Montana Activity Ideas, give feedback please!
*sigh* I'm putting off working on my freaking papers for school and must quit playing soon, but one more thread with fun stuff before I go....
Okay. Looks like we can plan three full days of activities, plus smaller activities on arrival and departure days for those doing the Thursday to Monday thing, depending on your departure/arrival schedules. This will focus on things we can do in the three full days.
1. A river float trip, half day. If you wanna do actual white water stuff, you can do it without me. I already know how cold these rivers are thankyouverymuch, and I have chronic whiplash that will be cranky if I do something as foolish as to flap around in a boat. However, there are some gorgeous scenic trips to be had. We could just rent rafts or inner tubes and go flop around in the water on our own. I'm clueless in the ways of the river, however, so would be a bit nervous leading my guests around on such an outing. The Madison River has whole stretches that are basically knee deep and harmless, though, so that IS an option. It would get damned crowded on a weekend.
Examples of possible guided river trips: http://www.montanawhitewater.com/pages/gallatin_trips.html#h alf_day_gally (Look at the scenic one.)
2. Tour Lewis and Clark Caverns. I posted about this on the other thread: It requires a certain degree of heart and lung health, especially since y'all are coming in from sea level. It's definitely an experience for a lifetime, but you need to be realistic about how well you can breathe. Do some reading up on how high altitude (a mile or more above sea level) can affect your health so you can make an informed decision on this one. Bring a light jacket and closed, stable walking shoes. No flip flops or sandals. Sneakers are fine. http://www.travel.state.mt.us/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRec ordID=3088&SiteID=1
3. Hot springs soak/swim. Would be great to combine with a caverns outing: Go early to caverns, then trail over to the hot springs (half-hour-plus drive through lovely country, little bit of shopping available) with food in tow (I can provide cooler space and we can get our own picnic supplies) and hang out at the hot springs. www.boulderhotsprings.com Dinner at yummy place for steak and partying somewhere within a hundred miles, be it Butte, Helena, Bozeman or one of the little places in the tiny towns in between.
4. Day trip to Virginia City/Nevada City: www.virginiacitymt.com Nice ride through the countryside with possible stops along the way. Living history exhibits, shopping, playing, fun. See either the Brewery Follies or the Virginia City Players while there (links on the site). Brewery Follies is parental guidance strongly suggested and trends toward the risque and politically satirical. VC Players is late 19th century melodrama and fun in an amazing tiny little playhouse that is worth the whole trip IMNSHO.
5. Tour Butte America, a place that kind of beggars description LOL. Read about it and see what you think: http://www.buttecvb.com/
http://www.mainstreetbutte.org/attract.htm
6. Trail out to Big Sky resort for the day. This is as much about the drive and seeing what's along the way as it is about the destination....Belgrade and Gallatin Gateway are two little communities along the way, and lots of scenery in between. http://www.bigskyresort.com/
7. If you're a Lewis and Clark fan, there's the Missouri Headwaters State Park and miscellaneous stuff right around Three Forks. http://www.lewisandclarktrail.com/section3/montanacities/sac agawealand/waters.htm
http://www.visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRR ecordID=3096
http://fwp.mt.gov/parks/visit/parkSiteDetail.html?id=281910
There are many other interesting things to see in that area--historic homesteads, lots of geological nifty stuff, small town shopping and the like. http://www.threeforksmontana.com/
Other things to think about:
Do we want to "eat out" every meal or do some picnic type stuff? (We will have to carry water and snacks everywhere. You drive 50 miles to get anywhere in MT and the truck stops are few and far between compared to the rest of the civilized world.)
Do we want a proper party night at an actual location, say a brewery or something, or shall we just bring our brewskis (or any other traveling bar supplies) with us to most events? (BTW did I mention it's lovely we'll have some designated drivers? LOL) If we do a proper party night, should this be a dancing occasion? Indoors? Outdoors? (Note to Dustin: Most of the places out there that involve this kind of party are places where one can safely bring youngsters. If y'all are going to be in on that event, I'll pick the place accordingly.)
In the other thread, I mentioned a trail ride as a possible option. That is still on the table, but I have ascertained that it's a pretty freaking expensive source of entertainment. Here's an example: http://www.ironwheel.com/TrailRides.htm I dunno if the two-hour ride would really be all that marvelous, but take a look and see what you think. Maybe some folks would like to do that and others notsomuch. That's no problem, we can meet up later in the day or something.
Okay, I gotta go do homework. Do some Googling of Madison, Jefferson and Gallatin counties in MT and see if you see activities or locations that interest you and let me know.
Okay. Looks like we can plan three full days of activities, plus smaller activities on arrival and departure days for those doing the Thursday to Monday thing, depending on your departure/arrival schedules. This will focus on things we can do in the three full days.
1. A river float trip, half day. If you wanna do actual white water stuff, you can do it without me. I already know how cold these rivers are thankyouverymuch, and I have chronic whiplash that will be cranky if I do something as foolish as to flap around in a boat. However, there are some gorgeous scenic trips to be had. We could just rent rafts or inner tubes and go flop around in the water on our own. I'm clueless in the ways of the river, however, so would be a bit nervous leading my guests around on such an outing. The Madison River has whole stretches that are basically knee deep and harmless, though, so that IS an option. It would get damned crowded on a weekend.
Examples of possible guided river trips: http://www.montanawhitewater.com/pages/gallatin_trips.html#h alf_day_gally (Look at the scenic one.)
2. Tour Lewis and Clark Caverns. I posted about this on the other thread: It requires a certain degree of heart and lung health, especially since y'all are coming in from sea level. It's definitely an experience for a lifetime, but you need to be realistic about how well you can breathe. Do some reading up on how high altitude (a mile or more above sea level) can affect your health so you can make an informed decision on this one. Bring a light jacket and closed, stable walking shoes. No flip flops or sandals. Sneakers are fine. http://www.travel.state.mt.us/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRec ordID=3088&SiteID=1
3. Hot springs soak/swim. Would be great to combine with a caverns outing: Go early to caverns, then trail over to the hot springs (half-hour-plus drive through lovely country, little bit of shopping available) with food in tow (I can provide cooler space and we can get our own picnic supplies) and hang out at the hot springs. www.boulderhotsprings.com Dinner at yummy place for steak and partying somewhere within a hundred miles, be it Butte, Helena, Bozeman or one of the little places in the tiny towns in between.
4. Day trip to Virginia City/Nevada City: www.virginiacitymt.com Nice ride through the countryside with possible stops along the way. Living history exhibits, shopping, playing, fun. See either the Brewery Follies or the Virginia City Players while there (links on the site). Brewery Follies is parental guidance strongly suggested and trends toward the risque and politically satirical. VC Players is late 19th century melodrama and fun in an amazing tiny little playhouse that is worth the whole trip IMNSHO.
5. Tour Butte America, a place that kind of beggars description LOL. Read about it and see what you think: http://www.buttecvb.com/
http://www.mainstreetbutte.org/attract.htm
6. Trail out to Big Sky resort for the day. This is as much about the drive and seeing what's along the way as it is about the destination....Belgrade and Gallatin Gateway are two little communities along the way, and lots of scenery in between. http://www.bigskyresort.com/
7. If you're a Lewis and Clark fan, there's the Missouri Headwaters State Park and miscellaneous stuff right around Three Forks. http://www.lewisandclarktrail.com/section3/montanacities/sac agawealand/waters.htm
http://www.visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRR ecordID=3096
http://fwp.mt.gov/parks/visit/parkSiteDetail.html?id=281910
There are many other interesting things to see in that area--historic homesteads, lots of geological nifty stuff, small town shopping and the like. http://www.threeforksmontana.com/
Other things to think about:
Do we want to "eat out" every meal or do some picnic type stuff? (We will have to carry water and snacks everywhere. You drive 50 miles to get anywhere in MT and the truck stops are few and far between compared to the rest of the civilized world.)
Do we want a proper party night at an actual location, say a brewery or something, or shall we just bring our brewskis (or any other traveling bar supplies) with us to most events? (BTW did I mention it's lovely we'll have some designated drivers? LOL) If we do a proper party night, should this be a dancing occasion? Indoors? Outdoors? (Note to Dustin: Most of the places out there that involve this kind of party are places where one can safely bring youngsters. If y'all are going to be in on that event, I'll pick the place accordingly.)
In the other thread, I mentioned a trail ride as a possible option. That is still on the table, but I have ascertained that it's a pretty freaking expensive source of entertainment. Here's an example: http://www.ironwheel.com/TrailRides.htm I dunno if the two-hour ride would really be all that marvelous, but take a look and see what you think. Maybe some folks would like to do that and others notsomuch. That's no problem, we can meet up later in the day or something.
Okay, I gotta go do homework. Do some Googling of Madison, Jefferson and Gallatin counties in MT and see if you see activities or locations that interest you and let me know.
I really am coming to appreciate all the work you are putting in on this for us. Thank you so much.
My initial thoughts:
I would like to do either the 1/2 day scenic or the 1/2 day upper whitewater. I don't think I can do the rough water one.
I guess I would have to pass on the caverns as I would probably have to have someone call 911.
The spa sounds great of course.
I would love to do the 2 hour trail ride if anyone else wants to do it too.
I vote for restaurants whenver possible and keep the picnics to when they are necessary.
I'll be happy to be a designated driver but I hope the party spots have good food as well as good drinks.
Looking forward to what others say.
My initial thoughts:
I would like to do either the 1/2 day scenic or the 1/2 day upper whitewater. I don't think I can do the rough water one.
I guess I would have to pass on the caverns as I would probably have to have someone call 911.
The spa sounds great of course.
I would love to do the 2 hour trail ride if anyone else wants to do it too.
I vote for restaurants whenver possible and keep the picnics to when they are necessary.
I'll be happy to be a designated driver but I hope the party spots have good food as well as good drinks.
Looking forward to what others say.
Hi all, I think that I'll be going w/ one of my buddies- Bonnie. I would love to hike the caverns, do a lazy river ride and of course eat excellent food along the way. I will also be a driver as I'm not a drinker. I really like the idea of being along for the ride as I need to just BE for awhile.
I'll keep reading and I'm so excitted.
Darma
I'll keep reading and I'm so excitted.
Darma
Thank you for putting all of this together, Elizabeth!
I would prefer to do restaurants most of the time. Picnics just for those long rides.
LOVE the idea of the river float trip!!! I'm guessing there has to be a place that rents tubes and then picks you up at the end of the "ride." I will look too so you can do more homework. :) One suggestion for anyone who hasn't done this before--where a 3/4 sleeve shirt or your upper arms will get raw from rubbing against the rubber. Would def. prefer this over white water rafting.
I would like to go to the Caverns and I think going soaking/swimming in the hot springs on the same day is a great idea. Even if there is a few of us who want to go to the caverns, we can always meet up with the rest later in the day at the hot springs.
Virgina City sounds great! Brewery Follies sounds like a lot of fun! Butte also sounds good to explore around.
I am pretty easy to please--especially if you feed me. I like museums, house tours, etc but most of all I'm looking forward to the countryside of Montana and the natural beauty.
I'm happy to be a designated driver. Thanks again! This will be a great trip!
I would prefer to do restaurants most of the time. Picnics just for those long rides.
LOVE the idea of the river float trip!!! I'm guessing there has to be a place that rents tubes and then picks you up at the end of the "ride." I will look too so you can do more homework. :) One suggestion for anyone who hasn't done this before--where a 3/4 sleeve shirt or your upper arms will get raw from rubbing against the rubber. Would def. prefer this over white water rafting.
I would like to go to the Caverns and I think going soaking/swimming in the hot springs on the same day is a great idea. Even if there is a few of us who want to go to the caverns, we can always meet up with the rest later in the day at the hot springs.
Virgina City sounds great! Brewery Follies sounds like a lot of fun! Butte also sounds good to explore around.
I am pretty easy to please--especially if you feed me. I like museums, house tours, etc but most of all I'm looking forward to the countryside of Montana and the natural beauty.
I'm happy to be a designated driver. Thanks again! This will be a great trip!
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