The 15 Best Things to do in Montana for Families
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The Best Things to do in Montana for FamiliesMontana embodies the spirit of the western U.S. It is a wild, beautiful state founded on opportunity and hope, and those foundations have lasted throughout the decades.
Montana is America’s fourth largest state and known for its beautiful mountains, National Parks, wildlife, and outdoor adventure. But there is also a lot of history and culture to be found in this amazing state.
There are so many things to do in Montana, it would take you more than a lifetime to do them all! For everyone planning Montana vacations, it can be a little overwhelming trying to decide where to go and what to do. I wanted to help narrow it down by focusing on the best places to visit in Montana that will give you a taste of Big Sky Country!
Interesting Montana Facts
But first, some fun facts about Montana before you visit this great state!
- Montana is the 44th most populous state, but the 4th largest!
- The population density of Montana is 6 people per square mile.
- Montana has a huge grizzly bear population though with over 1800 grizzly bears estimated
- Montana is nicknamed “Big Sky Country” but it is also called “The Treasure State”
- Montana’s state motto is “oro y plata” which means gold and silver in Spanish. This comes from Montana’s rich mining history.
- Montana was originally named “Montaña” in Spanish by some of the first European settlers. It means mountain.
- Montana is the 41st state to join the United States.
- There are more cattle than humans in Montana
- In 1888 there were more millionaires per capita in Helena, the capital city of Montana, than any other city in the world! This is evident when you look at the houses in Helena today.
- Montana has the largest variety of mammals in the United States!
- Montana is home to over 8,000 Moose!
No trips to Montana should be taken without doing these fifteen things!
1. Visit Montana National Parks
The best Montana tourist attractions are undoubtedly its stunning National Parks! Montana is home to two major National Parks: Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. These parks are definitely a must see in Montana, but did you know there are actually nine National Park service areas in the state?
Here is a list of all the Montana National Parks Areas:
- Glacier National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
- Nez Perce National Historical Park
- Big Hole National Battlefield
- Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
- Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Families who visit Montana and are looking for an all-inclusive stay offering activities and cultural opportunities will love staying at a dude ranch. These are all over Montana and offer experiences like horseback riding, hiking, campfire activities, nature walks, birding, petting zoos, mountain biking, river rafting, swimming, games, hayrides, western dancing, cookouts, sports, fishing, canoeing, rock climbing, skeet shooting, archery, art classes, cooking classes, and more! The possibilities really are endless depending on which dude ranch you decide to stay at.
Some of these dude ranches are just incredible too and even nicer than some Montana resorts you’ll stay in. Here are some of the most popular ranches in Montana:
Lone Mountain Ranch
Bar W Guest Ranch
Parade Rest Ranch
If you really want to go camping in Montana without all the fuss of prepping to go camping, there are many glamping options as well! You can visit the spectacular Glacier National Park and stay at Under Canvas Glacier where you can enjoy the rustic tents and experience the surrounding nature with the amenities of a hotel! Or you can visit Bar W Guest Ranch which will give you a great combination of dude ranch and glamping. Learn about how to prepare for a glamping trip.
Montana mountains are sure to impress! Montana has some of the best hiking in the country. You can practically pull off anywhere and hike.
Here are some of the best kid-friendly hikes in Montana: Avalanche Lake, Lava Lake, Hidden Lake Trail, St. Mary and Virginia Falls, and Drinking Horse Mountain.
Spend time fishing in Montana lakes and rivers, where you’ll find some of the best fishing in the world and one of the top 10 things to do in Montana! There is a sign in the town of Ennis that says “Ennis, 840 people, 11,000,000 Trout.” They are not kidding. The fishing is fantastic and angler shops abound throughout the state. Kids under 12 do not need a Montana fishing license in the state of Montana. Be sure to check fishing regulations from Montana Fish and Game. You can read about our Montana fishing story here.
Montana is classic horseback riding country. Be sure to take advantage of the abundance of companies offering trail rides through this gorgeous big sky country. You can find horseback riding opportunities at one of Montana’s many dude ranches or book a trail ride here.
The adorable Virginia City Ghost Town.
Since the state was settled by pioneers, gold miners, and railroad builders, there are ghost towns all over Montana. Some of the most popular ghost towns in Montana are Bannack State Historic Park, Virginia City, and Nevada City.
Visiting ghost towns is a great opportunity for the whole family to learn some Montana state history. These little towns stand as living museums of history. You can learn about life in the 1800s before Montana was a state. At Bannack you can even see the inside of an old schoolhouse and imagine what it must have been like to be a kid back then. It’s a truly immersive experience that the whole family will love.
8. Go for a Boat Ride
Montana has some fantastic bodies of water including lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. The Missouri River crosses the entire state from Canada all the way down to the border.
Just outside of the capital, Helena, you can take a boat tour in the “Gates of the Mountains.” This is the only stretch of the Lewis and Clark trail that is exactly how it looked when they passed through centuries ago and its one of the most beautiful places to see in Montana.
You can see Native American Cave paintings, mountain goats and bald eagles. The high cliff faces appear to open and close like gates as you move across the water.
Take some binoculars and see if you can spot the bald eagles that live in the rocks above. The boat tour is several hours long, but completely shaded, and so much fun. Pack a lunch to bring with you.
9. Take a Dip in the Many Hot Springs of Montana
Norris Hot Springs Montana
Montana is covered in hidden hot springs. Grab your swimsuit and towel, and relax in a natural hot spring after a long day of hiking, fishing or horseback riding. Some popular hot springs in Montana are Norris Hot Springs, Chico Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs, Quinns Hot Springs, and Lolo Hot Springs. Hanging out at these hot springs is one of the most fun things to do in Montana with kids in the summer!
10. Explore Helena, the capital of Montana
Take the “Last Chance” train tour through Montana’s Capital city of Helena to learn about Montana’s rich gold rush history.
Although not the largest city in Montana, the capital, Helena is a beautiful city to explore with a fun and interesting history. It almost wasn’t the capital.
Decades ago a vote was held in the state of Montana to decide on the capital. The choices were between Helena and a town called Anaconda. Helena won by the skin of its teeth, but over 100 years later a house was renovated and inside the wall were found hundreds of ballots with “Anaconda” written on them.
Helena was a hub of commerce back in the gold mining era and you can see the mansions of the wealthy miners throughout the historic part of the city. Kids will love taking the Last Chance Train Tour of Helena.
Helena is full of cute shops, restaurants, hotels, and museums that are great for families. It’s a great little hub of Montana tourism.
11. Visit Kid-Friendly Museums
Visit the Spirit Buffalo at the Museum of Montana in Helena
Montana is full of kid-friendly museums that little ones can explore and learn from. Some popular ones are Museum of the Rockies, Blaine County Wildlife Museum, The Depot Museum, The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Montana Historical Society. Exploring museums is one of the best things to do in Montana with kids if you’re looking for educational experiences.
12. Go Spelunking in Montana’s Caves
Experience pure darkness at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
There are many caves to explore in the mountains of Montana. Some of the most popular are Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park and Pictograph Caves State Park.
Kids will love exploring the ancient caves, learning about cave geology, and experiencing what true darkness really looks like! These caves are one of the most impressive things to see in Montana and are also a nice break from the hot summer sun! These caves are one of my favorite places to visit in Montana.
13. Follow the Dinosaur Trail
* This article was originally published here
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