By Robert Lucke
Looking for something for you or the family to do this weekend or an evening during the week? Dont overlook some of the amenities that Havre and surrounding areas provide. Often times they are a wealth of low priced entertainment that tourists discover more than Havre residents.
How about a day in some of Havres parks? Some are geared up for walking use. Others have regular paths for runners. All come quipped with plenty of sunshine and plenty of shade. Just going to a local grocery store or restaurant and buying a deli picnic and taking the family to Pepin Park for a out of the ordinary supper is a great way to make summer a little more special for area families.
A great activity for young children and old alike to do is to pile them in the car and get to the railroad station when Amtrak comes rolling into town. Just the sheer largeness of trains will impress the most unimpressed child and meeting folks from all over the world who stroll around the station park can be very enjoyable. Train watching seems to be a lost art in Havre but today it can be as fun as it ever was.
Dont wait until the relatives from Oklahoma come to visit area tourist attractions. Summer is a good time to take the whole family on area tours to find the roots of the city. Visit Wakhpa Chugn kill site often. Something new and different is always happening there and this is a world class site often overlooked by Havre natives.
Same is true with Havre Beneath the Streets. Dont miss taking the family into the flavor of old Havre. New projects there happen yearly so there is always something new to see and do.
The new Railroad Museum is a must see for kids of every age. There is lots to see in that museum but watching the unique model train layout with its running trains is a great way to spend quality time with the family.
Dont forget to take a Fort Assinniboine tour. History abounds in this group of buildings where folks lived before there was anything where Havre stands now.
The Clack Museum is a great way to spend some time and all seasons provide various artists right here in the community whose works are on display for several weeks at a time.
So many people drive to the Bear Paws for their recreation that they completely lose track of places north of Havre that are so close in that they are more like extensions of the city.
The Badlands north of Havre are good places to explore a very different type of environment then found much of anyplace else in this part of the country.
Close to the Badlands area is the Rookery Wildlife Management Area. This is a four mile Milk River area with mature cottonwood trees. The Rookery is full of many animals, birds and plant life. Best of all there are all sorts of paths by the river that meander in and out of the trees. As well there are boat launching sites at the west and east ends of the Rookery. Canoeing is a good way to see the river in that area and really is a good way to experience the Milk River as it is seldom seen. Caution should be taken though for the Havre water weir west of the city is dangerous.
You might make your own list of things to do around Havre. Best thing though is not to miss the loads of outdoor activities of every kind either in Havre or very close.
