Play in Montana - Visit Montana

Donnie Sexton/Travel MontanaSpringtime in Glacier National ParkThe Treasure StateMontana 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 Montana’s towns. Above ground, today’s treasures include 50 state parks, twoof America’s most popular national parks, an array of scenic byways, wildlife refugesand monuments, plus inviting cities across America’s fourth-largest state. Let’s exploreMontana’s six countries from west to east.GlacierCountryMontana’s GlacierNational Park andAlberta, Canada’sWaterton Lakes National Park formed theworld’s first International Peace Park in1932. Both are Biosphere Reserves, andare jointly a World Heritage Site. Glacier’sinternational significance is observedwhenever it rains on Triple Divide Peak.Some of the water flows to the PacificOcean; other drops begin 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 terrain, including black and grizzlybears, elk, mountain lions, mountain goats,moose and gray wolves. Bird watchers havecounted 260 species of feathered friendshere. Five historic lodges inspired by classicresorts in the Alps, 700 miles of hikingtrails, 37 glaciers and one of America’smost spectacular highways – the Goingto-the-SunRoad – make Glacier NationalPark worthy of every accolade it receives.Whitefish and Kalispell serve as thewestern gateways to Glacier NationalPark. Both offer late spring and summercalendars full of events, including farmersmarkets, art and antique fairs, and musicfestivals. The Whitefish Theatre Companykicks off its season in May with a variety ofeight productions presented throughoutthe summer.Gold WestCountryLate in the 19 thCentury, “goldfever” lured tens ofthousands to the Montana 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 in the city’s MansionDistrict that can still be seen today on selfguidedwalking tours.Special Advertising SectionHelena has broadened further intoa vibrant arts community. DowntownHelena, Inc. brings more than 30 eventsto town each year, including 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 CapitolBuilding and the original Governor’sMansion, both open for public tours, andthe State Historical Society Museum.Butte once claimed the “Richest Hillon Earth” and the largest open-pit minein the world. Although the Berkeley Pitceased operating as a copper mining pitin 1982, it still draws and dazzles visitorswith its sheer size. Butte can still claim tobe home of the largest National HistoricLandmark District in the West. You canexplore vintage architecture and remnantsof the city’s colorful past on foot oraboard the Butte trolley.Now entering its second year ofservice, the Copper King Express, a 52-mile round-trip train ride between Butteand Anaconda, offers a historical narrativeof the area’s attractions in refurbishedpassenger cars. The last weekend of July,Butte will once again honor its native sonand world-renowned daredevil with thealways entertaining Evel Knievel Days.Just off I-90 between Butte andAnaconda, Fairmont Hot Springs Resortoffers guests anytime access to its famoushot spring 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 areamines have produced more than 180million carats of the prized gems, today’svisitors have no trouble finding their ownglittering souvenirs.YellowstoneCountryIn YellowstoneCountry, theactivity listincludes blue-ribbon trout fishing onthe Yellowstone River, half-day andfull-day rafting adventures for all levelsatop the Gallatin River and week-longbackcountry treks into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. If pampering iswww.visitmt.com/playinmontana