Visiting Montana (Billings, Bozeman, Miles City: rent, living, food)

[g_massie]

Hello,
I am planning a trip to montana in august of 2008 for two weeks. I plan to fish at a lodge for 3days or so then rent a car and drive the rest of my time stoping from place to place. I am wanting to find the best places to visit from the far west of montana to the far east southern portions. I will be arriving in Bozeman. What are the top things to do and where should I eat and stay?? My activities include wildlife,fishing,history,beauty,and relaxation..All replies I appreciate so much and thank you.

[A Neighbor]

Starting from Bozeman and going East you need to Raft the Gallatin, float/fish the Yellowstone starting in Livingston, go to Red Lodge and up the Beartooth Pass doing some hiking along the way (MT's Tallest peak is in the Beartooth's), think about going fishing in Yellowstone through a guide at Cook City so you can ride horses in the park, check out Downtown Billings including the Moss Mansion, Yellowstone Art Museum, have some of the best food in MT, go to Hardin and Ft. Smith to float/fish the Bighorn River (a blue ribbon trout fishery), check out Yellowtail Dam, fish the Bighorn lake, go to Crow Agency to learn about the Battle of the Little Big Horn and see Crow Fair (3rd week in August) then on to Miles City for more history and Glendive and Makoshika State Park and some of the Dinosaur stuff around there. If you want PM me and I can give you a few websites and names of some people that are great to do business with. There is so much history and beauty in this side of the state that people usually forget about because they are so taken by the beauty of the west side. Personally I don't blame them, the western side is beautiful, but the east side does have a lot to offer.