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Donnie Sexton/Travel <strong>Montana</strong>Spr<strong>in</strong>gtime <strong>in</strong> Glacier National ParkThe Treasure State<strong>Montana</strong> is best known as Big Sky Country, but it’s called the Treasure State, too.Both names make sense, because under its big, magical sky, treasure is found aboveand below the surface. Beneath the soil, copper, silver and gold helped lure settlers andbuild <strong>Montana</strong>’s towns. Above ground, today’s treasures <strong>in</strong>clude 50 state parks, twoof America’s most popular national parks, an array of scenic byways, wildlife refugesand monuments, plus <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g cities across America’s fourth-largest state. Let’s explore<strong>Montana</strong>’s six countries from west to east.GlacierCountry<strong>Montana</strong>’s GlacierNational Park andAlberta, Canada’sWaterton Lakes National Park formed theworld’s first International Peace Park <strong>in</strong>1932. Both are Biosphere Reserves, andare jo<strong>in</strong>tly a World Heritage Site. Glacier’s<strong>in</strong>ternational significance is observedwhenever it ra<strong>in</strong>s on Triple Divide Peak.Some of the water flows to the PacificOcean; other drops beg<strong>in</strong> a course northto the Arctic Ocean, while the rest of themoisture reaches the Atlantic via the Gulfof Mexico.More than 70 mammals roam Glacier’srugged terra<strong>in</strong>, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g black and grizzlybears, elk, mounta<strong>in</strong> lions, mounta<strong>in</strong> goats,moose and gray wolves. Bird watchers havecounted 260 species of feathered friendshere. Five historic lodges <strong>in</strong>spired by classicresorts <strong>in</strong> the Alps, 700 miles of hik<strong>in</strong>gtrails, 37 glaciers and one of America’smost spectacular highways – the Go<strong>in</strong>gto-the-SunRoad – make Glacier NationalPark worthy of every accolade it receives.Whitefish and Kalispell serve as thewestern gateways to Glacier NationalPark. Both offer late spr<strong>in</strong>g and summercalendars full of events, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g farmersmarkets, art and antique fairs, and musicfestivals. The Whitefish Theatre Companykicks off its season <strong>in</strong> May with a variety ofeight productions presented throughoutthe summer.Gold WestCountryLate <strong>in</strong> the 19 thCentury, “goldfever” lured tens ofthousands to the <strong>Montana</strong> territory andmade boom towns all over today’s GoldWest Country. By 1888, Helena was hometo more millionaires per capita than anyother city on earth. Many of them createdpalatial homes <strong>in</strong> the city’s MansionDistrict that can still be seen today on selfguidedwalk<strong>in</strong>g tours.Special Advertis<strong>in</strong>g SectionHelena has broadened further <strong>in</strong>toa vibrant arts community. DowntownHelena, Inc. br<strong>in</strong>gs more than 30 eventsto town each year, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g art walks,live outdoor summer music Wednesdaysat Alive At Five, the Last ChanceBluegrass Festival, weekly farmers marketsand the Mount Helena Music Festival.The city also offers a beautiful CapitolBuild<strong>in</strong>g and the orig<strong>in</strong>al Governor’sMansion, both open for public tours, andthe State Historical Society Museum.Butte once claimed the “Richest Hillon Earth” and the largest open-pit m<strong>in</strong>e<strong>in</strong> the world. Although the Berkeley Pitceased operat<strong>in</strong>g as a copper m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g pit<strong>in</strong> 1982, it still draws and dazzles visitorswith its sheer size. Butte can still claim tobe home of the largest National HistoricLandmark District <strong>in</strong> the West. You canexplore v<strong>in</strong>tage architecture and remnantsof the city’s colorful past on foot oraboard the Butte trolley.Now enter<strong>in</strong>g its second year ofservice, the Copper K<strong>in</strong>g Express, a 52-mile round-trip tra<strong>in</strong> ride between Butteand Anaconda, offers a historical narrativeof the area’s attractions <strong>in</strong> refurbishedpassenger cars. The last weekend of July,Butte will once aga<strong>in</strong> honor its native sonand world-renowned daredevil with thealways enterta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Evel Knievel Days.Just off I-90 between Butte andAnaconda, Fairmont Hot Spr<strong>in</strong>gs Resortoffers guests anytime access to its famoushot spr<strong>in</strong>g pools. In addition to 152guest rooms and suites, the resort alsoprovides an 18-hole golf course, tenniscourts, children’s playground, wildlifezoo and bike rentals, plus massage andspa services. Less than an hour west atPhilipsburg’s Sapphire Gallery, rockhounds and gemstone lovers of all agesseek multi-hued sapphires. Although aream<strong>in</strong>es have produced more than 180million carats of the prized gems, today’svisitors have no trouble f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g their ownglitter<strong>in</strong>g souvenirs.YellowstoneCountryIn YellowstoneCountry, theactivity list<strong>in</strong>cludes blue-ribbon trout fish<strong>in</strong>g onthe Yellowstone River, half-day andfull-day raft<strong>in</strong>g adventures for all levelsatop the Gallat<strong>in</strong> River and week-longbackcountry treks <strong>in</strong>to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. If pamper<strong>in</strong>g iswww.visitmt.com/play<strong>in</strong>montana
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