Ilf and Petrov did not get here, but you will definitely get to the northernmost state of America – Montana. After all, this is a state of treasures and its slogan is “the best place”! That’s so immodest, but quite justified. In the 19th century, the first gold was found here, then silver and copper, and now tourism is well established in the state, and everyone who sets foot on this land will receive a precious vacation experience.
For lovers of ecotourism, Montana is a real paradise: rafting, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, exploring the wildlife of national forests.
Montana is the birthplace of famed filmmaker David Lynch. The author of the famous film “Twin Peaks” was born in the town of Missoula.
- Countryaah – Cities in Montana: List of all municipalities in the state of Montana, including cities and towns of Montana.
The state capital is Helena.
Major cities are Billings, Great Falls, Laurel and Anaconda.
How to get there
You will need two transfers to get to Montana. Airlines offer flights via Salt Lake City and New York or Amsterdam and Minneapolis, and there are other options. Arrival cities are Helena or Billings.
Search for flights to Montana at the lowest prices
Weather in Montana
Montana is a huge state, and therefore the climate in its different parts is very diverse. In summer, the thermometer on average shows +29 ° C, and in winter -2 ° C. At the same time, temperature differences in one district can be very strong. This is confirmed by the town of Loma, known for its record temperature change within 24 hours: on one of the days of January 1972, the temperature here increased from -48 ° C to 9 ° C. The rains in different districts of the state are also not the same: somewhere there are showers, and somewhere it will drizzle once a month – and, thank God.
Cuisine of Montana
We all know what Americans eat, we talk about it with a wrinkled nose, but at the same time, McDonald’s in Russia is not overcrowded. Residents of the American North also eat fast food; in Montana, you can find buses with “fast” Mexican cuisine. Yes, yes, a four-wheeled cafe is driving around the streets! Come inside, and there instead of seats there is a stove, a cook and even tables. And, of course, not a single stationary cafe is complete without fried meat on the menu. Still, agriculture in Montana is not forgotten and is developing.
In summer, in the Indian reservations of the state, and there are 7 of them in Montana, you can see the competitions of local residents – the famous rodeo.
Entertainment and attractions in Montana
By the 1970s, the Montana authorities realized that mining and agriculture were extremely unstable sources of income, and they focused on industry and tourism. Therefore, today the guests of the state are greeted by a well-established infrastructure. Here you will not find skyscrapers and ironed collars, Montana is for lovers of ecotourism: rafting, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, exploring the wildlife of national forests. Of course, dozens, if not hundreds, of tourist routes through the historical and cultural places of Montana are interesting: the State Museum, the Museum of the Rocky Mountains, the Art Gallery, the State Capitol…
Various festivals take place throughout the year in Montana. In May – the wine and food festival, in June – Strawberry, in July-August – the festival of balloons, in November – the Christmas parade, in December – the festival of trees.
Church in Helena
The Gothic-style cathedral in Helena attracts precisely with its architecture, it is especially beautiful when there is snow around. Several religions coexist in the church at once – Calvinism, Catholicism, Judaism. Another landmark in the state capital is the Capitol, home of the Montana Legislature. Travelers like to walk around the abandoned mining town in the vicinity of Helena – Marysville.
National Ice Park
Glacier National Park got its name because of the large number of glaciers in its vast territory. There are two mountain ranges and more than 130 lakes in the park. Severe mountains, wild forests and crystal waters fascinate every tourist with their beauty. It is best to make two trips around the park – along a small and large route, to see all the sights. One circle lies below, the second leads to the observation deck, which offers a gorgeous view of the glacier and the blue lake at its foot. Routes do not intersect with each other!
You can move along the serpentine roads of the park both in your own car and on a sightseeing bus.
The National Ice Park is open to visitors from May to September. Since the summer in the North of America is not hot, the walk will not tire you.
Billings
Despite the fact that Billings is a city, this is where you should go for an eco-friendly vacation! Here you will be offered to go to the mountains or fish on the Boulder, Clearwater and Yellowstone rivers, hunt elk or go water skiing, canoeing.
On the territory of Montana, in the city of Anaconda, there is a famous chimney 178 meters high. It is considered one of the tallest brick structures in the world.
Flathead Valley
This is a reservation of Indians of three peoples: Kutene, Salish and Pandorei. It is especially interesting here in the summer, when local residents organize various competitions, like a rodeo. In general, there are seven Indian reservations in the state, and in the city of Browning there is a Museum of the Indians of the Rocky Mountains.
Hobbit house
There is a completely unique place in Montana – fans of the Tolkien epic will appreciate it! In the town of Trout Creek there is a boarding house called the Hobbit House. It was built by Steve and Christina Michaels at a cost of $410,000. In addition to the house itself, the entire territory – and this is more than 90 hectares – is stylized as a world of fantasy characters. Prices on the page are for July 2021.
A day in the Hobbit’s house, dug into the hill, will cost 355 USD – an expensive pleasure, although Tolkien fans will certainly not be greedy.
