Known as 'Big Sky Country', the wide-open state of Montana stretches across the prairie of the Great Plains and is as authentic as it gets. Glistening glaciers, alpine meadows, deep forests and sparkling lakes: adventure awaits in this wild, breathtaking wonderland.

'Montana' is Spanish for mountains and, indeed, the US's fourth-largest state is traversed by the Rocky Mountain chain. However, sixty percent of the land is prairie, and its agricultural regions provide some of America's most attractive and renowned national parks, wildlife refuges and forests.

Natural attractions in Montana include the Yellowstone National Park, the Glacier National Park and the Bighorn Canyon, to name but a few. With more than two million acres of geysers, Yellowstone is the largest and most famous national park in the world, and spills over into Idaho and Wyoming. Smaller but no less magnificent is the Glacier Park, which covers one million acres of rugged mountain terrain, forests, waterfalls and glaciers. Montana is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise where there are a multitude of opportunities for hiking, riding, hunting and fishing in summer, and skiing in winter.

Native American culture also features high on its list of attractions, the prairies having been home to legendary tribes such as the Cheyenne, Crow and Blackfeet. The various Reservations are strongholds of their heritage, where traditional dress is worn, rituals are performed, and arts and crafts produced. Visitors must be sure to explore the ghost towns left from the 1862 gold rush, the many museums and art galleries, and the historic buildings and battlefields of this multifaceted state.

Though most of the state is undeveloped, there are a few towns in Montana worth visiting. Billings, conveniently located near Yellowstone, is a hub of arts and culture; Butte is a former mining town with several museums dedicated to the industry; Bozeman is a college town with some good museums and art galleries, and hosts the Sweet Pea Festival each spring.