DISCOVER SOME OF MONTANA'S QUIET PLACES

Red Lodge Fall CREDIT: Merve Coleman

Red Lodge

Red Lodge, Montana, nestled beneath the Beartooth Mountains in pristine forest, is the perfect place to slow down and enjoy local hospitality. With less than 2,500 residents, it’s easy to mingle with locals as you wander along the town’s main street, perusing its shops, galleries and restaurants, or explore the nearby Beartooth wilderness at your leisure. The spectacular Beartooth Highway typically closes for winter, b    ut there are plenty of other things here to draw your attention.

Take in breathtaking fall colors on a drive along the “Loop Trip” to Fishtail, Absarokee and Joliet, passing ranches with some of the highest mountains in Montana as their backdrops. Wildlife is abundant in this area, both in the wild and at the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary, which houses typical native animals like bison, bears and wolves.

Discover the talents of local artists at several fine art galleries, take time to sip a local beer, or discover the great variety of restaurants that showcase the area’s commitment to local produce.

 
As winter quietly approaches, hit the slopes at Red Lodge Mountain or take in the scenery up close as you explore groomed cross-country ski trails at Red Lodge Nordic Center. In March, Red Lodge hosts skijoring races and its Winter Carnival brings wacky costumes and cardboard racing contraptions to the mountain which are a spectator spectacular.

Options Are Endless for Slow Travel in Glacier Country

Nationals Finals Ski Joring Races CREDIT Montana
Office of Tourism and Busimess Development

What does slow travel in Western Montana look like? You could spend the day picking lavender in Lakeside or Florence and learning how to cook and make healing oils with your handpicked bushel of goodness. Or stop into a small town like Bigfork or Hamilton and and wander the boutiques for that unique souvenir. Plan a full-day workshop on plein-air painting with Glacier National Park as your subject; even people who don’t know how to paint will enjoy this relaxing activity and bring home a frame-worthy piece of art. Take an Indigenous cooking class and learn how native plants like elderberry and wild licorice, along with wild game, come together just as they did for the native Blackfeet.

The microbrew industry is more than alive and well in Montana, with 30+ breweries in Western Montana’s Glacier Country alone. Tour Missoula’s finest breweries with a downtown self-guided foot tour. Or, if you are looking for a less strenuous activity, River City Brews Rafting Tours lets you fill up a growler with your favorite brew and enjoy either the Blackfoot or Clark Fork rivers while sipping suds with 12 of your friends, or strangers who will become friends by the end of the tour. 

For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit GlacierMT.com.

Winter is the Coolest Time of Year in Billings

When temperatures drop in Billings, Montana, the atmosphere of the city becomes a lot more chill. And Montana’s largest city beckons visitors to forge a path to some of the coolest experiences in the region.

 
Hike the walkable 1.5-mile Billings Brew Trail and enjoy a frosty mug or two of craft beer. When you get hungry, the amazing food scene is nearby, with many options including two James Beard Award nominees – Walker’s Grill and The Marble Table – within a short walk of most areas of downtown.

Cross-country skiing CREDIT Visit Billings

Warm the soul by taking in a performance at the historic Alberta Bair Theater or by discovering iconic art of the American West at the Yellowstone Art Museum. And no visit to Billings is complete without a stop at ZooMontana. This year, the zoo will be transformed into a winter wonderland for Holiday Nights, featuring millions of festive, twinkling lights to help families celebrate the winter season.

Winter outdoor enthusiasts can get their hearts racing with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at Billings’ local parks, and downhill skiing at nearby Red Lodge Mountain.

So, visit Billings, Montana’s Trailhead, this winter season and discover why it is the coolest time of the year.

For more information on Billings, visit VisitBillings.com.
For more information on Montana, visit VISITMT.COM.

 *Source: THE GREAT AMERICAN WEST: AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND:
Davidson Communications – Account Manager RMI AUNZ
Caroline Davidson - caroline@davcomm.com.au