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.