Discover Montana's History Between the Parks

HELENA, Mont., April 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Montana is truly the place for family fun. Making unforgettable memories comes easily under the Big Sky and the perfect way to explore this big state is by taking a road trip. Home to national parks, state parks, jaw-dropping scenery and amazing wildlife, Montana offers families endless opportunities for fun.

While there are endless epic road trips to take through the state, one drive that will ensure family fun, wildlife, history and beauty is the drive between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks along the western region of the state. The Ghost Town Route is a five-day, 460-mile-long itinerary that leaves from the west side of Glacier National Park and travels through scenic valleys and historic ghost towns before ending in West Yellowstone.

Start your journey by driving U.S. Highway 83 between the snow-capped peaks of the Mission and Swan mountains. You'll pass plentiful lakes and have a chance to cool down along the way at Holland and Seeley lakes, as well as Salmon Lake and Placid Lake state parks. After lunch in Seeley Lake, continue to Garnet Ghost Town and explore its 30 preserved buildings. Take a minute to picture this mountain town during its heyday when it was home to 50 mines and nearly 1,000 residents.

Next on your ghost town tour, visit the lively 1890s mining town of Philipsburg to mine for sapphires, fill up at one of the local restaurants and explore a Montana staple, The Sweet Palace. A candy emporium, The Sweet Palace is a must-visit for any family road trip through this part of Montana. End the day by playing in the indoor and outdoor hot spring pools—complete with a waterslide—at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in Anaconda.

Continue your trek south with a stop at three of Montana's most amazing ghost towns—Bannack State Park, Nevada City and Virginia City.

A registered landmark, Bannack was the site of Montana's first major gold discovery in 1862. Today, Bannack is a state park with more than 60 preserved structures. Explore this piece of Montana's history on a guided tour, try your hand at panning for gold or have kids participate in the park's junior ranger program.

Continue your journey through Western history with a full day in Nevada City and Virginia City. There are 150 National Historic Landmarks between the two of them, making Nevada City and Virginia City the best outdoor museums of Montana's past. Home to history reenactments and tours—as well as the Alder Gulch Short Line railroad connecting the two cities—these stops are best described as living ghost towns with charming lodging accommodations, restaurants and watering holes.

End your trip by taking U.S. Highway 287 south to West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park's west entrance.

Find more information on family-friendly summer itineraries, and start planning your trip to Glacier and Yellowstone national parks at WWW.VISITMT.COM.   

About The Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development (MOTBD)
MOTBD markets Montana's spectacular unspoiled nature, vibrant and charming small towns, breathtaking experiences, relaxing hospitality and competitive business climate to promote the state as a place to visit and do business. For more information, go to VISITMT.COM. 

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SOURCE Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development