Russell Country Travel Blog

Wonderful Time for a Farmer's Market

Posted on:
September 23, 2009

Wow, I went to the Farmer's Market in downtown Great Falls tonight and decided that this is the time for garden produce at great prices and the best quality. Crookneck squash, basil, heirloom tomatoes and beets rounded out my purchases tonight. Just enough to get me through until the next market Saturday morning.

Throughout Russell Country, communities large and small host Farmer's Markets. Some expand to crafts, entertainment and luscious baked goods. Going to the market becomes a social event, fun and reasonable entertainment, friendly vendors to visit with and great produce.

Last weekend at the Great Falls Farmers Market I visited with Jacob and Courtney Cowgill from Conrad who own Prairie Heritage Farm.

They helped me with questions about preserving basil, talked about their organic farm methods, and gave me a flyer on their CSA (community supported agriculture) programs. OK, they also gave me a wonderful sample of homemade whole grain artisan bread, yum. This young couple is also raising pasture-raised heritage turkeys which can be delivered right before Thanksgiving along with some trimmings of winter squash, potatoes and onions. Their farm is a great concept and it was nice to see such young farmers with great ideas and endless enthusiasm for their products.

Treat yourself to our last few Farmers Markets in Russell Country.

Another Great Montana Motorcycle Ride

Posted on:
September 18, 2009

If you're a motorcycle person, there's always a quest for another route. We have some fun routes posted on our website but here's another one submitted by Great Falls biker Moe.

Leave Great Falls, MT on I-15 north and ride to Power, MT. Turn west on MT Hwy 431 which will take you in to the small community of Power. Ride to the T intersection and turn west towards Fairfield. Keep heading west through Fairfield, cross US Hwy 89 and ride until you get to US Hwy 287. Turn left and ride in to Augusta. Moe's suggested stop (I agree 100%) is at Mel's Diner for ice cream. One year I even noticed there was a competition between everyone who worked there to see who scooped the most scoops!

Once your belly is filled with yummy ice cream, continue south on 287 and you'll come to an intersection called Bowman's Corner. You are going to turn west here onto MT Hwy 200 and ride for about 10 miles. At the next intersection, turn southeast on MT Hwy 434 and ride in to Wolf Creek. Moe's suggestion here is to stop for gas and that's always a good idea! Then ride the Frontage road all the way to Ulm where you'll pick up I-15 and ride back into Great Falls. Moe's total mileage is 195 miles.

Here's a great testimonial - Moe says this route never fails to eliminate a bad day or, make a good day even greater. Once you take your first exit off the interstate, the asphalt just begs to be ridden. The Rocky Mountain Front just keeps getting bigger and bigger, all the while you are taking in the farm land and wildlife. Once you get further south to Wolf Creek, cruising along the Missouri River is a grin-maker all its own. Give it a shot, it is sure to please. Straight from Moe.

Thanks to Moe, and enjoy the ride!

Good Times In Two Dot

Posted on:
September 07, 2009

This past weekend I drove to Two Dot, MT for a ranch wedding. What a beautiful drive! On the way there I drove US 89 over Kings Hill Pass through Monarch, Neihart and then a quick jog in to White Sulphur Springs. White Sulphur was hopping with the parade just about to start. Their Labor Day rodeo followed the parade. Lots of out of town folks looking for some small town fun.

As I passed by the turn for Martinsdale I tried to count the number of times I have been to the Bair Museum there...couldn't get an accurate count but this is one of the first times I have been in the area and haven't stopped. The next turn was for Two Dot and the only places I have been in this tiny town are the post office and the Two Dot Bar. The wedding reception was about 14 miles south of Two Dot, a road with many, many deer. Does with their fawns seem to line the road! What a neat sight.

On the way back I drove east from Two Dot to Harlowton, then north on US 191 through Judith Gap and on to US 87. A left turn pointed my wheels west and I traveled past Hobson, Windham, Stanford and Geyser. I couldn't help thinking about Charlie Russell when I saw Square Butte, yes, a big square topped butte! The next town was Raynesford, then past the exit for Belt and on into Great Falls.

A neat loop tour! The only thing better would have been to take forest service roads from Martinsdale north to Utica. Next time.

Snap a Shot of Russell Country - A Photo Contest

Posted on:
August 24, 2009

Hey shutterbugs, Russell Country is conducting a photo contest for images taken within the 13 county tourism region. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 entries selected and Russell Country retains publication rights for all photos submitted. So...even if you don't win you could see your favorites published!

First place winner will receive $150. Second and third place winners will receive $100 and $50, respectively.

Digital images are preferred and should be submitted in high resolution (300 dpi) on a CD. Up to 15 images may be submitted by one photographer. Photo releases must be available for people in each photo.

Russell Country includes Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, Meagher, Petroleum, Pondera, Teton, Toole and Wheatland counties in north central Montana. Photos must be taken in this area.

Subjects of interest include, but are not limited to, year round recreational activities, community events, wildlife, farm animals and landscapes. So grab your camera, look through your photos from last winter's ski trip or this summer's hike, and send us your favorites.

Deadline for submisstion is 5pm September 15, 2009. Entries on CD, along with your contact information, should be mailed to Russell Country, P O Box 3166, Great Falls, MT 59403. Questions should be directed to the Russell Country office at 800-527-5348.

Artists' Day at Giant Springs State Park

Posted on:
August 14, 2009

Last Saturday I was out at Giant Springs State Park just east of Great Falls, MT. It was one of those days where you just felt lucky to be outside. The weather was awesome.

The park had invited artists to set up their easels and do some plein air painting. I hope it was as fun for the artists as it was for me watching them. Some were set up on the manicured lawns at the park, some sought sunshine, some followed the shade.

Local artist Steve Nelson was using the sun to pick up the best light and colors on the freshwater spring and trees in the background.

He was poised rather precariously and one wrong step would have definitely sent him swimming. His location was stunning though - a bubbling spring, birds singing, fish jumping. One thought running through my mind was that people actually buy these sounds on CDs and we can just experience them so close to home.

As I visited with the park manager it was interesting to see everything happening there that day. Some folks were out for a picnic lunch, others were bird watching, others were painter watching and some came to feed the fish at the hatchery.

It was just another great day in north central Montana!

New Wildlife Museum Opens in Chinook, MT

Posted on:
August 11, 2009

I've been lucky to periodically get glimpses of work in progress the past few years at the Blaine County Wildlife Museum in Chinook, MT. It's now open to the public. Housed in a movie theater turned musuem, the facility has actually been in development for the past 15 years.

Chinook is located right on US Hwy 2 and signs will direct you to the Blaine County Historical Museum and the Wildlife Museum which are only about a half block apart.

Over 200 wildlife species can be seen in the Wildlife Museum, each posed in their natural habitat. Four completed exhibits include one on the Swift Fox, a Peaks to Plains exhibit, Buffalo Jump exhibit and a Wetlands Display. New displays will be added as funding permits but it sure looks complete to me.

Another reason for a visit, Chief Joseph and Nez Perce history haunt this town.

The Bear Paw Battlefield, site of Chief Joseph's surrender and the last major Indian battle in the United States, is located a scenic 16 miles south of Chinook on a paved county road. On this easy drive, you usually see wildlife including deer, antelope, and a fair amount of raptors.

Chinook's triple play includes the Blaine County Historical Museum, new Wildlife Museum and the Bear Paw Battlefield. Plan enough time to do all three and you won't be disappointed.l

An Old West Afternoon

Posted on:
July 27, 2009

Sunday afternoon was one of those perfect summer days - temps about 90, no humidity, a light breeze, cottonball-like clouds and blue sky. I decided to attend an outdoor concert on the lawn at the C. M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, MT. Music was provided by the Old West Trio, aptly named because they played songs of the old West and there were three of them!

A couple seated behind me said they heard this group play last year and wouldn't have missed them for anything this year. When I went I had planned to stay for an hour or so and then do my weekend errands. Three hours later, I realized they were getting close to the end and I quickly rushed over to buy a CD (reasonably priced I might add).

A nice sized group of people had followed the shade all afternoon. I started under a large shade tree, some were under an awning and some moved as the sun moved, but very few left. What a pleasant Montana afternoon.

The C. M. Russell sponsors several events throughout the summer and fall. Saturday, August 22 will be an outdoor chautauqua, a series of lectures where actors will talk about or portray Charlie & Nancy Russell and Will Rogers. Saturday, September 12 is an On The Spot evaluation event and that evening is the annual Masters in Miniature show.

Step back into the Old West at the Russell Museum in Great Falls, open year round.

Driving With Dixie - The Postlude

Posted on:
July 06, 2009

Dixie says goodbye to our blog and shares a few more thoughts with us.

As we reflect on the last 6 days, we'd just like to say "We made it all the way through the Montana Dinosaur Trail! It is do-able and fun!"

Our mileage was close to 1,500 miles across some amazingly varied terrain. I wish everyone could enjoy the state of Montana. It is beautiful! On our last day we drove from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park and that alone was a treat.

Our budget for gas and motel came to about $800 and then our rented van will be about $500. It would have cost less if we would have had a large enough vehicle or camper because we wouldn't have had the rental expense.

We took a lot of photos - too many to share in our blog. Here are a few that didn't make our daily postings.

For some reason, we didn't post any photos of the Rudyard Depot Museum located in the community of Rudyard.

Here's one of the boys in front of a great display there.

Our last stop on the trail was at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. This facility is the largest on the Montana Dinosaur Trail and has something for everyone.

As you can see from the photo, each day when the boys put on a tee shirt or cap, they'll be doing some marketing for the trail.

Reflecting on this fun trip, it's easy to realize that it could have been titled Travelin' With a Couple of Movin' Grandmas, or Groovin' Grannies...you can come up with your own title for these special ladies!

Thanks for the memories Dixie.

Driving With Dixie - Final Day

Posted on:
July 02, 2009

Hi everyone. We made it! We have completed the Montana Dinosaur Trail! It was great.

A quick glance back at our trip - two grandmas (young grandmas!) and three grandsons, one van and a lot of miles.

We traveled from southeast Montana to northeast Montana, then followed US Hwy 2 from Glasgow, almost to the junction of US Hwy 2 and US Hwy 89. We worked our way south along the Rocky Mountain Front, then traveled to Harlowton, near the center of the state. Our last trek was to Bozeman.

At the beginning of our trip we purchased Montana Dinosaur Trail passports (available at any of our dino facilities) and at each location we visited we had an official "passport stamp". Each museum has their own unique stamp so,what a collection we have.

The weather was perfect! The motels had our rooms ready, gas prices were moderate, the pools were welcoming and the dinosaurs were awesome in each facility.

Debbie and I have blogged each day. Sending photos has been a little challenging but we've managed to have quite a few posted.

Creating memories, well, those are permanently posted in young and old alike. Priceless.

Wishing you great times along the Montana Dinosaur Trail...Dixie, Debbie and grandsons

Day Four - Driving With Dixie

Posted on:
July 01, 2009

Anolther lovely day on the Montana Dinosaur Trail with my sister and the three handsome grandsons! We left Shelby this morning and made it all the way to Bozeman with several adventures and awesome decisions to make in all the gift shops...what choices!

The drive to Bynum started with not one cloud in the sky and the spectacular Bob Marshall Wilderness across our windshield. There were green fields and oil wells alongside cattle and horses and once in a while a grazing flock of sheep...and to think this all used to be an ocean, a tropical forest teeming with diverse plants and animals.

The museum in Bynum was truly AWEsome, with the biggest dinosaur represented at 23 feel tall at the hip! Oh my gosh, the kids were stunned, and I was spellbound by the magnitude of the work done to create this display. Well worth our miles on the road.

By the way, it hasn't really seemed all that far. The stories behind the discoveries of all the dinosaurs we have seen have been up front and personal each day in each museum we have visited!

The boys also enjoyed the Rock Shop next to Two Medicine Dinosaur Museum in Bynum.

Then, we were off to Choteau where we saw the maiasaura right outside the Old Trail Museum.

When we went into the museum they welcomed us with cookies, the mayor was there, and Dana, a museum board member greeted us and showed us the informative displays. "My,what big feet you have" is one comment I heard, as there are magnificent foot prints of different dinos there.

There is a great replica of an embedded maiasaur with his head turned out looking at us when we stood there. That was intimidating! His eye seemed to just keep looking at us...oh, on to lunch!

Leaving Choteau, we headed to Great Falls, then to the Upper Musselshell Museum in Harlowton. We saw the Missouri River in Great Falls, the surreal wind farm outside of Judith Gap and then it was on to our second to the last museum to get our Dino Trail passports signed.

At the Upper Mussellshell Museum we were introduced to Ava, the little dinosasur in their museum. They have a cool little sand dig for the boys to look for some dinosaurs with little paint brushes. The boys had a really good time as the director showed them around.

They have an antique coke machine (big hit with the boys) and, when you visit, be sure to go up to the second floor. You will be amazed to find the biggest collection of Milwaukee model trains in North America! It isn't completely set up but we got a sneak peak. The man started collecting when he was about six years old when he received a train as a gift from his grandparents. The collection is a tribute to them and an honor for the museum to have to share with the public. Each car of the train is numbered and labeled with its name, the date it was in use, and what it was used for. We were fascinated by those that had electricity connections.

So, Ava the dinosaur shares her special place of honor on the dinosaur trail with an equally splendid display of trains!

Here's a nice photo of our shoppers at the Upper Musselshell gift shop in Harlowton.

We are going to the Museum of the Rockies tomorrow. I am excited to show the boys the hall of horns since I haven't seen it yet myself.

Dixie, Debbie and the grandsons