21 Awesome Things About Montana
Even though I was born in Texas, the majority of childhood was spent in the mountains and streams of Western Montana, a truly magical place to have grown up. Here are 21 things that make it a great place to be:
- Everywhere Has a Small Town Vibe
There’s something about the feeling of being in a Montana that brings you back to the old days, days when things were simpler. Even though Missoula, Bozeman, and Billings are relatively large, you still feel like you are in a small town where everyone knows everyone.
2. A River Runs Through It
It really does, though. This one relates to Missoula in particular and it is an ode to the classic Robert Redford film, A River Runs Through It, that is based on a book written by a Missoula man about his upbringing. The title is in reference to the Clark Fork River that essentially cuts Missoula in half. It’s a beautiful river that is accessible for everyone to enjoy.
3. Perfect Place to Raise a Family
What makes Montana a great place to raise a family is that there is a strong sense of community where kids can be kids. My childhood growing up in Montana was defined by the easy access to wilderness that my friends and I had. We would take off in the morning and ride our bikes in the mountains all day and during the summer go on week long backpacking trips and never see a soul.
4. Great Place to Come of Age
When it came time for me to get a job, Montana was ideal because there are ranches all over the place looking for strong able bodied kids to do hard physical labor. When I was old enough, I would joined the US Forest Service as a wildland firefighter and learned what hard work REALLY is. I recommend it to all young people looking for adventure and a little spending money.
5. Montana Grizzly Football games
People go crazy for these games. They come in from all over Western Montana to watch the Grizzlies play and they stick around all day. There’s a different energy in the air on game day in Missoula because of the sheer number of people that come in. Supposedly, local commerce increases by a whopping 10% on game day. It’s no joke.
6. Everyone is Dog Crazy
Never will you find more restaurant patios with dogs sitting underneath the table while patrons enjoy a meal. Missoula has a leash law (I think) but those with well trained dogs pay no attention to it. You’ll find all kinds of breads here from teacup chihuahuas to literal 110 pound wolf dogs and everything in between.
7. Hunting Abound
Hunting is deeply ingrained in Montana’s culture. Fertile hunting lands are available to everyone and you’ll find wild game meats on many a dinner table. People here seem to have a deeper connection with their food than anywhere else because they are aware of the hard work that it took to acquire it as well as the visceral sacrifice required by the animal.
8. Glacier National Park
One of the the most visited national parks in the country, Glacier National Park draws in huge numbers of tourists every year. Some parts of Montana are well kept secrets but this is not one of them. Everyone knows how incredible Glacier National Park is. From the high mountain lakes that are cold enough to take your breath away to the snowcapped peaks along going to the sun road, Glacier National Park never disappoints.
9. Flathead Lake
This is the largest freshwater lake west of the Great Lakes. It may be the most popular local attraction in all of Western Montana as tons of people from Whitefish to Missoula own lakeside properties on Flathead and tons of others make the trip to enjoy it for the day. Crystal clean water and a beautiful view of the Swan Mountain Range make Flathead Lake one of my favorite places in the whole state.
10. Mission Mountain Range
This particular string of tall and craggy mountains holds a particularly special place in my heart because of the backpacking trips that I went on as a boy. My friends and I would gather around a map, pick a high mountain lake and say, “let’s go there,” and we would. We would get lost, bushwhack through dense brush, fall off of big rocks, argue about which way was the right way, even get badly injured on these journeys, but we always made it. The sense of accomplishment earned on these journeys continues to be a source of pride.
11. Yellowstone National Park
More popular still than Glacier National Park is Yellowstone National Park. Only a few hours south of Bozeman is a rare patch of wilderness that sits on top of the one of the biggest volcanic hotspots in the country. Yellowstone is home to an incredible variety of animals as well as geyser such as the famous Old Faithful Geyser and Yellowstone Falls pictured above.
12. Big Sky
For those skiers out there, Big Sky Resort offers world class skiing. It’s one of the largest Mountains in Western Montana offering 24 lifts, more than 4,000 feet of vertical drop and a tram that takes you up to breathtaking Lone Peak that sits at 11,166 feet.
13. Whitefish Mountain
Another popular ski resort in Montana is Whitefish Mountain just 15 minutes outside of Whitefish. On a sunny day, you can turn around in the chairlift and catch a view of Whitefish Lake that is truly spectacular.
14. Massive Adventure Playground
Aside from the big ski resorts, their are literally hundreds of great places to ski from deep backcountry powder fields to little 2 chairlift mom and pop operated ski areas that constitute some of why Montana is still a well kept secret. And that’s just in the winter. Ins the summer, drive in any direction, pick a dirt road and do some exploring. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you find!
15. Fly Fishing Paradise
This is probably the reason my father moved us here in the first place. The ability to work until 4 in the afternoon then take of early and have his line in the water by 4:30 was just too good to pass up. People come from all over the country to fly fish in Montana, and for good reason, the rivers crystal clear and full of a variety of trout species. Catch and release is the prevalent culture in the fishing community. The general consensus seems to be that trout are better to look at than to eat!
16. Cycling of all kinds
One thing is for sure: Montanans love bikes! Mountain biking, road biking, commuter biking; you name it and there is a prevalent community of such cyclists to be found in Montana. The college towns are very bicycle friendly and with such little traffic it’s easy to share the road.
17. Other two-wheeled travel
In the summer, Montana offers some amazing opportunities for the motorcycle enthusiast. Much to my parents chagrin, this is an activity that I love to take part in. Putting a high powered 4-stroke engine in between your legs and balling that thing across the West is an icon of freedom in its purest form. I highly recommend the experience.
18. Tons of Festivals
Music festivals, art conventions, and cultural heritage festivals can be found all over Montana, not just in the bigger cities and they are some of the most fun that one can have in a single day. My personal favorite is the Flathead Lake Blues Festival.
19. Perfectly Situated in the Northwestern United States
Western Montana in particular is a great place to be for those that like to jump in a loaded down car and go on an adventure. The Oregon Coast, British Colombia’s powder highway, and the deserts of Moab, Utah all lie within a days drive of Missoula. If you get bored of Western Montana (which is hard to do) just jump in the automobile and seek new adventures!
20. Well kept secret
The truth is that I’ve already disclosed too much in this article. We have a saying Montana: “Montana is full, but hey, I heard North Dakota is nice!” On a side note, North Dakota actually has some pretty cool stuff in it, we only make fun of it because it’s relatively flat and the wind blows like crazy, as it does in certain parts of Montana. But the message is that Montanans like Montana the way it is, so if you’re going to come visit the state please be respectful, pick up your trash, and don’t make it too obvious that you aren’t from there!
21. Montanans are Still Nice People
That being said, IF you are respectful, you will find that most Montanans are incredibly welcoming and eager to share the treasures of their state with you. It’s amazing how readily people will reciprocate common good manners with hospitality.
There’s something for everyone in Montana and above you’ll find more than enough to start exploring. It’s a huge state with diverse terrain and there’s no way I could cover everything in one article. Now it’s up to you to make the the first step and get lost in Montana. Enjoy!
