Billings Area

Dive deep into Native American customs at Crow Fair (Teepee Capital of the World). 

Or run it - you never know, right? Makoshika State Park holds the fossil remains of dinosaurs, plus a paleontology lab. 

• Kempton Hotel, Terry. Built in 1902 and full of retro character - and some say ghosts. Famous guests include Teddy Roosevelt and Calamity Jane.
• Dude Rancher Lodge, Billings. Looks like an old frontier ranch house - knotty pine paneling, custom western furniture and carpets stamped with ranch brands.

Heft a world-champion burger at retro-vibe fave, The Burger Dive. Try not to drool over the mega cinnamon rolls (14 ounces) at Stella's Kitchen and Bakery. If the giant pretzel appetizer (large pizza size) at Montana Brewing Company doesn't win over the kids, the nachos and the mac 'n' cheese will. 

Attention, pioneer families: Billings not only rewards you with easy access to Yellowstone National Park (via the Beartooth Highway), but also gifts you the inspiring Rimrocks, Pompeys Pillar and paths to adventure that start right outside your hotel room. The city's proximity to unspoiled nature assures that your Big Sky Country experiences include down-to-earth folks, restful places to stay, memorable meals, refreshing beverages and big helpings of western heritage. Plus, you'll have opportunities to see native animals like grizzly bears, river otters and eastern gray wolves at ZooMontana, the only attraction of its kind in the Northern Rockies.