Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
refurbished historic building sits on five acres and includes a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Naturally a favorite destination with local schoolchildren, it's a great place to get an over-
view of the wildlife that lives in every corner of the state.
Great Northern Carousel and Exploration Works
The must-see corner of town for kids includes the
Great Northern Carousel
(989 Carousel
Way, 406/457-5353,
www.gncarousel.com
,
11am-8pm Mon.-Fri., 11am-9pm Sat.,
11am-7pm Sun., $1.50), which is a modern, hand-built, Montana-lovers carousel with 37
animals including a grizzly bear, bobcats, bison, and trout, as well as the hands-on
Explor-
ation Works
(995 Carousel Way, 406/457-1800,
www.explorationworks.org
, 9am-5pm
Mon-Sat. summer, 10am-5pm Tues.-Sat. fall-spring, $9 adults, $6.50 seniors and students
with ID, $5.50 children 2-18, free for children under 2). The museum is an interactive scien-
ce center with frequently changing exhibits like space exploration, waterworks, and amaz-
ing airways. After you've exhausted your brain in the museum, head next door to the carou-
sel for a leisurely ride and a fantastic ice-cream cone. After 5pm, indulge in an ice-cream
cone and unlimited rides for just $5: It's kid paradise. Admission is free on Tuesday.
Marysville
Forty-five minutes northwest of Helena is the once-booming town of Marysville. The
story is familiar: Gold was discovered in the 1880s, and a town grew up around it almost
overnight until there were 4,000 souls eking a living out of the earth. Over the course of
20 years, the town exploded with dozens of businesses, including competing newspapers,
a dozen saloons, three churches, two doctors, and two hotels. But by century's end, mining
had all but ceased, and the prosperous town withered quickly as its residents fled elsewhere
for opportunities.
Surprisingly, there is a great restaurant to be found amid the slowly decaying ghost town.
Marysville House
(406/443-6677,
www.marysvillemontana.com
,
4pm-10pm Wed.-Sun.,
$15-37) is a rustic but wonderful destination with good food in plentiful quantities. There
is quite a selection of seafood and steaks, and they make sure to point out that you won't
need a salad with this meal. Dessert is roasted marshmallows over the bonfire out back.
You won't find an experience like this anywhere else. The
Marysville Guest House
(406/
442-5141, $120) is nearby if you want to spend the night. To reach Marysville, take I-15
north to Highway 279 then west for 23 miles and follow the signs for Marysville.
