Things to Do in Montana

The rafters hear it before they see it. The steadily increasing roars emanating from down the river can only mean one thing: whitewater. As their raft rounds a bend, it plunges headfirst into a Class III rapid. Frothy spumes shower the group, but they remain focused, paddle in unison, and conquer nature's natural roller coaster.

Since 1976, Glacier Raft Company has created adrenalin-pumping experiences like these for more than 500,000 customers. Using the Middle Fork and Flathead River as their playground, guides lead rafting adventures that fuse the thrills of fast rapids with natural beauty of areas such as John Stevens Canyon. Though rafting is their focus, the outdoors outfit also leads other activities such as horseback riding and hiking trips. During fishing excursions, anglers cast for rainbow trout and radical bartenders harvest ice cubes from glaciers. The company also welcomes guests for extended stays in one of their classic log cabins.

An exclusive oasis sheltered from the bustle and noise of airport throngs, each Delta Sky Club lets guests sit comfortably while sipping complimentary beverages, flipping through newspapers such as the New York Times, and tasting free chocolate-chunk cookies and snacks. Each pass grants a guest one-time access to one of over 50 worldwide lounges, giving travelers access to diverse amenities and respite from cramped gate seating, overpriced snack stands, and moving sidewalks slicked with wet cement. As thumbs navigate WiFi waves on a touch-screen or grip the folds of a fresh broadsheet paper, mouths can feast on a tray of free snacks such as cheese, crackers, and cookies while tongues savor the pleasant bite of classic cocktails. Passes grant club access on the passenger's date of travel, regardless of their airline carrier.

Married for nine years and a photography team for five, Brian and Jennifer Hartman bring an artistic touch and approach to their on-location photography. Employing a photojournalistic style and dramatic lighting, they capture solo subjects and groups during posed and candid moments, earning critical acclaim from the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association and The Knot and placing images in the pages of Elle and Seattle Bride magazines.

Not content to simply point and shoot, the Hartmans light compositions using chiaroscuro or high-exposure natural lighting and often accentuate subjects with extreme angles, forced perspective, or unique natural surroundings. They shoot in vibrant color or black and white, and can edit photos to enhance colors or, by request, replace each subject’s face with Winston Churchill’s. Though the Hartmans use professional tools, they’re glad to help students break into photography via ultra-accessible devices such as the iPhone—following in the footsteps, they note, of Annie Leibovitz, who endorsed the iPhone’s camera on NBC Nightly News in 2011. When not conducting on-location sessions, Brian also leads large-scale workshops in which they pass on their knowledge through graphic slideshows and hands-on training.

Bearing the titles of Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman from Professional Photographers of America, David and Ally McKay embody the keen vision and aesthetic prowess that separated good photographers from great ones. They share these skills during classes at McKay Photography Academy, where they train eyes, fingers, and imaginations to work in tandem as a snapshooting dream machine. Their classes help aspiring photographers progress from neophytes to seasoned pros; the Beginning Digital Photography course teaches students to harness the intricacies of their instruments, and the Pro Academy offers inside tips on how to successfully snap wedding portraits, pose recent grads, or tease out candid emotions. When not busy instructing the next generation of shutterbugs, David and Ally also devise photo safaris, which send small teams of photographers to capture shots of famed landmarks including San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge; the Lincoln Memorial of Washington, DC; or Yosemite's 60-foot statue of Yogi Bear.

“People come to Montana to see the mountains,” says Nancy Dawson, one of the innkeepers at Fox Hollow Bed and Breakfast. “And we’ve got the views.” They certainly do—the snowcapped peaks of the Bridger Mountains are on full display from the wraparound porch of the Craftsman-style inn that Nancy runs with her husband, Mike. The Dawsons are experienced hosts, having run the B & B for 18 years while also living onsite.

A self-proclaimed “cookbook junkie,” Nancy often uses recipes from her collection to craft a complimentary gourmet breakfast each morning. Guests taste the fruits of her labor in entrees such as oven-puffed pancakes, apple-cinnamon french toast, and oven-baked fiesta omelets. Upstairs, country-chic guest rooms boast private bathrooms and mountain views. In The Peaks room, three large picture windows overlook the Bridger Mountains, and close-up views of the birds and foxes that frequent the grounds can be seen from many a window.

Always looking for a challenge, Pangaea River Rafting's future owners Brooke and David Lawrence set out on a 4,000-mile cross-country bike ride years ago. But tackling that endeavor only increased the duo's thirst for more. After years guiding rafting expeditions along the Clark Fork River near Missoula, Montana, they decided the most exciting challenge would be to start their own rafting company. So, in 1989, they bought a small company by the name of Pangaea Expeditions, which they later renamed Pangaea River Rafting. During that time they also got married, fittingly alongside the river.

Over the course of more than 20 years, Brooke and David have developed a series of programs that highlight the area's tourist attractions as well as draw locals out into their surrounding habitat. They direct rafting ventures boasting wine tastings, happy hours, bird watching, team building, and catfish cuddling.