Family travel in Montana
We took a long hiatus while I worked on my social media for tourism startup, but every week or so until we run out of states, I’ll be posting about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states plus the territories, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.
Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction website, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.
Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.
We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin, West Virginia, Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota, North Carolina, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Nevada, Nebraska and now we’re moving on to…Montana!
The state has a foothold on all the major social media channels: they’re on Twitter as @VisitMontana, they have a Montana tourism Facebook Page, a active Montana YouTube channel and a nice Flickr Group for Montana photos.
When I asked for Montana travel ideas, here’s what came in….
Twitter Travel Tips for Montana
*** From Lisa Bergren via @TheWorldCalls on Twitter – Bigfork is a picturesque, historic lake town with a kid-friendly Summer playhouse, condos on the bay, water sports. #Montana Also just posted a family-friendly hike in Glacier Park: https://theworldiscalling.com/2010/05/family-hike-to-grinnell-lake
*** From Heidi O’Brien via @IKnowHelena on Twitter – A great family event in Helena, Montana – Outdoor Fest. At the bottom of this page there are some good winter family activities in Helena.
*** From Terry Starbucker via @Starbucker on Twitter – Here’s one: Glacier National Park, Going to the Sun Road. Simply awesome. 2nd place, a boat ride on Flathead Lake… 🙂
*** From Pam Mandel via @NerdsEyeView on Twitter – Do you have the totally fab Red Bus Tour in Glacier National Park?
*** From Framework Meetings via @frameworkmtgs on Twitter – Lots of Montana fun for families at https://bit.ly/cvGAsn and https://bit.ly/9NLt1 (it’s on its own island!)
*** From Stacy via @happilylost on Twitter – Glacier National Park. Super family friendly and gorgeous!
**** From Jessica Downing via @jessdowning on Twitter – Check @skiwhitefish for alpine slides, zip lines & affordable lodging close to Glacier in MT!
*** From Marci Diehl via @writerdiehl on Twitter – We loved Whitefish, MT & their open air crafts market. The Walk In the Cedars at Glacier Nat’l Park was easy for our 3 yr old.
Facebook Travel Tips for Montana
*** From Lanora Mueller on Facebook – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in Anaconda, Montana, is a great place for families with kids. We stayed in a friend’s timeshare there when my daughter was about 11. The hot spring pools are open 24 hours for guests, and there’s a waterslide for a bit of extra excitement.
There are many nearby educational activities too. We did a tour of Butte, including the wonderful old homes of the copper barons, the Mineral Museum at Montana Tech, the World Museum of Mining, and the Berkeley Pit. On Main Street in Philipsburg, we panned for sapphires and watched taffy being made.
We also did a fair amount of hiking and fishing. It was a memorable family trip. I have a little article on Suite101 about the resort: https://montana-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/soak_your_cares_away_in_fairmont_hot_springs
*** From (Navy doctor and old friend of mine, now in Afghanistan) Tim Quast on Facebook – Sheila – never actually been here, but it’s on my list of places to visit. Renting a caboose on the periphery of Glacier National Park at the Izaak Walton Inn. https://www.izaakwaltoninn.com. One day, I’ll get there, either in summer or for cross country skiing in the winter.
Thanks so much for the contributions, everyone!
The BootsnAll Travel Network has some Montana travel articles as well.
The next state in the series is Missouri.
Send your Missouri highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)
My purpose for this series is not only to highlight worthy kid-friendly vacation destinations in all 50 states, but by using Twitter and Facebook I want to also encourage tourism organizations to learn more about connecting with their visitors using social media and online networks.
Please add your own Montana suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!