Kirsten Tynan

The very first thing I ever canned was apple butter. It was very easy to make and very easy to can.

To make: Basically, you just let apples and spices and sugar cook in a crockpot for a long time and then use a whisk (once they've cooked quite a bit and lost structural integrity) or an immersion blender to make them into a sauce and cook it all down to the consistency you want.

To can: Canning is easy because you do not need to pressure can this. Water bath covering the jars will do. I believe I did mine in a big spaghetti pot with one of those lift out sieves, and it worked quite nicely. It was only later after I'd convinced myself I could can stuff that wouldn't kill me or anyone else that I invested in the pressure canner.

There are tons of recipes on the web. If you find one that calls for apples to start with and not jars of applesauce, it's probably good. And apples are in no short supply here in western Montana in the fall. I'm guessing your markets are similar there in N. Idaho.

Also, this makes the house smell amazing, and it is delicious in a variety of ways. On pancakes, on toast or English muffins, in wraps, on pork, inside a grilled ham and cheese sandwich...

I am definitely interested in getting to some of these at some point, but I normally work in Helena on Thursdays which makes it somewhat tough most of the time.

My understanding from the town scuttlebutt about Saturday in Pburg is that the owners of the candy store are closed that day for religious reasons so some of the other businesses close that day as well. Not so much in summer, though, since it's our tourist season, but the candy store is definitely closed on Saturdays.

I took a look as I drove by this morning. It looks like Opal Mountain on Broadway is set up with tables in their backyard to screen dirt for gems similar to what you can do at Gem Mountain.

Also, Blue Mountain Observatory is an astronomical observatory with public viewing nights. That could be very awesome, but it's also somewhat weather dependent. If it were me, I'd keep this one quiet and then spring it on the kids as a surprise if it's a go, rather than hyping it and then disappointing them if the weather doesn't work out.

In Missoula, I'd say Big Dipper Ice Cream is a must. Depending on what type of kids they are, they might also like the Smokejumper Center out near the airport. Outdoorsy types might enjoy a Montana Birding and Nature Trails.

Does the presence of Going to the Sun Road on the list mean that outside of Missoula is fair game?

I live on the Pintler Scenic Loop in Philipsburg. We have Granite Ghost Town here just outside of town (less touristy, more gritty/rough and tumble looking than Garnet) as well as Doe Brothers Soda Fountain (recently sold, but open under new management), and the Sweet Palace candy store. If you're willing to go a little off the loop, you can do the sapphire mining thing at Gem Mountain and also hit Skalkaho Falls. You may be able to take Skalkaho Pass over or back, depending on how much or little you think the kids would be into a pretty scenic drive. Also on the scenic loop is a less known feature in Anaconda called the Copper Chute- a 40 foot slide ending in a sand pit.