Western Montana

Like Bozeman’s M trail, Helena has a similar brief hike up nearby Mount Helena. While the M trail has two options for hiking up the mountain, Mount Helena features several options of varying degrees of difficulty and length. Also unlike the M trail, Mount Helena borders the city limits, offering spectacular views of the city below (rather than the countryside).

If you live in the Helena area, chances are you’ve heard about the Last Chance Tour Train during commercial breaks on television. You’ve probably seen it driving through town, twisting and turning through the streets of downtown Helena. But I’m always surprised at how few locals have actually ridden on the train, and trust me, [...]

Creepy, yes. Scary, slightly. Worth the stop, you bet! I had been to the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge about 20 years ago and I still have vivid memories about it. My mom and I were totally spooked as we walked down the cellblock and would not even step foot into the “hole”. On my recent trip to the prison I found things a little bit different.

Have you every wanted to step back in history and see what it might be like to live or work on a old western ranch? Well your opportunity is located on the edge of town in Deer Lodge at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch. Johnny Grant homesteaded in the Deer Lodge valley in 1862, only to 4 years later sell the home and ranch for $19,200 to Conrad Kohrs.

One of the key advantages to living in Bozeman is the number of parks scattered throughout town - and the quality and beauty of those parks! My favorite park is Burke Park. Located in the southeast portion of Bozeman at the top of Highland Ridge, Burke Park runs south from Peet’s Hill down to near Kagy Blvd, paralleling both Highland Ridge and Church Street.

Wondering what to do, the two of us decided to try the boat tour up the Missouri River at Gates of the Mountains. The tour takes you down the Missouri River from Holter Lake through the “Gates of the Mountains” - first explored by Lewis and Clark in 1805 and named as such due to the fact that the mountains and cliffs that rise above the edges of the Missouri look like gates from afar. As you ride down the Missouri, your tour guide on the boat fills the experience with various tidbits and stories that we both found incredibly interesting.

Stopping in at the gas station the other day, I about fell out of my (driver’s) seat when I looked at the total. I’m pretty sure it equaled my daughter’s college savings. Wow…with gas prices these days, no wonder people are putting summer vacation plans on hold. My family and I had plans of driving to Yellowstone and beyond, but now I think we’ll just do a staycation and stay local. What’s a staycation, you ask? Instead of leaving home for vacation, you stay at home for vacation. You can take a week off and enjoy the sights and attractions your community offers, or you can just do activities over several weekends. If you’re interested in a staycation, too, take a look at this list of things to do!

Many Montanans - myself included - don’t realize that Southwest Montana is home to its own botanical gardens. But it does! Located just a few minutes off Interstate 15 near Jefferson CIty lies the Tizer Gardens, home to a variety of plants, flowers, and short walking trails. My mother, being very much into gardening, heard about the place and decided to head down with me (that is, she insisted that I come with her, as I am not usually into these sorts of things!).