Looking for a quick trip over the long weekend? Here are some fun places to consider.

Well, just like that, summer is here, unofficially as it may be.  After a long winter of slick roads and many of us suffering from at least a mild case of cabin fever, here are a few nearby places that are perfect for an entertaining day trip that the whole family can enjoy.

BANNACK STATE PARK

Just a little over an hour out of town, Bannack State Park just outside of Dillon was the site of a major gold discovery in 1862 and became Montana's first territorial capital.  Almost as quickly as it sprung up, Bannack was abandoned, leaving behind an incredibly large and well-preserved ghost town.  Some say spirits still roam this incredible old mining camp.

OLD MONTANA PRISON MUSEUM

Housing Montana's most hardened criminals from 1871 until the 1970s, the Old Montana Prison today offers both guided and non-guided tours of the amazing old campus and also hosts a bevy of additional displays that the whole family can enjoy.  Check out the Montana Auto Museum, a display on the Yellowstone Trail, the Powell County Museum and much more including a cool gift shop.

PHILIPSBURG, MT

The beautiful drive is fun in itself, traversing through some of Montana's most vibrant scenery, but everyone in the family will find something they enjoy in Philipsburg.  They have several wonderful restaurants, an incredible brewery, an ice cream store with some of the world's best milkshakes and a candy store that is hard to resist.