Turning 50 in Montana
 

My friend and I (females) are both turning 50 this year, and considering going to Montana in April, probably for like 5 days. We would like to climb a mountain (a small one!), eat great food and drink fine wine, hear good music, see some animals, pehaps saddle up. Montana has silly significance for us. One sunset along the St. Charles river behind the Jackson Hole brewery in New Orleans - a long time ago - we went turn for turn naming the states. Well - we forgot to name Montana, and said that one day we would have to go there. I said it was silly. Anyway, we are both coming from the East coast - me from NY, she from DC. We are easily bored, and need to have options wherever we go. We really know nothing about Montana, so don't have an idea of where to go or what to do - Billings, Boseman, Butte - no clue. Any and all comments, ideas, suggestions and suggested itinerarys would be most welcome. Thank you so much in advance for your help and kind responses!! Please also let us know if April may not be a good time to go there at all. Thanks again!

DW and I spent our 30th anniversary in Western Montana. We stayed at Meadow Lake Resort near Columbia Falls.
http://www.meadowlake.com/
Our favorite stop on the Empire Builder (Amtrak) is Whitefish.
The van from Meadow Lake picked us up from the station.
The car rental company brought us a car the next day.
There might be quite a bit of snow in April in Glacier NP.
There might also be a few beautiful meadows full of wildflowers.
If you decide to drive find the time to cut south to Wyoming to see Yellowstone National Park.

April is what mountain towns call "mud season" and you can still get snow storms. That said, how about Glacier National Park? I assume you will be renting a car?

Guaranteed that the Going to the Sun Road will not be opened in Glacier Park in April. Though we are having a mild winter, I'd wait till the last part of June to visit. Last year the road opened Mid July as we had a really tough winter.
Yellowstone and Glacier would be my choices visiting Montana. Come on out, but make it later than April!!!

ep,

April really won't be the best time of year to go. Late May/early June would be MUCH better.

I've visited Montana a few times (live in Park City, UT), but when I go, I go for the National Parks and mountains.

I understand Billings and Bozeman are very nice towns. You might try googling them and seeing what outfitters/tour operators have available for the surrounds.

Personally, I LOVE the Paradise Valley which is just north of Yellowstone. It's the place to be if you like fly fishing, hiking, riding, rafting, and all the outdoor stuff. Absolutely beautiful. I like the area much more than Big Sky.

If you are more city people, try the first option of staying in one of the larger cities (large for MT) and doing day trips out.

Thanks tomfuller!

Mid-June for Yellowstone and Mid-July for Glacier would be the earliest for either that I would consider. Either would be a fantastic trip!!

If it must be April-Head to somewhere in the SW. Maybe like Moab. You won't get bored there.

You would enjoy Triple Creek Ranch near Darby. Fly to Missoula, MT and rent a car. You will have a lot of fun.

Triple Creek Ranch @ 5551 West Fork Road, Darby, MT 406 - 821 - 4600.
http://www.triplecreekranch.com/