Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the first Friday of December, is another highlight with a craft show and horse-drawn
wagon rides. The
Belgrade Chamber of Commerce
(10 E. Main St., 406/388-1616,
www.belgradechamber.org
,
9am-5pm Mon.-Fri.) is a good source for local information and
a friendly chat.
Manhattan
Twenty minutes west of Bozeman on I-90, Manhattan (population 1,553, elevation 4,200
feet) is a welcoming little community surrounded by potato and dairy farms, wheat fields,
and mountains. The town was settled by immigrants from the Netherlands but named by
New Yorkers who operated the Montana Malting Company. Most folks in the state associate
Manhattan with its most famous eatery,
Sir Scott's Oasis
(204 W. Main St., 406/284-6929,
www.oasissteakhouse.com
,
4pm-10pm Mon., 11am-10pm Tues.-Sat., 8am-10pm Sun.,
lunch $8-14, dinner from $18.50), an old-school supper club with relish trays to start and
sundaes for dessert. The hearty steak and potatoes you get in between will satiate even the
most discerning meat lovers.
During the summer, the
Manhattan Farmers Market
(406/284-6574, 4pm-7pm Wed.)
fills the small downtown with local produce, baked goods, arts and crafts, and live en-
tertainment. The third Saturday in August is the annual
Potato Festival,
which features
a Friday night street dance, pancake breakfast, a parade, 5K and 10K races, cooking
competitions, an invitational car show, and music throughout the day. For visitor in-
formation,
contact
the
Manhattan
Chamber
of
Commerce
(406/284-4162,
www.manhattanmontana.com
,
1pm-3pm Tues. and Thurs.).
Three Forks and Willow Creek
Named for the three rivers that form the headwaters of the Missouri River, Three Forks
(population 1,909, elevation 4,130 feet) was put on the map by Lewis and Clark in 1805.
The town is rich in fur trapping and trading history and equally distinguished today by a
tightly knit community and a mild climate that locals refer to as the “banana belt.” The
M
Sacajawea Hotel
(5 N. Main St., 406/285-6515,
www.sacajaweahotel.com
,
from $89)
is a wonderfully restored and stately building in the center of town that is a fine place for a
drink, a hearty meal, or a comfortable night's rest.
The
Three Forks Rodeo
is held annually the third weekend in July at the fairgrounds
and includes a parade, two nights of rodeo, plenty of food, and entertainment. The town's
Christmas Stroll
is what every small town should aspire to: the crowning of a Christmas
King and Queen, fireworks, horse-drawn wagon rides, a community cookie exchange, and
s'mores around the bonfire.
