Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
College Football
Both the
Montana State University Bobcats
(
www.msubobcats.com
)
and the
University
of Montana Grizzlies
(
www.montanagrizzlies.com
)
compete in the Football Champion-
ship Subdivision (formerly Division 1-AA) of college football. Both teams have won na-
tional championships, and there has been a fierce rivalry between the two teams since the
first game was played in 1897. The Grizzlies have been one of the top teams in the country
for the past two decades, and their games often draw crowds of more than 20,000 rowdy
fans.
With only one university in the state, it's no great surprise that the NCAA Division I
University of Wyoming Cowboys
(
www.wyomingathletics.com
)
draw rabid fans to their
home games in Laramie. The annual “border war” match between Colorado State and
Wyoming has been going on since 1899 and is considered the oldest (and probably among
the fiercest) interstate rivalries west of the Mississippi River. Since 1968, the winner of that
game takes home the Bronze Boot, one of the best-known and most highly sought-after
traveling trophies in college football.
Since Montana and Wyoming are both big destinations for visitors, it's no surprise that
there are a wide variety of lodging options available, from standard hotels and motels to
luxury resorts and guest ranches. Generally speaking, all lodging is more expensive in the
summer, and rooms fill rapidly—advance reservations are a must, especially around special
events like Cheyenne's Frontier Days or Bozeman's Sweet Pea Festival. Rooms, cabins,
and even campgrounds in the national parks fill up several months—if not longer—in ad-
vance. Shoulder seasons (spring and fall) offer reduced rates and thin crowds, while rooms
at the ski resort lodges fill up fast in the winter but may be wide open during the summer.
Most larger towns have numerous choices for chain motels, which are typically clustered
around the interstate exits. Gateway towns to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
also have chain hotels, as well as a number of mom-and-pop motels sprinkled around town.
Travelers used to standard hotels will be happy with these choices, but those that seek a
more unique experience will want to try some of the smaller boutique hotels located in
towns around the West. It just depends on whether you would rather stay in the usual Super
