Montana
7 Incredible Vacation Spots In Montana
Montana is known for its Rocky Mountains. Places such as Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park attract millions of tourists every year. It’s no wonder people gravitate towards these areas for vacation destinations. The parks are full of surreal beauty to explore. While often overlooked, Montana’s small towns are another great vacation spot. Towns such as Red Lodge are even a gateway to the beloved National Parks. Other towns, such as Butte, offer a deep dive into Montana’s history and tell visitors the story behind the mountain state. Explore seven incredible vacation spots in Montana.
Whitefish
One of the most charming mountain towns, Whitefish is the best vacation spot for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. The town has opportunities for hiking, biking, skiing, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Another side to Whitefish is that it is a romantic resort town. Wander downtown to see this side of Whitefish. There are several shops and cute cafes. Check out Going to The Sun to see a quirky art gallery. In the summer and fall, check out the local farmer’s market. Visitors should try the famed huckleberries while they are in season here.
Looking to enjoy the mountains all day and night? Consider a stay at the Grouse Mountain Lodge, just 30 minutes from Glacier National Park. This is a great home base for adventures.
Ennis
Anyone looking to vacation to Montana for the mountains will enjoy Ennis. The town is surrounded by three mountain ranges the Madison Range, the Gravelly Range, and the Tobacco Root Mountains. The picturesque Madison River is also nearby and is a popular fishing spot. A unique attraction in Ennis is outdoor art. There is a tour available for visitors where a guide will take guests to the outdoor art exhibits, which showcase the beautiful cowboy town’s history.
Learn more about Ennis’s history at the Madison Valley Historical Society Museum. The museum has a working blacksmith shop from Ennis’s Gold Rush days. For a relaxing vacation and overnight stay in Ennis, check out Lure Me Inn, which is right in town.
Virginia City
Near Ennis, Virginia City is a small town born out of Montana’s Gold Rush days. The town has been restored and is a well-preserved time capsule of Montana’s old west. It has stood the test of time and is a live enactment of the 1860s. The town offers many opportunities to explore the Old West days. Almost a ghost town, Virginia City has buildings that date back to the area’s Territorial days. Every year in August, the town holds Virginia City’s Grand Victorian Ball for Peace. The ball dates back to the 1800s, and today, people dress up in period costumes for the affair.
The local Opera House hosts plays dedicated to the town’s history, in 19th-century production style. Visitors can enjoy dining like it’s the 1860s at the Star Bakery and grab a drink at the Bale of Hay Saloon. Virginia City’s first brewery is still open. H. S. Gilbert Brewery is a great place to relax, and they have a live performance by the Brewery Follies Players. To explore more of Montana, take the short line from Virginia City to Nevada City. The scenery on the ride is beautiful and worth the trip.
Red Lodge
Surrounded by the stunning Custer Gallatin National Forest, Red Lodge is a great place for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Often known as the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, this town is the perfect vacation spot for those looking to venture into the iconic park. Make sure to drive down the scenic Beartooth Highway on the way to Yellowstone.
Beyond Yellowstone, Red Lodge has adventures of its own. Explore the charming main street of downtown Red Lodge. The street is full of old-timey shops and cute eateries. Stop at the Candy Emporium to feel like a kid again. Exploring the outdoors in Red Lodge is a must. The town is home to several hiking trails with stunning views. Some of the best ones to try include Woodbine Falls Trail, Lake Fork Trails, Wild Bill Lake Loop, and West Fork Trails.
Dillon
A small town with a big personality, Dillon is a vacation spot for those looking to experience Montana’s southwest. Located in a gorgeous valley, Dillon is a combination of natural beauty and Southwestern culture. The valley Dillon sits in is where three rivers drain: Ruby, Big Hole, and Beaverhead River. Having so many rivers around, it’s no wonder Dillon is a favorite spot for fishing. Beaverhead River is a blue river trout stream and a popular fly fishing spot. There are also many hiking trails near Dillon. Agnes Lake Trail is a popular one with pretty views.
Exploring Dillon and the surrounding area, visitors might notice some ghost towns. There are a couple of ghost towns near Dillon. Coolidge was a silver mining town in 1919; the ruins of the town are still visible today. Bannack is a well-preserved ghost town near Dillon and was the first town in Montana to strike gold. After a day of exploring Dillon, visitors can unwind at the nearby and relaxing Jackson Hot Springs Lodge.
Polson
Are you looking for a quiet vacation in a lesser-known mountain town? Consider visiting Polson. Located on the Flathead Indian Reserve, the town is right in a natural amphitheater. The town has a rich culture and history, celebrating many events. The Cherry Festival in July is one of the region’s most popular festivals. It celebrates the region’s famous Flathead cherries. The festival has handcrafted goods, cherry-themed treats, and delicious food.
Enjoy walking around the town and stopping at the museums and galleries to learn more about Polson’s past, such as the Miracle of America Museum. Make sure to check out the Sandpiper Art Gallery to see the work of local artists. Stay at the Flathead Lake Inn to fully experience the town.
Butte
Considered the cornerstone of Montana’s Southwest, Butte is a town with a colorful history and a fantastic culture. Anyone looking to delve into history on their vacation should visit Butte. Take the local Trolley Tour to learn about the town’s past with a local history guide on a trolley. The trolley makes a special stop at Butte’s notorious Berkeley Pit. After learning a little about Butte’s history, visitors will be hungry to learn more. One of the best places to learn even more about Butte’s history is at the World’s Museum of Mining, which is right in town. Afterwards, check out the Copper King Mansion. The historic landmark shows the history of some of the mine owners.
After learning so much history, make sure to take time to enjoy Butte’s natural scenery. Butte is near Thomspon Park. Located in the heart of the Rockies, this park makes for a great afternoon trip. There are lots of trails to explore and great spots for a picnic. Visitors can end their time in Butte with a nostalgic night out at the local drive-in.
Why Visit These Towns
Anyone planning their next vacation should consider taking a trip to one of these towns. Each town has something for everyone. Butte is a town full of interesting local history that will entertain history buffs. Red Lodge and Ennis are towns with an old-time charm that gives visitors views of beautiful natural sites combined with quaint local charm. Whatever vacation spot you visit, the charm of Montana’s history and the Rocky Mountains will give visitors an unforgettable vacation. These towns are great to visit any time of year. So start packing your bags and get ready to enjoy the mountains in Montana.
Montana
Montana Supreme Court Decides International Child Custody Case – Transnational Litigation Blog
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act discourages forum shopping in child custody disputes by assigning subject-matter jurisdiction to the court located in the “home state” of the child. In Allen v. Allen, decided on April 21, 2026, the Montana Supreme Court had to determine whether the child’s “home state” was Montana or the Netherlands. This case shines an important spotlight on the importance of timing in international child custody disputes. The left-behind parent’s likelihood of success is strongly correlated with how quickly he or she acts to vindicate their legal rights.
Facts
Jonathan Edward Allen (Father) and Petronella Gerline (Van Oosterom) Allen (Mother) were married in Colorado in 2009. Father is a United States citizen. Mother is a dual citizen of the United States and the Netherlands. Their child (R.A.A.) was born in 2015. In 2020, the family moved from Colorado to Montana.
In August 2023, after Father and Mother began having marital difficulties, Mother and R.A.A. relocated to the Netherlands. In February 2024, Mother filed a petition for divorce and custody with the District Court of Central Netherlands (Netherlands District Court).
In January 2025, Father filed a petition with the District Court of The Hague seeking the return of R.A.A. pursuant to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This petition was denied. Although the court held that R.A.A. had been wrongfully removed from the United States, the court reasoned that the one-year automatic return period had passed and that R.A.A. had become settled in her new environment in the Netherlands. This decision was affirmed on appeal.
In September 2025, Father filed an Emergency Motion for Temporary Custody and Petition for Permanent Parenting Plan in Montana state court. That court dismissed the petition on the grounds that it lacked subject-matter jurisdiction. Specifically, it held that it lacked the power to adjudicate the dispute because Montana was no longer the “home state” of R.A.A. Father, acting pro se, appealed to the Montana Supreme Court.
Analysis
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) assigns exclusive subject-matter jurisdiction to courts located in the child’s “home state” when it comes to matters relating to child custody. The “home state” is “the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as parent for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding.” The UCCJEA specifically provides that courts “shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States” for purposes of resolving these disputes.
On the facts presented in Allen v. Allen, the Montana Supreme Court correctly held that it lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to consider Father’s emergency motion. Mother and R.A.A. relocated to the Netherlands in August 2023. Six months later—in February 2024—R.A.A.’s home state shifted to the Netherlands. The Dutch courts—rather than the Montana courts—now had exclusive subject-matter jurisdiction to resolve custody disputes involving R.A.A. Father did not file his motion in Montana until September 2025, which was nineteen months too late.
Conclusion
If Father had filed his suit in Montana before February 2024, he could have shown that Montana was R.A.A.’s “home state” because the child had not yet resided in the Netherlands for six months. The suit was, however, not filed until September 2025.
If Father had filed suit in the Netherlands before August 2024, he could have argued that R.A.A. should be returned to the United States pursuant to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction because the child had not yet resided in the Netherlands for a year. The suit was, however, not filed until January 2025.
The key takeaway of Allen v. Allen is the need for speed in international child custody cases. The timelines baked into the relevant laws and treaties mandate that the left-behind parent move quickly to assert their rights. If they are slow off the mark, they be forced to litigate in foreign courts under less favorable legal rules.
MISSOULA, Mont. — The Clark Fork River has long been a defining feature of Missoula, shaping the city’s culture, economy and outdoor lifestyle.
The river is so closely tied to the area that it helped inspire the well-known book and film “A River Runs Through It.” But local conservation advocates say its importance goes far beyond scenery.
“Without the Clark Fork River, Missoula would just be another town,” said Lisa Ronald, Northern Rockies associate conservation director for American Rivers. “We wouldn’t be the River City. I think we’re known in Montana as Missoula the River City, and it’s really because of the Clark Fork River and its central role in business, in economics, in recreation, that really makes Missoula the town that it is.”
Carmen Murill, a field organizer with Wild Montana, said the river is deeply woven into daily life for people who live in Missoula.
“A lot of us would wonder what to do on a beautiful or a rainy summer day,” Murill said. “I mean, it’s really a lifeforce of town. And I think it’s pretty unique that Missoula, as a community is living and breathing on both sides of the river. It’s really like two downtowns but connected by the Clark Fork.”
Conservation groups say protecting the river begins with community involvement.
Advocates encourage residents and visitors to spend time outdoors, whether on a trail, in the woods or along the river, and to learn how they can become better stewards of the environment.
MISSOULA — Sam Forstag edged out Ryan Busse to secure the Democratic nomination in Montana’s 1st Congressional District.
Busse conceded the race to Forstag on Wednesday morning. Forstag had trailed behind Busse Tuesday evening, but he made up ground as the votes were counted into the early hours of Wednesday morning. The other two candidates in the race, Russl Cleveland and Matt Rains, are sitting at third and fourth, respectively.
Forstag leads in close race for Montana’s 1st Congressional District
Forstag spent eight years as a wildland firefighter, including four as a smokejumper, and he’s been vice president of the local National Federation of Federal Employees union. Last week, U.S. House of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, held a rally in Missoula to support Forstag’s campaign.
He told MTN on Tuesday that his campaign has been for the working class.
“We got a whole lot of people here that have been working their tail off to finally get some working-class representation in Washington,” Forstag noted. “So proud of everything we’ve done and so grateful.”
Forstag further noted he wants Montanans to be able to afford groceries, have universal free childcare and restore and expand Affordable Health Care Act subsidies.
“Hearing people’s stories and struggles and commonalities in the ways that we’re all fighting in the system that does not serve us so often, and the government serves corporations and the richest people in this country more than working people. It has been frustrating and saddening, but it has also inspired so much hope in me, like the fixes we can actually make,” he told MTN.
The 1st Congressional District covers much of western Montana, including Kalispell, Missoula, Butte and Bozeman. It is currently held by Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, who chose not to seek reelection.
By securing the nomination, Forstag is slated tol face off against Libertarian candidate Nick Sheedy and Republican candidate Aaron Flint in November.
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