35. Lincoln, MT

Lincoln, Montana is a small town that mirrors most small towns in Montana. It has a small population, friendly people, a gas station, and a few bars and restaurants. Many people have reported seeing Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) in this area, which makes sense because it is tucked away from the larger cities.The real magic of this place, in my opinion, rests behind the town in the mountains. My friend's family owns a cabin there, so I had the advantage of relaxing before really exploring. The cabin allows a great view of the surrounding mountains and allowed us to pick out the places that we wanted to hike. After sitting around talking and eating (conversation and food taste so much better in this kind of atmosphere), we found a trail and began a hike along a small river. There are cliffs all along the way, some of which are relatively easy to climb. The view is worth checking out from any high vantage point in this area, although you may get hit with some very cold rain on certain days. Also, beware of mountain lions... if you see one, don't run. Make yourself look bigger, throw rocks at it, and scream like your life depends on it. We followed the river through a canyon-like area until we came upon a cave set in the side of a vertical cliff. We were able to make our way up a steep slope and climb into it. If you can find it, it would be the perfect spot to camp for a night, and it offers an amazing view.The more commonly followed roads will take you to a huge dam, a wooden bridge that sits above a very clean and very amazing river with many little areas worth walking around below, and a beautiful lake. There are cheap campsites scattered throughout the area as well. It's very easy to find a secluded spot along the river to fish, and you'll feel like you are the first to ever cast a line at that specific spot. If you have more than a day to spend here, do it. Take your time exploring the area, and you'll just love it more and more. My brother did get stung by a bee, which prompted him to get really pissed and yell at the bees. At that point, I learned a couple important lessons: 1) If you get stung and the stinger remains in your skin, you can simply rub mud around the area. Wait for the mud to dry and then remove it. The stinger should come out with it. 2) Do not yell at bees. They don't understand human-talk, and I'm pretty sure they die pretty soon after stinging you anyways.