed and proved up on homestead claims in Montana. I found homestead cabins that you can rent by the night at the little town of Virgelle, Montana and knew I had to book a visit. But first, here’s some history of how homesteading came to be in the United States. There were two homestead acts that … Read more
When talk of gathering the family for a camping weekend started I was so excited. There is nothing I enjoy more than spending time with my kids, their spouses and my grandkids, all of us together, relaxing and having fun. As the weekend drew closer though, all of my “things to do” kept swimming around in my mind. Weekends are when I can attack my list of chores and it seems like that list never … Read more
The time – 215 years ago – when the Lewis & Clark Expedition was at the location we now call Tower Rock State Park. This easily accessible and incredibly scenic location was where Meriwether Lewis climbed to the top of this volcanic rock, looked back and noted in his journal that he saw a “most pleasing view of the country they were about to leave”. If he had any idea of what arduous terrain they … Read more
Choose your weekend and begin exploring the diverse landscapes of Central Montana. This weekend suggestion will have you visiting a state park, doing your choice of activities – from hiking, fishing, floating, seeking out a waterfall, adding to your bird life-list and soaking in hot springs. Let’s start! We’ll begin by leaving Great Falls and driving east on a highway of many numbers – US Hwys 87 and 89 and MT Hwys 3 & 200 … Read more