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Why is Billings named the Magic City?

When I first moved to Billings I was always curious as to why I kept hearing the term “The Magic City.” I always assumed it was because it’s just  flat-out a great place to be, but there is a story behind that name.
Billings is located on the banks of the Yellowstone river and was considered merely a “tent town” until is was founded as a railroad town in March of 1882. The railroad changed this small town into a thriving urban metropolis practically overnight, which was truly a magical thing. Billings is  still known to be one of the largest distribution centers in Montana, all thanks to the railroad. 
The Billings Depot was built in 1909 and was the meeting house used by all three railroads that were servicing the area. It was the centerpiece of downtown Billings and was a popular venue where numerous presidents, Hollywood celebrities and even royalty would visit. The Depot has since been beautifully restored and is still a popular destination for catering events, weddings, fundraisers, Christmas concerts, corporate events and much more.  The presence of this grand, historical building creates a nostalgic atmosphere in our city, helping us keep the memories alive of what sky rocketed this amazing place.

Billings will always be magical to me, and not just for historical reasons. Since moving here I have come to know the amazing people in our community,  been on countless outdoor adventures and stood in amazement at our beautiful Montana skies. I now know why John Steinbeck wrote "I'm in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love."

A Storms A'brewing!

One of my ultimate favorite things about where I live is that we're able to watch all the amazing storms roll in. I'm a sucker for lightning and thunder and turn into a little kid again when I see those beautiful dark clouds developing in our Montana skies. One of the most incredible storms we ever had lasted only a few minutes and soon after a brilliant rainbow appeared in the eastern sky as the sun was setting. I'm going to miss these storms as we approach fall, but then again- fall is also an incredible season and I'm so looking forward to it! Bring on the colorful trees and the pumpkin spice!

Farmers Market

It's summer, well- late summer and that means that all the homegrown goodies here in Billings will be making their grand debut at our local farmers market.  Locally grown carrots, peas, peaches, lettuce, honey....the list goes on and on. My kids can't contain themselves and have to bite into the freshly plucked carrots  before we can even make it through the variety of booths set up on Broadway and N 29th St. I'll tell you one thing, if you want your children to eat their vegetables give them fresh-out-of-the-garden veggies and they will not only be excited to gobble em' up, they will also develop a deep appreciation.  My 5 year old can't stand onions, she won't touch them with a 10 ft. pole, but give her an onion from the farmers market and she will munch away on it RAW (I have photos to prove this insanity).
And yes, there is live music (as you know- I'm a sucker for that.) And if you're not into veggies and fruit, don't worry- you can pick up a deep fried egg roll or some amazing BBQ on your way through ;)  Something for everyone!

 

Don't Feed the Bears! Yellowstone~

If you've never been to Yellowstone...DO IT! At least put it on your bucket list, okay? Yellowstone National Park sits on a 3,500 sq.-mile volcanic hot spot that covers parts of Wyoming, Idaho and...you guessed it- Montana. How cool is it that one of the largest and most beautiful parks in the world is practically in my back yard? A quick 2 1/2 hour trip from Billings will get you to the place where people are traveling from all  four corners of the earth to see. These photos don't even do justice to the sheer beauty you will experience as you walk on the windy wooden trails that take you past the crystal clear hot springs and gushing geysers. And of course, my family waited patiently to watch the very punctual Old Faithful makes it's grand debut. Yellowstone is also home to hundreds of animal species, so don't be shocked if you run into a herd of bison and possibly a grizzly bear or two (just don't look em' in the eye and you'll be fine). You'll also see breathtaking waterfalls roaring down the canyon walls of the of this incredible park. While you're there, make sure you stop at the rustic mountain restaurants to eat some good grub. Memories to last a lifetime!

 

 

 

 

ZooMontana

So this is a fun fact: Billings is the home of THE ONLY Zoo in Montana! The zoo consists of 70 acres of beautifully landscaped botanical gardens and natural parks that house wildlife native to Montana, the Rockies and other similar climate territories. This year we visited the park during their 3rd annual Play Date at the Zoo (which is a free event for all!) and we had a BLAST. We love taking the kids for a stroll through the windy trails where they can see animals ranging from Clydesdale horses to Siberian tigers! Not only is the wildlife incredible- the gardens throughout the park are absolutely gorgeous. After we've finished up with our animal sight-seeing, we always end our adventure with some playtime at the kids park, which makes a good night sleep for everyone ;)

Sharp Tooth!!!

I have had a slight obsession with dinosaurs since...well...as long as I can remember. I'm 31 years old and I still get a little giddy when I see a "long neck", so as soon as I heard that Jurassic Quest was coming to Billings I began texting my husband the info so we could get tickets- like asap. 
Right when you walk through the entrance, huge ultra-realistic, life-size animatronic dinosaurs are there to greet you. Not only do you get to view these amazing dinosaurs in person, you get to ride them too! I'll admit, I didn't have the guts to get on one of them (in fear of embarrassing my children...or maybe just myself), but I definitely was able to experience the sheer joy and amazement through my kids. After we saw the 50+ dinosaurs around the exhibit, it was off to the "Dino Bounce" area where small humans were found sliding down inflatable slides and running through mazes. My 2 year old was even able to drive a Jurassic Jeep while only slamming into the movable walls twentyish times- it was great. We ended the adventure with some reptile face paintings and a fossil dig that would make any paleontologist jealous. We will definitely be back next year!

Strawberry Festival!

The Strawberry festival happens every year during the second Saturday of June and we are always looking forward to it!  Hundreds of locals flock to downtown Billings where traffic is put to a stop on Broadview and N 29th ST . The streets are filled with booths displaying beautiful Montana artwork, photography, clothing and a ton of handmade goodies. Local bands from the area will set up shop on the sidewalks and we get to listen all while sipping on freshly squeezed strawberry lemonade. And hey, who doesn't love a big, juicy strawberry (like the one pictured to the right)?

Did you know...

That deer, antelope and elk outnumber humans in Montana? My kids and I were going on our regular neighborhood walk the other day and found this gang lounging in the shade in our neighbors back yard- yeah...no big deal. LOVE the wildlife here, it seems like there is something new everyday. If you're into hunting, make sure you are only using a camera to shoot the neighborhood deer ;)

Why do I LOVE Billings?

 Just the other day I took my kids to one of our favorite places to visit:  Riverfront Park.  The kids love it, I love it and so does the husband (fishing anyone?). My kids and I went at just the right time because there were the cutest, fuzziest baby geese all over the place! The geese will come right up to you here and take the bread straight out of your hands. Normally they are a bit apprehensive, but this time around one special little guy came right up to my daughter and allowed her to pet him, he reminded me of a docile dog! Whether we have our fishing poles out or we’re grilling up some tasty barbecue right by the lake, we always have a good time. The park also has trails that wind through the beautiful scenery- “hiking” that’s easy enough for a two year old ;)
To hear more reasons why Billings is such a great place to live, click here to check out my YouTube video.