Why Montana Is The Country's Best Kept Secret

Just a few reasons why Montana is the Country's Best Kept Secret.

1. Google Says Montana is for Badasses

buzzfeed.com / Via http://Buzzfeed

Back in February, Matt Shirley from Flip Collective created a map of the United States based on search autocomplete. It was then featured here on Buzzfeed. While other states had descriptions like, "Broke", "Over-rated" and "Bankrupt", Montana stood out above the crowd with, "For Badasses". There is even Facebook page dedicated to it here.

2. A River (Still) Runs Through It

Montana is filled with bodies of water perfect for a wide variety of outdoor recreation. Missoula, Montana has three rivers that run through town and is the setting for the 1976 fly-fishing novella by Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through it. The book was made into an American film in 1992 directed by Robert Redford starring Brad Pitt, Craig Sheffer and Tom Skerritt. A River Runs Through It is a story of two boys growing up in Montana with a love for fly-fishing. Norman Maclean said it best in the book, "The world is full of bastards, the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana."

3. Montana Breweries

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Montana boasts a total of 32 breweries, which puts us second (behind Vermont) in number of breweries per capita. In other words, we know our beer. Plus, with locally crafted beer with names like Moose Drool, Trout Slayer, Face Plant and Pig's Ass Porter, you know our beer is as inspiring as Montana's wide-open spaces.

4. Urban Dictionary Knows It

buzzfeed.com / Via http://Buzzfeed

5. Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks

Montana is home to two national parks--Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Both are filled with beautiful landscapes, wildlife and outdoor recreation galore. These two beauties often find themselves on the bucket list for travelers.

6. Four Seasons

destinationmissoula.org / Via DestinationMissoula.org

Montana has all four of the original divisions of the year as determined by Mother Nature. We don't have a "mudslide season" or a "tornado season" and the hurricanes are too far off to reach us.

Above is a photo taken in the University District in downtown Missoula, Montana. (Hot diggity dog, right?)That's just one of the four beautiful seasons we get to experience. See more photos of Montana's four seasons here.

7. Brutus the Bear

Casey Anderson adopted a grizzly bear named Brutus and now they are best friends. Brutus was even the best man at Casey's wedding. Find out more about the manbear bromance here.

8. "The Last Best Place"

Our tagline: The "Last Best Place." Because around here, life is the way it should be. Enjoyed simply, lived fully and celebrated to the max.

Senator Max Baucus says that the US Patent and Trademark Office has agreed to permanently deny any trademark application for the well-known Montana slogan, "The Last Best Place". One trip to Montana and you will too understand why anyone else is allowed to use the slogan. And chances are, you'll be using it too.

9. Celebs Love Montana

Even celebrities seek refuge in Montana. Last winter Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel got engaged in Montana, according to E! Online. Even John Mayer decided to take some time and recover in Montana. During his time in Montana he redeemed himself after admitting he had been a jerk when he performed for a charity concert raising over $100,000 for local firefighters.

Not to mention many celebrities seek out summer homes in the Big Sky Country. Although many celebrities keep their secluded vacation spots a secret, locals know who those mansions on the lake shores belong to.

10. Montanan's Have a Sense of Humor

Back in February a Great Falls, Montana TV station's emergency alert system was hacked and warned viewers in select counties that dead bodies are rising from their graves. The station later reported that there was no emergency, and that they are still investigating what happened.

Side note: If there ever is a zombie attack, you'll be in good hands with our rowdy Montana residents. Montana if full of manly men (they don't call it Mantana for nothing), sassy women and a lot of moxie.

Give Montana Your Vote

Missoula, Montana is up against Huntsville, Alabama to host the Social Media Tourism Symposium 2013 in the final round. Voting is open until 8pm, MST TODAY (April 2, 2013). Vote here on Facebook.

And while Hunstville, Alabama has a metro population of around 500,000 AKA half of our entire state's population, Montana has heart.

Voting is now closed. A big thank you to everyone who voted.