Here Are ‘Never Useful’ Tips From Smug Montana Visitors

Every place has them - folks who have spent a little time somewhere and then somehow consider themselves local experts. They hang out in online groups, providing immense amounts of 'advice' and opinions to other folks who ask questions better answered by a real local. Make sense?

DUMB THING TO SAY: "If you're going to Yellowstone National Park, absolutely skip spending time in West Yellowstone. It's a pointless tourist trap and very ugly. You won't find any bathrooms to use so plan on the side of the road."

THE TRUTH: I don't even know where to start with this idiot. West Yellowstone is completely awesome for so many reasons. Yes, it's a small town at an entrance to one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country but it's a real town.

West Yellowstone is surrounded by stunning Montana landscape and gorgeous lakes. The people who actually live there are very kind and tougher than the average bear. There are some hidden gem places to eat in West, too.

PRO TIP: West Yellowstone is a great place to have a girls' weekend or a small gathering if you're looking to get away, but not leave the state. There are plenty of places to have fun at night and it won't cost you too much in the off-season.

DUMB THING TO SAY: "Be leery of the advice you get from some of the fly shops. They sent us to a river that was pretty much running through the town."

THE TRUTH: Well, genius tourist...if you presented yourself as no pro, then yeah. Any good fly shop would send you someplace fairly close in case you run into trouble or don't know what you're doing.

Montana is packed with really great fly shops and better yet - really great GUIDES. If you want more adventure buddy, why don't you hire a licensed guide and they'll take you someplace off the main radar.

Get our free mobile app

DUMB THING TO SAY: "Good luck driving in Montana anytime during the winter. They barely plow the interstate when it's snowing. You're basically on your own because nobody seems to care."

THE TRUTH: Montana is a very big state and we get a lot of snow. For the record, The Montana section of I-90 is 552.54 miles long, making it the longest segment of the highway in a single state. That's a LOT of road, not to mention all the state highways.

If you're a Montanan who knows someone who works for MDT as a plow truck driver, you know exactly how hard that job is. It's dangerous. There are long hours. The schedule is unpredictable. And of course, times where folks should just stay off the roads...and they don't.