Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 2 5 8 T HE ASPENS ARE SHOWING OFF AGAIN, TURNING THE HILLSIDES INTO NA- TURE'S OWN FIREWORKS DISPLAY. I'm writing this from my desk where I can see the first dusting of termination dust on the peaks, that gentle reminder that winter's checking its watch and clearing its throat. My tea's gone cold because I've been watching a bull elk bugle his fool head off in the meadow below—some things are worth a lukewarm cup. This issue is special—it's our Best of Montana winners edition, and the results are in. Over 92,000 of you voted this year. Nine- ty-two thousand! That's more people than live in Billings, all tak- ing time out of their lives to celebrate the businesses that make Montana what it is. From the family-run cafes that know how you take your eggs to the outfitters who've been getting folks into the backcountry since before GPS was a thing, these are the places that keep our commu- nities humming. Fall in Montana is when the state shows its true colors—literally and figuratively. The tourists have mostly headed home, the locals reclaim their favorite spots, and there's a collective exhale you can almost hear echoing off the canyon walls. It's hunting sea- son, football season, and that perfect window where you need a jacket in the morning but you're in shirtsleeves by noon. In a world that's increasingly virtual, automated, and artificially flavored, these Best of Montana winners represent something real. They're run by people who chose to make their stand here, in a place where winter lasts half the year and Amazon Prime still can't always find your driveway. To our advertisers and all our winners—you're the backbone of this whole operation. Without you, we'd just be another casualty of the digital age. To our readers, thanks for keeping the faith in print, in local businesses, and in taking the time to read some- thing longer than a tweet. Here's to crisp mornings, golden afternoons, and another Montana autumn. A N O T E F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R P U B L I S H E R CHRISTOPHER MUHLENFELD, PUBLISHER chris@distinctlymontana.com ©2002-2025. Distinctly Montana is owned and published by Thunderstruck Media LLC, a Montana company. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without our written permission is prohibited. Distinctly Montana welcomes freelance contributions—please contact us to inquire about submitting your work. DISTINCTLY MONTANA IS DESIGNED AND PRINTED IN THE USA. Published by Thunderstruck Media LLC • 280 West Kagy Blvd, STE D286 • Bozeman, Montana 59715 www.distinctlymontana.com • info@distinctlymontana.com • (406) 600-7660 WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS! The paper content of this publication has been certifiably reforested via PrintReleaf – the world's first platform to measure paper consumption and automate reforestation across a global network of reforestation projects. LEARN MORE AT PRINTRELEAF.COM photo: flickr.com/nicholas_t | CC BY PUBLISHERS Christopher & Pattra Muhlenfeld EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joseph Shelton ART DIRECTOR Robert Rath COPY EDITOR Shannon Page PROOF EDITOR Shannon Page SALES EXECUTIVE Larry Sem PRINT MANAGEMENT Pam Koehler, Koehler + Co. fb.com/distinctlymontana instagram.com/distinctlymontana twitter.com/distinctlymt S U B S C R I B E S U B S C R I B E T O D AY T O D AY W E D E L I V E R ! W E D E L I V E R ! SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSCRIBE TO DISTINCTLY MONTANA DISTINCTLY MONTANA MAGAZINE MAGAZINE DISTINCTLYMONTANA.COM/SUBSCRIBE SEND A CHECK FOR THE AMOUNT MATCHING THE SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD YOU'D LIKE: 1 YEAR - $39.95 2 YEARS - $69.95 3 YEARS - $99.95 MAIL CHECKS TO: DISTINCTLY MONTANA PO BOX 84, BOZEMAN MT 59771 TO SUBSCRIBE BY PHONE, CALL 406-600-7660 www.Dis t inc tlyMont ana.com $ 9.95 DISPL AY UN T IL SEP T. 15, 2023 AN EVENING AT BULL HEAD LODGE WITH CHARLIE RUSSELL TELLING "THE STORY OF BUTTE" DO SOME TOURISTS HAVE A DEATHWISH, OR WHAT? RECREATION IN THE PINTLERS S U M M E R 2 0 2 3 VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $500! B E S T O F M O N TA N A B M D I S TI N C T L Y M O N T A N A ' S 2023 TM TM www.Dis t inc tlyMont ana.com $ 9.95 DISPL AY UN T IL JUNE 15, 2024 S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 TM THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE IN HELENA BUFFALO BILL'S LAST TOUR OF MONTANA ANACONDA, BEST LITTLE CITY IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA TREASURES OF THE WORLD MUSEUM OF MINING SCAN TO SUBSCRIBE 2025 o f BEST M O N TA N A A S V O T E D B Y R E A D E R S O F

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