1. Beach Vacations Are For People Who Lack Imagination
Beaches are nice and all, but when you’re a Montanan and live a state that is filled with so much magical nature, a beach just feels low priority. Montana has two national parks, part of Yellowstone National Park is here and Glacier National Park is, too. One has rainbow pools, hot springs and geysers. The other has real glaciers. Trust me, they’re cooler than sea shells.
2. Half Of The Meat In Your Freezer Is Elk, The Other Half Is Bison
Hunting season in Montana is second nature and there’s a pretty good chance that you have a second freezer in your garage or basement where you store all your meat. Living among such magnificent creatures has also taught you quite a lot about nature in general. For example, when there is a bison crossing the road that you’re trying to get down, always remember that it’s not in your way--you’re in the bison’s way.
3. What It’s Like To Be A World Class Badass
This map was created by typing in each state name followed by “is.” With gun racks atop every other truck, hunting licenses given out with birth certificates, and every Montanan’s ability to fix whatever broke with their bare hands (or the Leatherman tool in their back pocket), it’s probably a no brainer. Not to mention, have you ever met a Montana winter?
4. Montanans Can Make Friends With Anyone… Even Grizzly Bears
Source: ducadelaide via YouTube
The folks in Montana can strike up a conversation with just about anyone everywhere they go and would help a complete stranger change their tire on the side of the road. Between the badass factor and the friendliness, Montanans are even known to befriend grizzly bears. Admittedly, that’s only reserved for the craziest of the crazy Montanans, like naturalist Casey Anderson.
5. Living Life To The Fullest In The Last Best State
Montana’s official motto is “The Last Best State” and anyone is allowed to brag about it because the US Patent Office agreed to deny any trademark applications for claims to it. Sweeping landscapes, immaculate rivers and water, awesome people…Maybe not everyone wants to live here. But the ones who do will never leave.
6. Weather Forecasts Are More Of A Suggestion Than The Speed Limit
Weather and mileage are two of the biggest factors in forming character in Montana. They also happen to control most of your plans. Mileage never changes. It’s just about 200 miles (or translated in Montanan, “about 2.5 hours”) to Billings from Missoula no matter when you travel. But one thing you get used to pretty fast is that the weather doesn’t keep long enough to get used to. It’s about a thousand times worse than the most indecisive bride you’ve ever tried picking out a wedding dress with.
7. Being In A Libertarian Paradise That Anyone Can Love
Montanans are known for their resilience, love for ranching and hunting, and libertarian desires to be as free as they choose to be. They rue the day that a speed limit was eventually mandated and would prefer that the government stay as far out of their business as humanly possible. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t find your share of liberals who also love it here.
8. The Dedication It Takes To Get Through A Whole At The Pickle Barrel
Forget Subway. And Jimmy John’s. If you’re a Montanan, you know that the only real sandwich out there comes from the Montana-born restaurant chain: The Pickle Barrel. Any student at UM knows that the only way they ever got through all those late night cramming sessions was thanks to a Pickle Barrel sandwich. And if you order a Whole, be warned--that thing is twice as big as anything you can get at Subway.
9. Montana’s Your Huckleberry … Literally
Huckleberries are a huge commodity for Montana. Buy them from your local produce stand or go out and pick them yourself with your own two hands and use them to bake homemade huckleberry everything. But the real huckleberry gem in Montana is the awesome huckleberry chocolates. And you know exactly where you can find them: any gas station, of course!
10. The Answer To Why You Live In Montana
If you’ve ever lived in Montana, outsiders will inevitably feel the need to ask “why” you live in Montana. Your answer is usually something along the lines of: Montana is the most breathtaking state in the country. It’s not not overrun with a bunch of idiots like everywhere else, the air is clear, the water is sparkling, Montanans are genuine. If you don’t like it? That’s fine, don’t visit.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think is unique about Montana in the comments below!
