● MONTANA
Camping in Gallatin National Forest
Biking in Glacier National Park
Battle of Little
Bighorn,
also known as
Virginia City
Custer’s Last
Stand. Called
The Little
Bighorn Days festival, the
horses to roping cattle or just DOWN-HOME FUN event includes such frontier-
sitting and enjoying a lemonade on For guests who tire of life in the themed offerings as the 1876
the porch. Guests on these ranches saddle, Montana’s dude ranches Grand Ball and Trader’s Row,
can play cowboy to their heart’s provide a multitude of delightful where Native American food
content. diversions, from mountain biking and merchandise are on sale.
For a seriously exciting experience, and panning for gold to barn Billings, the state’s largest city, is
join ranchers on a high-country dances and barbecues set against less than an hour away for your trip
cattle drive as they escort cattle salmon-pink sunsets. back in time, but offers present-day
to pastures new. Every summer In Montana, the most popular amenities. brick buildings,
since the 19th century, cattle in and only professional sport just Be sure to stop in Red Lodge, including The Pollard, which
Montana have been moved from might be the rodeo. Don’t a picturesque town at the base claims Buffalo Bill Cody and
winter range to mountain pastures. leave the state without seeing of the “most beautiful road in Calamity Jane as one-time guests,
But even complete novices can America’s answer to Spain’s America,” the Beartooth line Main Street. Shops and historic
enjoy the landscapes and trails of bullfi ghters – brave folk who smile Highway featuring stunning markers today tell of a time gone
horse rides through Montana’s Rocky in the face of danger. There’s peaks, mountain lakes and top- by, such as when the Sundance Kid
Mountains. steer-roping (lassoing a cow), of-the-world feelings. In town, red robbed the Red Lodge Bank in view
bareback-riding (bucking broncos)
and steer-wrestling, where a
Downtown Bozeman
Western
cowboy hurls himself off a horse,
Adventure
then wrestles a steer to the
ground. But the real deal is saved
for the end: bull-riding, where
fearless cowboys try to stay on
From dude ranches and cattle huge, less-than-happy bulls. If
drives to county fairs and rodeos, they’re lucky, most riders remain
Montana is the place to embrace on for a few seconds before being
your inner cowboy. Take your tossed off. Their faces hit the dirt
pick from any number of working before they hobble back to their
and guest ranches, or enjoy such colleagues with, hopefully, little
popular annual traditions as more than their pride damaged.
Wolf Point’s annual Wild Horse
Stampede, a three-day event WILD, WILD WEST
featuring a world-class rodeo, As any good history teacher will tell
carnival, street you, Montana was at the forefront
dances and of America’s frontier history. This is
a wild Wild West Central, and there’s often
horse a palpable sense of history following
race. you around. In Hardin, a full-scale
re-enactment is held each June
around the anniversary of the famed
18 The Real America Guide 2010
RMI 2010 pp17-19 Montana.indd 18 16/10/09 12:24:29
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