We may joke about sending people home as soon as they arrive in Montana, but the truth is, we welcome visitors… especially when they’re our family and friends. But if you’re planning a visit anytime soon, there are a few things you should probably know. These Montana travel hacks will make your trip to the Treasure State much easier.
1. Sticking to the tourist towns
Missoula, Whitefish, Bozeman... our tourist cities are beautiful places. But we highly encourage visitors to go off the beaten path and explore some of our charming small towns, like Hamilton, pictured here.
2. Treating the wildlife like pets
If you've ever seen those photos of Montana tourists trying to take selfies with wild animals, you know exactly what we're talking about. Steer clear of our wildlife for your own safety.
3. Not bringing appropriate clothing
Newsflash: It gets very cold in Montana, sometimes even in the summer. Prepare yourself, or suffer.
4. Not realizing the danger of our parks and wilderness areas
Over the summer, a 26-year-old man made headlines when he plunged to his death while taking pictures at Glacier National Park. The man was a Montanan, but the tragedy serves as a warning to out-of-state tourists to be very careful.
5. Stereotyping the locals
Take some time to get to know the people of Montana. Not everyone is a cowboy or cowgirl (although you'll find plenty, and they're wonderful). You'll meet people from all walks of life with all kinds of hobbies, interests, backgrounds and preferences.
6. Sticking to national chain restaurants
Our best food is found in our small mom and pop restaurants, or even our Montana-born local chains, like Mackenzie River Pizza. This is the Land of Magic Dinner Club in Logan, and it's amazing.
7. Misbehaving at Yellowstone National Park
We realize this is mostly Wyoming's issue, but bad behavior at Yellowstone reached new levels last year. Please stop.
8. Not carrying an old-fashioned map with you
If you plan to explore the state in your car, you'll realize you don't have any service in our more remote areas. Grab a road map just in case or you could get seriously lost.
9. Trying to see too much in too little time
Our state is massive, and there's no way you'll see everything in one trip. Many of us have lived here our entire lives and we haven't experienced it all. Stick to a few beautiful places, and then start planning your next trip when you get home.
10. Telling Montanans how much better your home is
This rarely happens. Most tourists marvel at the beauty of Montana. But occasionally someone will feel the need to compare the Treasure State unfavorably to wherever they're from, and that's when we'll be inclined to say, "Welcome to Montana. Now go home."
We hope our visitors have a wonderful time exploring our state. There’s a reason many of us who leave Montana end up coming home .
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