Explore Montana, the Treasure State
Hi friend,
Sam and I loved visiting Montana. The Treasure State is full of amazing scenic spots. After exploring Glacier National Park, the Big Sky area and the Berkeley Pit, Sam and I decided to go to another famous outdoor spot in Montana.
We went to Missouri River Country in the northeastern area of the state. A lot of the land is untouched and it includes all kinds of natural wonders. Sam and I rode our scooter down a rural country road and came to a berry patch. We pulled over to buy some huckleberries. (You’ll remember how much we love berries from our journal.) A girl named Rose was working at the berry stand with her older sister, Sylvia. They were so nice that we ended up having lunch with them under the blue Montana sky.
“Have you seen any white-tailed deer yet?” Rose asked. “They live here in the meadows.”
Sylvia told us that a lot of animals live in Missouri River Country. In addition to white-tailed deer, she told us to keep an eye out for mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk and turkey. Sam opened his bag and showed Sylvia and Rose pictures of the animals we had already seen on our trip. They were so excited to see the black bear and the gray wolf from the animal page in our journal.
While we were flipping through the photos, Rose looked up and smiled. “I have an idea!” she said. “You should visit the Lewis and Clark trails.”
Some of the trails that explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark forged in the 1800s can still be traveled in Missouri River Country. Sam and I were so excited to explore. We thanked the girls for the berries and hopped back on our scooter. It was so cool to drive down trails that these amazing explorers traveled so many years ago.
Keep exploring the Treasure State by scrolling through our favorites and the fry bread recipe below!
Your friends,
Sofia and Sam
Sam’s Favorites
City: Missoula
Missoula sits in a valley near three bodies of water: Rock Creek, the Blackfoot River and the Clark Fork River, which runs straight through the city. This makes Missoula a wonderful place to go for water adventures, especially trout fishing.
Ski Destination: Big Sky
The Big Sky Resort is Montana’s largest ski destination. My favorite part is its Lone Peak Tram, which transports skiers to the top of the mountain in the winter and hikers to the top of the mountain in the summer.
Animal: Trumpeter Swan
Montana has one of the biggest populations of trumpeter swans in the USA. The trumpeter swan is the biggest aquatic bird in North America, sometimes growing as large as five feet tall with a seven-foot wingspan!
Sofia’s Favorites
City: Bozeman
Bozeman is considered by many to be Montana’s entrance to Yellowstone National Park. It’s also full of museums, including the Museum of the Rockies and the American Computer Museum. Flip back to your journal to learn about the Computer Museum and try our calculator trick.
Ski Destination: Whitefish
Whitefish is a popular ski town. It is home to lots of local skiers and snowboarders who love to show off their moves on the snow. (Every year, Whitefish also hosts the World Indoor Golf Championship, a 9-hole miniature golf competition.)
Animal: Mountain Lion
Like many other animals in the Rocky Mountain region, the mountain lion is a skilled climber. It’s at home in Montana’s forests and mountainous terrain, often hiding from predators and prey in trees up to 15 feet in the air.
Blackfoot Nation Fry Bread Recipe
Montana is home to the Blackfoot Nation Native American tribe. The Blackfoot people are famous for their embroidery and beading techniques. Much of the jewelry and artwork they create represents friendship and unity.
Like other tribes, the Blackfoot are also known for their delicious fry bread. It’s a Native American dish often made at pow wows (American Indian celebrations) and can be eaten as a snack or part of a meal. Follow the recipe below to make your own Native American Fry Bread.
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tsp baking powder
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup water
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking powder.
- Add the milk and water, stirring the mixture with a fork as you pour.
- Continue stirring until you have a thick dough.
- Coat your hands with flour so the dough doesn?t stick, and knead the dough until it becomes soft.
- Place the dough back in the bowl, cover with a dish towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Fill a skillet with about 1 inch of oil and warm over medium-high heat.
- Separate the dough into six balls, each about the size of a small apple. Press each ball into a flat circle with your hands, so each is about a quarter inch thick.
- Carefully place one of the circles into the skillet. Fry for about a minute, then flip it over and fry for another minute, so both sides turn golden brown.
- Place on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Repeat with the rest of the dough.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Fry Bread Tacos:
Cover the fry bread with red beans and chili to create an Indian taco.
Sweet Treat:
Drizzle the fry bread with honey, then sprinkle powdered sugar on top for a sweet treat.