Aviation View - September 2024

Billings, Montana offers a perfect balance of outdoor adventures, incredible landscapes, arts and culture, culinary offerings, as well as proximity to national points of interest like the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, the Beartooth Scenic Byway, and Yellowstone National Park. Billings, population 120,000, is the county seat of Yellowstone County (pop. 170,000) and the largest city in the state. The city was named after Frederick H. Billings who was a president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The city’s nickname is the “Magic City” due to the rapid growth experienced from being a railroad town in the 1880’s.Today, Billings is also known as Montana’s Trailhead as it is the region’s economic hub. Tourism is a major economic driver for Billings along with agriculture, energy, healthcare, finance, and education. Popular attractions include the Rimrocks which are 70-million-year-old sandstone cliffs that surround much of the city offering incredible views of the region where the mountains meet the plains. The Rimrocks, or Rims, run north and east of the downtown core and rise 500-800 feet tall depending on where you stand. Four Dances National Recreation Area, Swords-Rimrock Park, the Skyline Trail, and Zimmerman Park offer vantage points of the city as well as the Bighorn, Pryor, and Beartooth Mountains.The elevation of Billings is 3,126 feet above sea level. The destination boasts a citywide brewery district with much of it experienced in historic downtown, restaurants featuring local flavors and James Beard finalist chefs, Montana’s only zoo and botanical park, contemporary and western museums, galleries, several theaters, music venues, outdoor community venues, boutique retail, and annual festivals. Billings is home to nearly 50 miles of multi-use trails and 24 miles of bike lanes which help people explore the Rimrocks to the Yellowstone River, which is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48. The city sits near the intersection of Interstates 90 and 94 and offers a firstclass, newly renovated and expanded airport with daily flights to major U.S. cities via Delta, United, American Airlines, Allegiant, Sun Country, and Alaska Airlines. Regional carrier CapeAir also plays an important regional role in air travel and connectivity between Billings and eastern Montana rural communities. Amazing summer weather and snowy winters with bluebird days offer ample opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to experience adventures during all four seasons. More details on Montana’s city at VisitBillings.com.

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