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

Favorite Things to do in Meagher County

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

Got Kids? Take Them Hiking in Central Montana

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

Learning About Rocks, Unique Art and History in Central Montana

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

Geology Education and a Scenic Drive in Central Montana

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

Visiting the Ghost Town of Kendall in Central Montana

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

Designing Masks and Sharing Native Culture

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

Sleep in a Real Homestead Cabin in Central Montana

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