The Ultimate And Definitive Bucket List For Everyone In Montana
By Jessica Wick|Updated on December 02, 2023(Originally published November 01, 2016)
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Jessica Wick
Author
Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
Want to experience the best Montana has to offer? It will likely take an entire lifetime to do that. There’s so much to do and see in the Treasure State, especially when you take different hobbies and tastes into consideration. But if you manage to do this wonderful list of things, you can feel pretty good about your Montana bucket list. So come along as we show you what we think is some of the best of the best!
It's hard to believe any Montanan could reach adulthood without visiting Glacier National Park, but it happens. This is one place you'll want to prioritize.
We may share most of Yellowstone National Park with Wyoming, but it's definitely part of a Montanan's rite of passage to see it. Besides, the entrance towns like Gardiner and West Yellowstone are really fun.
Almost every city and town in Montana celebrates the 4th in style, from parades (this one is from Livingston's) to fireworks displays. Montana has some totally cool small towns, afterall!
A lot of people visit Havre without ever knowing that an underground tour is available. But exploring Havre Beneath the Streets is a great way to learn about the area's history.
13. Visit Butte and learn about our mining history.
In Butte you can visit the World Museum of Mining, check out the Dumas Brothel Museum, and have a meal at the Pekin Noodle Parlor, Montana's oldest restaurant.
Bonus points if you have a huckleberry bear claw! Note: Polebridge Mercantile is only open seasonally, so be sure to check the website for seasonal days and hours.
It is possible to see the Northern Lights in other parts of the world, of course, but can you think of a better place to enjoy them than Big Sky Country?
16. Have an ugly burger from Rod’s Drive Inn in Havre.
Rod's Drive In, 1827 5th Ave, Havre, MT 59501, USA
This celebration is the oldest traditional pow‑wow in Montana. Even if you're not Native American, it's nice to learn more about (and respect) the culture.
Whether that means pitching a tent under the stars or hooking up your RV at a campground, finding your ideal way to be close to nature will help you enjoy Montana even more.
20. Wander through the Daly Mansion in Hamilton
Daly Mansion, 251 Eastside Hwy, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
Every September, the good people of Hobson and Utica gather for "What the Hay," the Montana Bale Trail. The creativity that goes into each display is so impressive.
28. Head to Miles City for the Bucking Horse Sale in May.
If someone where to ask “What are the best things to put on a Montana bucket list,” you’d definitely know what to tell them!
This list is a small fraction of all the beautiful experiences you can have in Montana, but it’s definitely a great start. Here’s some more information on Havre Beneath the Streets and Montana’s oldest restaurant.
How many of these things have you done? What do you think are some of the best things to do in Montana? What are your favorite natural wonders in Montana? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below!
If you’d like to explore hikes around any of these destinations you can find some great trails by going to the overall AllTrails website.
If you’re still in the mood for more Montana adventures, take a look at this video:
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More to Explore
More To Love About Montana
Lysa Allman-Baldwin|December 01, 2023
Where can we find animal adventures in Montana?
The Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge provides a permanent home for wildlife deemed unreleasable due to numerous factors.
Big Sky Safaris, which travels the state, offers animal adventures like horseback riding, bird watching, and wildlife viewing.
ZooMontana in Billings is a zoological park, botanical garden, and arboretum rolled into one.
The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area has several campgrounds ranging from easily accessible to primitive including some only accessible by boat or by hiking in.
Glacier National Park has over a dozen different campgrounds totaling over 1,000 sites in all.
Makoshika State Park offers well over a dozen campsites perfect for RVs or tent camping.
Read on to learn more about some of the many other great places to go camping in Montana.
Where can we find ghost towns in Montana?
Garnet is Montana’s best preserved ghost town and visitors will find several remnants of this former mining town.
The Granite Ghost Town State Park in Philipsburg is the home of an old mining camp from around 1872 that was once the world’s richest silver mine.
Virginia City was the state of Montana’s original capital, and from here can embark upon a train ride to nearby Nevada City, which is also an abandoned ghost town.
