Montana: There’s Nothing Here
Glacier National Park
I thought that Flight of the Conchords had the funniest tourism posters, but my own state has outdone the brilliant comedians.
Travel Montana, which is in charge of promoting Montana to tourists, is running a series of magazine advertisements featuring scenic Glacier and Yellowstone National Park photographs and the slogan “Montana: There’s Nothing Here” with the accompanying ad copy:
“There is nothing here. Nothing but grizzlies and wolves and bison and trout.
Nothing but fresh huckleberry pie for breakfast—with a friendly conversation on the side.
And nothing but the growing embers of the evening’s campfire to remind you that we get to do it all over again tomorrow. Montana. You just never know.”
Um. Montana. You just never know?
As the Great Falls Tribune pointed out today, this is a little underwhelming (and puzzling, I might add). They paid someone to come up with that?
What’s wrong with our official monikers? Montana is the Treasure State, some also call it Big Sky Country, and William Kittredge dubbed it, The Last Best Place. Now, Tourism Montana has provided us with, “Montana: You Never Know.”
The Tribune commented, “That’s like saying “Montana: What the heck?” or “Montana: north of Wyoming.”
Without any expectation of payment, I would like to nominate a few slogans for Montana Tourism to consider as well, such as:
“Montana: Thank god it’s not Wyoming,” or “Montana: The Last Best Place to buy your second home.”
Or how about:
“Montana: Only 9 months of winter.”
My Floridian father-in-law is terrified of grizzly bears, so for him I’d like to suggest,
“Montana: Grizzly bears aren’t as scary as alligators,” or “Montana: Where you don’t have to buy an air conditioner to survive.”
But seriously, Montana is paradise in the summer, and as wild and beautiful a place as you’ll ever see, and I do recommend a trip.
So, how about: “Montana: Let’s keep it that way.”
Sphere: Related ContentTags: advertisement, funny, humor, marketing, Montana, tourism, travel
May 8th, 2009 at 11:39 am
How about? Montana: The Beauty is Infinite. I love Montana, but I’ve only been there in the summer. Once we went to Glacier in August to beat the heat in Kansas City. It turned out to be a record hot week in Glacier, in the mid-90s during the day, and it was in the 60s in Kansas City. Still very beautiful!
May 8th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I couldn’t think of any slogans as funny as yours or FOTC’s. Since I’m so lame, maybe the Montana Tourist Industry should hire me!
Oh, come on – I like the Beauty is Infinite one … and yes, Montana has extreme temperatures. But at least it is a dry heat. If you come up to Glacier again you have to let me know. I’ll show you some favorite places/hikes. Janelle
May 8th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Could be worse department
North Dakota – You don’t want to visit: We don’t want to live here
Oklahoma – We’re OK, You’re not
Alabama – The Third World, but easier to get to
Kentucky – Tobacco is a vegetable
Nevada- We have our own nuclear testing site
These are great! I love tobacco is a vegetable. I thought it was an herb? Janelle
May 8th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
P.S. I didn’t make these up – go figure
May 9th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I agree!
Good writing with a smile.
May 10th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I don’t know what to say – I’m underwhelmed and am planning a trip to Alabama, as I’ve always wanted to visit the Third World, but am cash strapped ATM. My students each received a state quarter and had to research the symbols. (I call it “CSI” (Coin State Investigation), but they don’t get to snap on latex gloves. One boy, originally from Mexico, got Montana. It was hard enough trying to explain the “Big Sky” concept to him…
“Montana – Any farther north and you’d be in Canada”
Ha! Ha! I love it. I’ll add it to the list. I love the coin state project. I can see how Big Sky could be a confusing one to teach (aren’t all skies big?). Janelle