101 Great Ideas

  1. Experience American Indian culture by staying the night in a tipi.
  2. Sleep under the big blue sky—and maybe catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights—at one of Western Montana's many campgrounds.
  3. Visit Missoula's Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and learn about the role the foundation plays in elk conservation.
  4. Step into the past and explore Garnet—a modern day ghost town—on a walking tour.
  5. Pick your own sweet cherries from an orchard in Montana's Flathead Valley.
  6. Hit fresh powder at one of Glacier County's six full-service ski areas.
  7. Experience a Montana tradition and channel your inner cowboy at a local small-town rodeo.
  8. Ski down the backside of Whitefish Mountain Resort. You'll feel like you have the mountain to yourself. Plus, it offers views of the peaks of Glacier National Park.
  9. See Western Montana from an aerial point of view on a helicopter tour with Glacier Jet Center.
  10. Centuries in the MakingExperience American Indian culture by staying the night in a tipi.
  11. Marvel in the 58 hand-painted murals adorning the walls and ceiling of the St. Ignatius Mission.
  12. Montana has great guides. Take a guided trip, with options ranging from llama trekking to whitewater rafting and fishing to trail rides.
  13. Experience the arts by catching a play at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse.
  14. Cast your line into one of Western Montana's blue-ribbon trout streams.
  15. Admire the spectacular views from Kerr Damn. The dam is a short drive from Polson and is 54 feet higher than Niagara Falls.
  16. Relive the excitement of the discovery of the Old West by taking a wagon ride.
  17. Visit the unique habitat of the Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge. Follow it up with a visit to Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana.
  18. Find the perfect souvenir at one of Glacier Country's many antique stores.
  19. Follow the Lewis and Clark Trail and see where they camped at Travelers' Rest State Park.
  20. A Downhill HavenHit fresh powder at one of Glacier County's six full-service ski areas.
  21. Rediscover your inner child by sledding down the snowy hills of Glacier Country.
  22. Visit the Glacier Institute for a hands-on educational adventure.
  23. Meet Montana's heroes at the Smokejumper Visitor Center.
  24. Rent a canoe or kayak and paddle the Clearwater Canoe Trail near Seeley Lake.
  25. Be adventurous. Plan a rock climbing trip with an experienced guide.
  26. Check out the mysterious vortex along Highway 2 near Columbia Falls .
  27. Stroll through Missoula's historic districts.
  28. Join Missoulians for lunch and live music at Caras Park every Wednesday from June – August.
  29. Visit Flathead Lake's Wild Horse Island on a guided kayaking or boat tour.
  30. Cowboy UpExperience a Montana tradition and channel your inner cowboy at a local small-town rodeo.
  31. Hike in the Bob (aka the Bob Marshall Wilderness).
  32. Peruse the work of Montana artists at a local art gallery.
  33. Try a bison burger.
  34. Hop aboard a hot air balloon and see the beautiful topography of Glacier Country.
  35. Stop by the local chamber or visitor information center and ask about historical walking tour information.
  36. Take in a skijoring competition (skiing behind a horse) in Whitefish.
  37. Play a game of miniature golf.
  38. Mine for sapphires near Philipsburg. Complete your day with a visit to The Sweet Palace.
  39. Rent your own raft and float one of the region's rivers. Or, better yet, arrange a whitewater adventure or scenic float with a local guiding company.
  40. Go with a GuideMontana has great guides. Take a guided trip, with options ranging from llama trekking to whitewater rafting and fishing to trail rides.
  41. Take advantage of the region's plentiful snowfall and go snowshoeing.
  42. Spend the night in a cozy cabin.
  43. Experience an American Indian Pow Wow celebration.
  44. Rent a motorcycle and cruise the roads and byways of Western Montana.
  45. Kayak the man-made Brennan's Wave on the Clark Fork in downtown Missoula .
  46. Take a trail ride in Glacier National Park.
  47. Take your boat and fishing pole to Painted Rocks Reservoir in the Bitterroot Valley.
  48. Race go carts on Highway 2 in Coram.
  49. Admire the wildflowers. Western Montana is home to the Bitterroot, Indian Paintbrush and Bear Grass (to name a few).
  50. Ride a Red BusRelax and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Going-to-the-Sun Road on a historic red bus tour.
  51. Bike through 11 tunnels and over nine steel trestles along the Hiawatha Rail trail.
  52. See beautiful views and bison at the National Bison Range in Moiese.
  53. Take a dip in one of Western Montana's beautiful lakes.
  54. Play folf at one of the local area courses.
  55. Shop sales tax free.
  56. Fly through the air on the zip lines at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
  57. Watch the sunrise at Chief Mountain. You'll call it a perfect day even if you see nothing else.
  58. Stop by and say hi to the friendly volunteers at the Ronan Visitor Center. They'll probably give you pie.
  59. See the world's finest wildlife films at the International Wildlife Film Festival.
  60. Let's Sail AwayRent a sailboat and set sail on beautiful Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River.
  61. Strap on your skates and ice skate on a frozen pond or ice rink.
  62. Water ski on Lake Como, Whitefish Lake or Seeley Lake.
  63. Experience the old west again on a wagon train or cattle drive.
  64. Kayak, canoe or boat on one of Western Montana's rivers or lakes.
  65. Hike the Ross Creek Cedar Trail and tantalize your senses with the unforgettable sites and refreshing scent of the old-growth cedar forest.
  66. Stroll through a piece of the South at the Daly Mansion in Hamilton. The mansion was home to Marcus Daly—one of Montana's Copper Kings.
  67. Hike the M on Mount Sentinel overlooking Missoula.
  68. Take a look back at the history of Glacial Lake Missoula and the Ice Age floods.
  69. Cut your teeth at Mission Falls—a popular ice climbing destination near St. Ignatius.
  70. Swing AwaySwing your clubs on one of our golf courses.
  71. Fill up your belly on wild huckleberries.
  72. Pick up some homemade rolls or fresh produce at a local Hutterite colony near Cut Bank.
  73. Stop at the Windmill Village in Ravalli for one of their fresh doughnuts.
  74. Kick up your heels and enjoy the nightlife in downtown Whitefish.
  75. Celebrate the logging industry by attending Logger Days in Darby.
  76. Head to the heart of the wilderness for a boot-stomping good time at The Jack in the Lolo Wilderness.
  77. Keep history alive with a stroll through the Tobacco Valley Historical Village in Eureka —a collection of restored buildings and structures from the 1880s to 1920s.
  78. Explore the interpretive trails at Savenac Nursery, a National Historic Site in Haugan.
  79. Drive or cycle the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway.
  80. Flying with JoyFly through the air on the zip lines at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
  81. For a close-up view of animals, visit the Koo-Koo-Sint Bighorn Sheep Viewing Site near Plains.
  82. Visit a farmers market and pick up locally grown and locally made goods.
  83. Catch live music in Missoula.
  84. Tour Glacier Country's breweries.
  85. Bask in the blues at the Riverfront Blues Festival in Libby.
  86. Drive the Montana Scenic Loop
  87. Drive the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Loop.
  88. View a collection of scarecrows at Stevensville's annual Scarecrow Festival.
  89. Have dinner at the Belton Chalet in West Glacier.
  90. Hike it OutHike the M on Mount Sentinel overlooking Missoula.
  91. Listen to an interpretive talk from a ranger in Glacier National Park.
  92. Ride Amtrak's Empire Builder from East Glacier to Whitefish.
  93. Stop and pose with a hefty Hereford along Highway 200 at Clearwater Junction.
  94. Drive the Looking Glass Highway (Hwy 49) along the eastern edge of Glacier National Park. It offers incredible views of the park and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
  95. Visit a Montana State Park.
  96. Munch on sweet potato fries—a local favorite.
  97. Drive the East Side Highway between Hamilton and Florence.
  98. Cross-country ski or snowshoe along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
  99. Visit the University of Montana in Missoula—the state's oldest university.
  100. Explore the North ForkDrive up to Polebridge in the North Fork. Spend an hour or a day. (We'd suggest a day). And while you're there, pick up some huckleberry coconut macaroon cookies.
  101. Take in the golden colors of our fall foliage. Try a drive along the southern border of Glacier National Park, through the Seeley-Swan Valley and down the Bitterroot Valley.