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Fun Travels Across the United States

MONTANA

News Big Sky Billings Helena Paradise Valley

Southwest Montana’s blue-ribbon trout streams and trophy trout lakes offer some of the most challenging yet rewarding trout fishing in the world! When it comes to learning about the Zen of flying fishing, Brian Kimmel may be one of the very best persons in Montana to connect with. A native of Montana and a fisherman since he was 5, yes – age 5, Kimmel has invested 30 years in learning the waters and fish habits of the trout-filled rivers that flow through the Big Sky state.  

It’s not just us saying so he has been featured on Fly Fishing of America television and Great Outdoor Games television, as well as in countless magazine articles and during public speaking opportunities. In fact, Brian is recognized by the leader in the fly fishing industry, the Orvis Company, as one of the very best guides in the fresh water world. He is the recipient of the coveted “Orvis Guide of the Year” award, given annually for excellence in guide development and providing an exceptional outdoor experience. 

Kimmel offers fly fishers -- from the novice to the most discriminating -- an adventure of a lifetime. He customizes the instruction to meet the needs of each guest. Angler’s can learn to become one with hard fighting southwest Montana trout, the region’s solitude and achingly beautiful surroundings, while promoting a deep respect for the natural balance and harmony of the river and its wild environment. Fly fishing instruction packages are available June through October, weather permitting.

To learn more about the Getaway to Grow Wildlife Safari, Yellowstone Excursion or Blue Ribbon Fly Fishing package opportunities, contact Susie Leach, general manager, at 406-995-4455 or 866-995-4455 or visit www.riverrocklodging.com. 

BILLINGS

Billings, a county seat, is a major trading center for a vast area of southeastern Montana. It was named for Frederick Billings, lawyer, railway promoter, and philanthropist. He was one of the original stockholders of the Northern Pacific Railway and secured the right-of-way for that line to cross Montana. In 1879 he became president of the company. (from Cheney’s Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)

Bordered on the north by distinctive rock formations known as rimrocks, Billings was established in 1882 with the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Two years later the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroads arrived and further boosted the economy. Today it is a major shipping center for cattle and other agricultural products. Billings is where Montana Territory began, and where your historical and cultural passport to the legendary West begins. Use Billings as a central point to the best western attractions, events, hospitality, shopping and cuisine.

Regional accommodations specialize in making the road-weary traveler feel welcome and safe. Put up your feet, kick back, and relax at one of the many and varied hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, resorts and historic lodges in and around Billings.

The MetraPark is a modern concert, trade show and rodeo arena, surrounded by the fairgrounds, pari-mutuel horse-race track and superbarn complex. New Expo Center and Pavilion buildings overlook a relaxing lake park. MetraPark is a stellar entertainment complex, home of the state's largest event — Montana Fair.

The Alberta Bair Theater for the Performing Arts is the largest theater between Minneapolis and Spokane. It recently acquired the largest movie screen in that area. The theater presents hundreds of productions yearly, with over half of them performed by national and international professional touring companies. From Broadway musicals to African dance, the Alberta Bair Theater has it all! The Yellowstone Art Museum is a unique and important visual arts center for Montana and the surrounding region. Founded in 1964 by a local group, it is now a fully-accredited museum. Success has caused the Yellowstone Art Museum, to outgrow its facility; and has recently undergone $6.2 million expansion.

The Moss Mansion captures turn-of-the-century life when the Preston Boyd Moss family lived in the 1903 red sandstone structure. Visitors see original draperies, fixtures, furniture, Persian carpets, wall coverings and artifacts during one-hour guided tours. Seasonal exhibits are featured . Designed by the famous American architect, Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, the home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Western Heritage Center: Visit “Our Place in the West: Places, Pasts and Images of the Yellowstone Valley 1880-1940.” Discover the past with interactive computers, hands-on exhibits, videos and a theater.

Montana's only wildlife park is nestled in 70 acres of lush Montana green. Follow Canyon Creek along Zoo Montana's winding nature trail. Then stop and watch the otters play as you discover the native and exotic animals in their natural habitats. Whether you're looking for bronco busting rodeo action or the relaxation of fishing or hunting, you'll be in good company around Billings. Watch Montana's wildlife by grabbing your binoculars and heading to the plains or hiking in the mountains that surround Billings. Billings is the gateway to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Bighorn National Recreation Area, Yellowstone Park, the Yellowstone River and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

Here, vast ranches, farmland and stockyards are situated just outside the conveniences of a modern city. Billings features broad, treelined avenues and the metropolitan flavor of Montana's tallest buildings. Billings is easily accessible by air or interstate highway.

HELENA

Helena owes its existence to the discovery of placer gold, quartz gold, silver, and lead. Helena became the “Queen City of the Rockies” with the boom brought on by the 1864 gold strike. The first gold strike came in 1852 in Deer Lodge Valley; however, the rush for gold in Montana didn't start until 1862 with the strike at Bannack. In 1864 a group known as the “Four Georgians” (John Cowan, Daniel Jackson Miller, John Crab, and Reginald, or Robert Stanley) stumbled upon gold in what is now Helena's main street. The claim was staked and named “Last Chance Gulch.” The “Four Georgians” worked the gulch until 1867, when they went back East, taking large amounts of dust with them.

As the gulch began to fill with people, the miners decided they needed to come up with a name for the town. The “Four Georgians” originally named it Crabtown after John Crab, one of the founders. Searching for a new name, the miners decided on a name of a town in Minnesota, pronounced Saint Hel-E-na. The pronunciation changed, emphasizing the first syllable of Helena, and “Saint” was dropped from the name.

In 1875, Helena became the capital of Montana Territory. When Montana became a state, the fight for the location of the state capital pitted ‘Copper King' Marcus Daly of Anaconda against rival William A. Clark, who supported Helena. Helena won, and in October 1898, ground was broken for the State Capitol Building.

The historic downtown area of the capital city is situated in a steep gulch with parts of the city perched on surrounding hillsides. This picturesque setting opens up into a wide valley to the north. On the upper-eastside sits Montana's State Capitol. The State Capitol building is an excellent example of Greek Renaissance architecture, and the murals inside depict Montana historical themes. Helena's glorious past can also be seen in the spectacular 19th-century mansions, historic Last Chance Gulch businesses, and restored pioneer dwellings. The Last Chance Tour Train features informative, entertaining tours of the city. The tour begins at the Montana Historical Society. A one-hour train ride provides a spectacular tour of the Capital City, complete with a lesson in Helena's colorful history.

The St. Helena Cathedral, an imposing edifice, overlooks the downtown area. Modeled after the cathedral in Cologne, Germany, and a replica of the Votive Church in Vienna, the cathedral is a magnificent addition to its Rocky Mountain setting. Stained glass windows, white marble altars, statues, and genuine gold leaf decorate the sanctuary. Outside, majestic twin spires rise 230 feet above the street.

Regularly conducted tours of the Original Governor's Mansion constructed, in 1888 concentrate on the history of the house and its furnishings. It contains 20 rooms and seven fireplaces, all restored to turn-of-the-century elegance and furnished with antiques.
The Montana Historical Society, founded in 1865, houses one of the country's most important collections of Charles M. Russell art in the Mackay Gallery; the Haynes Gallery features the life and work of noted frontier photographer F. Jay Haynes.

The Museum of Gold collection at Norwest Bank displays gold dust to nuggets as big as 244 ounces. This tribute to Montana pioneers is valued at $600,000. The Helena area is known for sapphires as well as gold. By 1888, an estimated 50 millionaires made Helena their home. Last Chance Gulch produced an estimated $3.6 billion (in today's dollars) in gold over a 20-year period. The Spokane Bar Mine is one of half a dozen digging sites, and numerous old mines and settlements exist nearby. The Archie Bray Foundation was established in 1951 on the site of a brick factory and attracts artist from around the world. Tour the studios and grounds of this unique endeavorin the ceramic arts.

The Helena area offers countless recreation opportunities. The Missouri River flows nearby with several lakes within a short driving distance. Holter and Hauser Lakes, created by two of the three dams on the Missouri River in the Helena area, are perfect for outdoor recreation including fishing, swimming, camping, water-skiing and boating. Canyon Ferry Lake, just 20 minutes east of Helena, is a large reservoir on the Missouri River that offers recreation in all forms. Camping, sailing, boating, swimming and fishing are just the start. You'll also see ice boaters here in the winter. Gates of the Mountains; as Lewis and Clark traveled up the Missouri River in this area, Meriwether Lewis was struck by the steep canyon walls and noted ‘the Gates of the Mountains' in his journal. Boat tours are available at the Gates of the Mountains, 16 miles north of Helena off I-15.

Helena is just eight miles from the Continental Divide, and it is surrounded by mountains and National Forest Service land. The Elkhorn Wildlife Management Area, managed by the National Forest System, is a 129,000-acre area that is home to many indigenous animals, including big game. Elevation: 4,090 feet.

PARADISE VALLEY

Family vacations are a great thing, but sometimes a quiet retreat is in order.  Couples and singles looking for an adults-only vacation this fall need look no further than Mountain Sky Ranch.

Mountain Sky Guest Ranch is nestled in the heart of Paradise Valley, within 8,000 acres of beautiful, rugged countryside and less than an hour away from Yellowstone National Park. The historic cattle ranch first began welcoming guests in 1929 - and some of the guest cabins date back to that first year. While these historic structures are reminders of the early American West, the services and amenities offered at the ranch are those of an upscale guest ranch resort. From savory gourmet meals to barbecues, the dinner menu at Mountain Sky features the finest in continental and Western cuisine. 

Guests can choose to relax in their cabins, or take part in a variety of activities including guided hikes or horseback rides, fly fishing instruction, yoga sessions, two-step dance instruction with the wranglers, or a tour of Yellowstone Park. Depending on the day's offerings, guests may also choose to journey to the historic Vink Ranch for a tour of refurbished buildings dating back to the early 1900s, ride or hike to an authentic barbecue dinner, or experience the crisp fall air on a morning ride or hike ending with a hearty breakfast and a steaming cup of coffee cooked over a cozy campfire. Evenings at Mountain Sky include a hors d’oeuvres hayride, guitar music around the lounge fireplace or simply relaxing in a welcoming guest cabin.

For more information on the Take Me Away Getaway Package for couples or singles call 800-548-3392 or visit www.mtnsky.com.

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