I visited southern Montana with my church youth group. We stayed on a secluded cattle ranch about thirty minutes out of town. During our two-week stay, we worked with kids in inner city Billings and on nearby reservations. We also visited Yellowstone National Park (see seperate entry).
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Downtown Billings had a small-town atmosphere and lots of cute little stores and eateries, though everything closed in the early afternoon. Nearby Garryowen should be seen, both for it's Native American culture and for the monument and museum at the spot of Custer's last stand.
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Three of my favorite moments from the tip (aside from working with the children) were learning how to (and actually) setting up a teepee at Lame Deer, attending a Pow-Wow in Garryowen and visiting the nearby monument where the battle of Little Bighorn took place. It's a wonderful spot up on a hill where you can look out for miles around and feel as if you've traveled back in time.
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We had the good fortune to stay on a real ranch, which was an experience of its own. A hike up a nearby butte revealed to us a stunning view of the countryside - Montana truly is big sky country. Other highlights were visiting the horses across the way and howling back to the coyotes at night.
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If you're in the area, take the time to make the trip to Yellowstone National Park (see my other entry). It's well worth your time, and adds another dimension to the western landscape.
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Published on Sunday May 4th, 2003
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