Between Yellowstone and Glacier???

[cardtarget]

Any fun "non nature" things to do between these two? My family will have had around 8 days of nature... Hoping for some things to do in Bozeman or Helena that the kids (13,11,8) will enjoy. If nothing else, go to a mall and watch a movie. Thanks!

[HuckleberryHunt]

We just got back from a Yellowstone/Teton trip. The beginning of the trip was through that area. Although they're not exactly "non-nature", we really enjoyed the Lewis and Clark Cavern tour, the Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman), and sapphire mining at Gem Mountain. All kid friendly activities, but we did them at the beginning of the trip, so the kids were not yet burned out on the natural wonders. Another option might be a whitewater river rafting excursion. Plenty in the area to choose from (at least near Glacier).

[dedmiston]

I remember a hike where our youngest kid was pooping out and being a bummer for the rest of the family. Our middle daughter (semi-typical nagging big sister as a kid, but now the most loving sibling on the planet) told her brother, "Don't worry, bud. There's a lemonade stand at the top and you'll get something cool when we get there." Of course there wasn't a lemonade stand at the top and his world melted when we got there.

We've used the "lemonade stand" as a metaphor in our family for 15 years now.

[djsamuel]

Busskipper wrote:

ppine wrote:
Let me get this straight. You are traveling from NC to MT and want to know about "non-nature" things to do. You are on the wrong trip.

Think some of us have forgotten what it's like to be Young. :B

I'll relay one of my Granddaughter stories - Marron Bells - Aspen are Golden, Sun is shining, As close to a perfect hiking day as we have ever had (Understand that these are Young Girls) Hiked all day never complained, so at the end of the epic Day I asked -What did you enjoy Most - the Sun? - the Aspen? - the Hike? ............No none of those.......we had fun Skipping Rocks in the Stream.......

Sort of puts it all in perspective .......

Smart Mom or Dad, to Planing the kids Day, in the Middle of the Adult Vacation. Only comment I'd make is they might just need another, just before the long drive Home. - :h

Just another Man's Opinion,

My daughter would be the typical whining teenager on our trips to the National Parks, huffing and puffing on the hikes, complaining she was hot, etc. Now that she is 30, she dragged her husband out to delicate Arch to see it and is dying to return to more National Parks. She said her biggest regret growing up is complaining about the hikes in the parks. Giving a diversion helps, and in the end they will appreciate the entire trip, even if it takes a few years of reflection.

[RVcrazy]

I second Lewis & Clark Caverns. We took our kids twice in past years. It is just out of Butte. I would also go to the mining museum in Butte. Have fun!

[2gypsies1]

Fairmont has a hot springs pool.

Ennis - Nevada City/Virginia City Ghost Town

Big Sky - kids' activities on the ski mountain (no snow required)

Three Forks - Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park - nice camping, too

Glacier NP - west side has more activities

Hope the smoke will have cleared for you. Have a great ending to your long trip!

[dodge_guy]

I agree, sometimes on long trips you need a day of downtime. If that means a movie or water park/amusement park or something similar so be it.

Hope you have a great trip!

[Busskipper]

ppine wrote:
Let me get this straight. You are traveling from NC to MT and want to know about "non-nature" things to do. You are on the wrong trip.

Think some of us have forgotten what it's like to be Young. :B

I'll relay one of my Granddaughter stories - Marron Bells - Aspen are Golden, Sun is shining, As close to a perfect hiking day as we have ever had (Understand that these are Young Girls) Hiked all day never complained, so at the end of the epic Day I asked -What did you enjoy Most - the Sun? - the Aspen? - the Hike? ............No none of those.......we had fun Skipping Rocks in the Stream.......

Sort of puts it all in perspective .......

Smart Mom or Dad, to Planing the kids Day, in the Middle of the Adult Vacation. Only comment I'd make is they might just need another, just before the long drive Home. - :h

Just another Man's Opinion,

[ppine]

Let me get this straight. You are traveling from NC to MT and want to know about "non-nature" things to do. You are on the wrong trip.

[patperry2766]

West Glacier and up to Kalispell has more things from an entertainment point of view. Go karts, zip lines, etc. We just got back from 10 days on the east Glacier side (Two Medicine campground) with our 8 YO and there was enough to keep him entertained. Also helped that he had his Nintendo DS but wish we would have taken bicycles for everybody...but that's a different story.

[bobsallyh]

Just west of GNP on US 2 in Columbia Falls is a zip line and a water park. At Kalispell City Airport you can take flights over western Montana.

[cardtarget]

Tyler0215 wrote:
Go to a mall, see a movie. Can't you do that in NC?

Have you ever been on a four week trip with 3 kids? Sometimes you need a break from vacation....

[dodge_guy]

Not in between, but a trip up Big Mountain in Whitefish just north of Kalispell is a fun trip.

[CloudDriver]

World Museum of Mining in Butte.

[magnusfide]

From TripAdvisor.com
Attractions in Bozeman, MT

Attractions in Helena, MT