Montana is a place that needs capital letters to do it justice. This is Big Sky Country, home to the Rocky Mountains and the sweeping prairies of the Great Plains, as well as sparkling blue lakes and classic American ranches. Whether you want to embrace the great outdoors or simply relax, the experiences it offers are as varied as its jaw-dropping landscapes.
NATURE
Fill up your water bottle and lace up those boots: nature reigns supreme here. The warmer months are perfect for horseback riding or hiking through iconic wildernesses like Glacier National Park or Lolo National Forest. While the region’s amazing wildlife – including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, bighorn sheep and eagles – are certainly worth packing those binoculars for.
SPORTS
Montana’s soaring peaks and deep valleys make it an adventure lover’s playground. For summer escapades with altitude, take to the hills on a mountain bike, then cool off with a spot of trout fishing on the magnificent Clark Fork River in Alberton. During the winter, try your hand at snow shoeing, ice skating, sledding or off-piste skiing in one of the region’s many first-rate resorts.
HISTORY
Colonial-era railroads, eerie ghost towns, historic battlefields – all have left their mark here. Pull up a seat in an old-style saloon in Virginia City, then dip into the rich and varied culture of Montana’s Plains Indian people. Fossil fans (and those with little ones) will want to pencil in the Dinosaur Trail or Museum of the Rockies. Adventurous types can paddle in the wake of Montana’s famous pioneers, Lewis and Clark, on the mighty Missouri River.
