Old homesteads throughout the Bitterroot Valley in Northwest Montana prove that this is the oldest continuously inhabited area of the state. Named for the bitter flower that is native to the valley, the Bitterroot National Forest is 1.6 million acres of diverse terrain ranging from grasslands for grazing cattle to high alpine lakes teeming with brown trout for the avid angler. Northwest Montana, which encompasses the Bitterroot Valley and other national parks, is a vast geographical area with mountains, rivers and forests. The nearest urban center is the city of Missoula. For more information go to: www.gonorthwest.com/Montana/Montana.

So magical is Sun Valley, Idaho that it is often called the “American Shargri-La.” With the distinction of being America’s first destination ski resort, Sun Valley has long enjoyed a reputation as a glamorous playground for the rich and famous. Along with the adjacent town of Ketchum, Sun Valley appeals in both summer and winter, replete with golf courses, multiple theater companies, an opera, 70 restaurants, cross-country trails and some of the finest fishing in the Western United States. For more information go to: www.sunvalley.com.