4 Best Sights in Bozeman, Helena, Bozeman, and Southwest Montana

Here you'll find a celebration of the history of the Rockies region, with exhibits ranging from prehistory to pioneers, plus a planetarium with laser shows. Most renowned is the museum's Siebel Dinosaur Complex housing one of the world's largest dinosaur fossil collections along with the largest-known T-rex skull, a Mesozoic Media Center, and a Hall of Giants complete with sound effects. Children love the hands-on science activities in the Explore Yellowstone Martin Children's Discovery Center and (in the summer) the living history farm. Tinsley Homestead, with home-crafts demonstrations, including butter churning, weaving, and blacksmithing is open Wednesday through Sunday.

You can soak for an hour or a day at Bozeman Hot Springs, which offer 12 pools (including both indoor pools and outdoor pools), a sauna, spa, fitness center, and juice bar.

A school until 1992, this 1920 Gothic Revival brick building now houses around 40 galleries, studios, and classrooms, plus a performing-arts hall. You can watch craftspeople at work, purchase artwork, take a class, or catch a performance here, plus enjoy a tasty lunch or dinner at the on-site Sidewall Pizza Company. All tenants maintain individual hours. Contact them directly for details.

West of downtown, this redbrick former jail, built in 1911, serves as a reminder of the rough-and-tumble days of the past. Inside, the Gallatin Historical Society displays Native American artifacts, a model of Fort Ellis, a life-size reconstruction of an 1870s log cabin, a research library, photo archives, and a bookstore.