My in-laws and every Montanan I've come to know and love will hate me for endorsing this, but yes, I definitely recommend a trip to Montana. You may think I'm biased because I married a Montanan, but I genuinely mean it when I say that Montana is one of the most beautiful and truly free states that this country has to offer.

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The people are kind and friendly, but be wary of sharing your hometown if you're from New York or California. New Yorkers aren't the only ones who hate gentrification; Montanans seem to actually hate it more. Everything you've seen in Yellowstone is true. Just like John Dutton, they're all protective of their home for a reason: they don't want it to be ruined. I don't blame them, they have the luxury of happy simplicity out there. Much like the way I feel about Tennessee-ans, people are genuinely happy in Montana. The societal pressures you find in California and New York just don't exist there. Montanans, for the most part, just want to lead fulfilled lives that consist of being with family and venturing the great outdoors. Even their younger generations don't seem to be worried about designer garb and flashy things the way that people I know at home in New York are, and I admire them for it. Spending time in Montana definitely helped inspire me to live a more present and less materialistic lifestyle.

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I remember my first time in Billings being completely shocked that "Big Sky" isn't just a thing they say, it's true. The sky is HUGE and it feels like it never ends. I've never felt so small, but in a good way. I'm still shocked by it every time I'm back. It doesn't seem real!

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If you're a stargazer, Montana is for you. Bridger, MT was also the first place I ever saw a sky of stars, and I was blown away. Coming from a place like NYC, you have no idea how much is in a night's sky until you've been to a place like Montana. What you think a night's sky looks like is somehow even more impressive under a Montana sky.

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If you're an outdoorsman, you'll eat Montana right up. There's no shortage of hunting, fishing, hiking, etc., no matter where in Big Sky you end up.

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And lastly, even if you're just going for the touristy things like Yellowstone National Park or to see the rainbow rocks at Glacier National Park, I still endorse a trip to Montana. Just don't tell anyone in Montana that I, a New Yorker, sent you.

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If you're interested in visiting, feel free to peruse my Montana travel entries below!

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Jarren, if you're reading this, sorry lol. I'm not taking it back.