It's a Hell-un-a Place!

Helena is pretty short on sights and interesting things to do, which makes it not a very appealing tourist destination. However, with some luck, you can still enjoy yourself for the one night you are in town. The only major thing of interest in Helena is the Montana State Capitol, a lovely building which is the center of the State's Government. Go here for a free tour of the massive building, and pick up some free information about the area.

Afterwards, take a walk downtown and shop in some of the unique western stores. Shopping is a cure when in a sleepy town.

Helena has no shortage of good restaurants, though, and you'll find whatever you are looking to eat. Just remember, you are in old-fashioned, laid-back country, so stores do close relatively early and are scantily open on Sundays. Check out Golden Corral, it's best restaurant in my humble opinion, for a great steak dinner - all you can eat!

Quick Tips:

Definitely do a tour of the State Capitol building. They are fun, informative, and amaze. You're in Montana - eat steak! There are dozens of good steak places in town, ranging from inexpensive (Golden Corral) to more pricey (Applebee's).

Remember, Montana has no sales tax, so go nuts shopping! What you see is what you pay! Hotels do levy tax, though. For the best time in Helena, use the city as a basecamp to explore the nearby Gates of the Mountains recreation area. Scenic Rocky Mountain beauty is just a short drive north.

Best Way To Get Around:

You'll need a car in Helena to get around, although if you want the exercise, foot is okay. Greyhound bus service is available to Helena, and the station is relatively convenient to the city. Cabs are pretty expensive, so get those walking shoes out!

There are dozens of hotels and motels just blocks from the State Capitol, so don't worry about getting around. The Interstate 15 business route through the city (Prospect Ave / 11th Ave) has everything you might want or need, including hundreds of stores and services. Helena is small - don't worry about getting lost.

This American standard is located right off of Interstate 15 on busy exit 192B (Prospect Avenue), on the Oregon street side road. The comfortable rooms come with a very comfortable price. For $33, I received a tiny, but cozy double room with two beds, a desk, and a warm shower.

This is an older building, so don't expect luxury. The hotel needs a paint job, there is no breakfast, the staff are mostly snobby, and the carpets need a cleaning job. But, the beds are comfortable and clean, and the showers work wonders. The jail-cell darkness might not appeal to some, but at this price I was not complaining. The rooms are cramped though, so families will not be very happy here. The only floor space are a few feet along the end of the beds, and the perhaps 4'x4' carpet space next to the bathroom.

The hotel is convenient to everything of interest in Helena. It is a few blocks east of the State Capitol, near all restaurants. Morning coffee is included. Don't expect luxury, but at this price, you will get some basic comforts, and wake up pretty happy in the morning!

Welcome to Helena's premier hotel experience. The Wingate by Wyndham Helena is by far the most comfortable choice for business travellers and tourists alike, the staff going above and beyond the extra mile to make your stay as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

I arrived at this hotel at the reasonably late (or early, depending how you want to look at it) of 1:00 AM. I was promptly greeted by the professional and respectful hotel staff, and my key was ready for me without any paperwork or hassle. Their VIP guests and Wyndham Rewards members are given special honor, with their names adorning an announcement board. I liked this added touch, but some may not.

As I made my way down the very modern, clean corridors, I realized that as a chain, Wingate is a well-oiled machine. Everything is spotless, well-organized, and very comfortable. I entered my room to find a rather spacious living environment, complete with two sizeable Queen Beds with pillowtop mattresses - among the most comfortable I've ever had the pleasure of sleeping on. The pillows were in a word, heaven, whisking me off to sleep in the soft clouds that they are.

My room also included a very well-appointed work area, complete with a cherrywood desk, reading lamp, high-speed internet connection (wireless was available too, and it was of course, free), and cordless phone. The bathroom had marble countertops and clean tile throughout, sparking as I entered. The room came complete with a very large television with pay-per-view, an MP3 capable Wyndham Alarmclock system, a fridge and microwave, as well as a small coffee machine that did one-cup-at-a-time.

In the morning, I enjoyed the free complimentary hot breakfast. While other chains seem to try to disappoint with their meagre bread and jam, and if you're lucky, a bowl of cereal, this hotel goes all-out, serving scrambled eggs, hot grilled breakfast sausages, fresh make-your-own waffles, sliced bacon, and other breakfast goodies.

For a national chain in the "mid-range" category, this hotel will make you feel like you're in a top-end hotel, but the prices will contradict this. Rooms here average around $130 per night, but can be had for under $100 on most of the major travel websites like Expedia and Travelocity.

If your travels bring you to Helena, you can't go wrong with this hotel choice. It is clean, comfortable, and a great place to bide your time while here.

Helena's only Golden Corral location is perhaps its best restaurant in this small city of 26,000 people. This excellent steak buffet has feature days every day, my personal favorites being seafood night on Friday's, and carver's night on Sundays, which features assorted grilled meats (everything you can think of).

Here, you will find tender, juicy steaks - as many as you'd like - for only $9.99 per person. Come for lunch, though, and you'll miss out on the steak and seafood. Lunch is $5.99, and features standard, mostly plain buffet fare. Avoid this unless you're desperate, although at the same price as a McDonald's combo, it's worth a shot.

You will not be disappointed walking out of here. It is packed every night, so get ready to pack a few pounds of steak in! Golden Corral only uses top sirloin, so the steak is guaranteed to make your mouth water. The restaurant is now featuring an "applewood menu", where the meats are slowly smoked over applewood. Their Applewood-smoked bacon-wrapped sirloin is a treat. How much? It's included in the $9.99 price tag!

Full salad bar featuring imitation crab salad, spinach, and taco salad. Full dessert bar featuring everything under the sun, from brownies to rice krispie squares. Drinks are extra, at a reasonable $1.59. Free refills.

Montana's State Capitol is not to be missed. This otherwise sleepy town is home to the center of government for the state, housed in this beautiful building. The building is only open Mondays to Fridays, and free tours of the complex are available. Inquire at the visitor desk after entering the building. You may be asked to go through security, and your belongings may be inspected - this is common in government buildings.

First, head to the rotunda and step foot under the massive dome. Look up, and you will see some very intricate design on the dome. If you are with a tour, you will get the chance to visit the legislature and the senate rooms, and sometimes even sit in the Governor's chair (if he or she is not in office at the time!).

The tour guides are very knowledgeable and will answer any questions about the building or about their state. One of the Capitol's main attractions is its beautiful centerpiece painting, called "Lewis and Clark Meeting Indians at Ross' Hole". This painting is very large, at a whopping 25 feet long and 12 feet high. Anyone interested in art will find this very interesting!

The Capitol may bore young children and those not interested in politics, architecture, or history. Those people can relax outside while us history buffs visit inside. I wouldn't take crying babies in, as they most likely will annoy the politicians who are working within.

Enjoy your visit!