Welcome to Montana

You don’t find many places like Montana nowadays. Steeped in mining history, replete with untamed natural wonders and dotted with tiny Western towns, the Treasure State takes you back to much simpler times. Amid its rugged peaks and sprawling plains, you’ll encounter scores of locals eager to show you their way of life through warm hospitality, vibrant cultural communities and the bucket-list outdoor destinations.

State Flower: Bitterroot. Getty Images

Towns With Charm

A great place to start your adventure is in the state’s southern region. Billings calls itself “Montana’s Trailhead” for its many adventure possibilities, and history buffs can learn about the region’s people at the Western Heritage Center. Beer connoisseurs will want to sip pints along the 1.5-mile brewery district. Just a stone’s throw away is the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, where Lakota warriors led by Crazy Horse defeated Gen. George Custer’s cavalry in a notorious 1876 battle.

Beautiful Bozeman

To the west, Bozeman may be remote, but it doesn’t feel that way, thanks to its modern museums and thriving culinary scene. Visit the Museum of the Rockies to see the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus rex skull, unwind at the Bozeman Hot Springs, or discover 10 unique historic districts and 46 individually listed properties on the National Register of Historic Places.

As Wild as it Gets

Glacier National Park near the Canadian border boasts one of the most pristine ecosystems on Earth. More than 700 miles of hiking and biking trails bring you past striking peaks, glacier-carved valleys and surging waterfalls. Take a tour along the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road and you may even catch a glimpse of grizzly bears, moose and bighorn sheep.

Donnie Sexton