The Outdoors

You have to pay to play in Montana. Play outdoors, that is. The toys, the gear, the vehicles, the activities, the permits, and everything else you might need to pursue Montana's outdoor adventures can get VERY expensive.

There are mountains all over the place in Montana - we all know that. But even I was surprised to learn just how many distinct mountain ranges there are across the state, with even more 'sub' ranges. It's a pretty impressive number.

Having bears show up in Bozeman city limits is nothing new, but it's a bit surprising that it still happens as much as it does. Sprawling growth, more people, more subdivisions - you'd think there might be too much in between the center of town and the mountains. Well, they're still totally comfortable wandering into the center of town and here's proof.

Montana corn and bale mazes are some of the best in the country, and Bozeman is home to perhaps the finest in the state. The Bozeman straw bale maze is opening on a Friday night to celebrate the new season with tons of fun activities.

As far as beautiful, high-mountain lakes with almost crystal-clear water go, Montana and Wyoming give each other a run for their money. You'll find several good contenders in both states, but we thought we'd lead some folks OUT of Montana to this gem of a lake.

Finding new ways to entertain guests who visit us in Montana is getting harder - especially without spending a fortune. Hiking, biking, fishing, and camping are still great options, but sometimes you want something a little more unique and unusual. The 'experiences' section on Airbnb is a good start to find these cool things to do.

This is a head shaker, especially with how many helpful resources there are about living in Montana. So many people insist on holding onto false expectations, incorrect data, and far outdated imagery about what life is really like in Montana. It has always been hard to live here, but there's another set of challenges now.

Meeting new people in the Bozeman area can be hard, especially if you're not in college and going to parties. However, there are lots of events around the valley this weekend that are great opportunities to meet new friends. Practice that smile of yours and check out your options.

If you're into RV life, van life, or camping amongst others, Montana has many excellent RV Parks to choose from. They're vastly different and offer an array of amenities from outdoor pools, playgrounds, seclusion, or creeks that run right through the property.

Before everyone heads back to school and regular schedules, have some fun Bozeman style with friends and family at any of these great free or cheap events this week. They're all family friendly, but kids not required. LOL.

Very dry conditions, gusty winds up to 40 MPH, and the chance of lightning storms have created dangerous fire conditions across all of western Montana on Friday. Any wildfires that start today will be difficult to contain, so Red Flag Warnings have been issued across the western counties.

It's mid-day on one of the warmest days of the year, and I've driven by no fewer that half a dozen homes with their sprinklers on. It's not illegal to water your lawn, but their are rules and there is common sense - both of which are being ignored too often around Bozeman.