The open road ahead had me filled with a mixture of nostalgia and excitement. Having grown up in Montana, it had been years since I had driven Highway 89 from Belt to White Sulphur Springs. As the new Executive Director for Central Montana Tourism, I had recently moved back to this amazing state after living on the east coast for the last 15 years. While it felt like just yesterday since I had made my … Read more
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
The Kings Hill Scenic Byway on US Hwy 89 is 71 miles of scenic beauty for those who just want a beautiful drive with diverse terrain. It’s also a year ’round recreation playground with public lands surrounding most of the highway. The Byway begins about five miles east of the town of Belt at Armington Junction where US Hwy 89 turns south. Private ranches border the highway here with public access to Belt Creek. As … Read more
It’s hard to believe, but driving just fifteen minutes north of Great Falls, Montana, a town of 60,000 people, you can be at Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Covering 12,383 acres (19 square miles), this wetland refuge is sprawling. Birders have documented 240 species of birds there. Twenty-eight different species of mammals, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, muskrats, badgers, yellow-bellied marmots, coyotes and more enjoy the terrain at Benton Lake. A crisp and wintry … Read more
It seems like when I am out of the area marketing Central Montana I am asked why we call ourselves Big Sky Country. For travelers who have been to Montana, they understand. But sometimes my response is…you just have to experience our skies. My favorite sky is filled with puffy white clouds, what I refer to as cotton ball clouds. But, every now and then we have some amazing moody skies too. Follow along as I remember … Read more
Lewistown’s Montana Winter Fair definitely qualifies for having unique events. My favorite yodeler is Wylie Gustafson of Yahoo fame and he and his band, The Wild West, were performing an evening concert to kick off the Montana Winter Fair weekend. That was enough to get me to pack my bags and drive to Lewistown. The concert was held in the Grand Hall of the Eagles on Main Street. Thank goodness I had a ticket because … Read more
Last weekend I began my Saturday with reading a list of things to do. While I was debating which task to start first, a friend called and asked if I wanted to go snowshoeing at Silver Crest Cross Country Ski Area near Kings Hill Pass. Well, I didn’t take too long to respond with a “yes” and then I said I could be ready in 30 minutes. Boy, did I scramble! I hadn’t been on … Read more
I drove north of Great Falls to Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge the other day in search of some beautiful and unobstructed sunrise views. The drive to the refuge, which is managed by US Fish & Wildlife Service, is a short twelve miles from Great Falls, all paved until you turn in to the refuge. I kept looking to the east, planning for the best sunrise photo of the day. After about 5 miles I … Read more
The first time I ever went X-C skiing I took my two young children. It was a learning experience for all of us and I came home just a bit stressed. I wasn’t sure I was learning the sport as well as I could and the kids didn’t seem too happy either. Fast forward one week and both kids were asking if we could go again! That was many years ago and I once again … Read more