Virtually every state in Union produces cattle. Most produce sheep as well. Why is it that no other state carries quite mystique that Montana so easily holds? My visit to working ranches of Sweet Grass County gave me some hints. Nestled in Yellowstone River Valley, with Crazy Mountains to north and Beartooth Range to south, place feels like a story unto itself.

The western fringes of Great Plains were white with spring snow as plane descended into Billings airport. From there it was a ninety-mile drive up eastern shoulders of Rockies to Sweet Grass County and town of Big Timber. The county is home to Montana Bunkhouses, and I was returning after an initial visit last summer. This group of cattle and sheep operations offers authentic ranch experiences to visitors who want to be guests, not tourists.

Note: Wait for slide shows to appear, 1 photo every 10 seconds.

I didn't feel like a tourist at Sanders Ranch. Heck, I felt more like a groupie. Lynn Sanders plays electric guitar and croons like Ray Price. (What, you don't know that name?) Lynn's wife Julie plays a mean piano. Steve and Sheryl Richert and Terry and Wyoma Terland came from their ranches. Their friend Tom brought his electric bass, and Tom's wife Deb took a turn on keyboard. After a delicious dinner of soups, bread and dessert — all homemade — we enjoyed a performance by musicians. I found it entertaining just to hear that these people could spend their day deciding which animals to send to market and their evening choosing appropriate key in which to play "Sioux City Sue."

The annual Carnival celebrations in St. Thomas and St. Croix Triathalon have strengthened .U.S. Virgin Islands fame as number one destination for travelers worldwide at a time when 2003 edition of USA Today ranked Carnival among top 10 in world. (Photo above: Arryl Donovan with Inferno Troup in his dragon costume )

A beaming Commissioner of Tourism Pamela C. Richards noted: "I've always known that pageantry of our Carnival celebrations was extraordinary. It's incredibly encouraging to have a highly-read national publication feel same way."

The article, "10 Great Places For Pre-Lenten Bacchannalia", outlined top 10 pre-and post-Lenten festivals in world. St. Thomas's Carnival was recognized for its African and European customs, including music, dancing and masquerades, and touted as one of largest Spring Carnival celebrations in Caribbean. Events for 2003 celebration got underway on April 6 and ended on May 4.

Fifty-five troupes in bright holiday wear, towering Mocko Jumbies, steel pan bands and double decker trucks rocking under pressure of tramping fans as well as twirling majorettes, thrilled thousands of revellers as they marched from Western Cemetery to Lionel Roberts Stadium.

The revellers took to streets in a display of gaiety and splendor, matched only by brightly colored attire of participants who jumped up and gyrated to melodious tunes and rhythms of several leading bands.

Onlookers dressed in multi-colored holiday attire and a rainbow of colors could not resist getting into act by jumping up, screeming, shouting and singing along to pulsating rhythms and tunes being belted out by various bands in Adult Parade.

Carnival Queen 2003 Janelle Sarauw captivated crowd with her charming smile and constant waving to onlookers. Montserrat's small troupe of masqueraders made their way down Main Street cracking whips against pavement, while Hugga Bunch, one of largest troupes with floats, included some 300 dangers. Cherri Boynes-Jackson led Hugga Bunch down Main Street in her Carmen Miranda Samba Queen costume for she won Queen of Band. The bright pink costume, about 12 feet tall and about nine feet across, was so massive that Jackson had to attach wheels to it so that two hour crawl along Main Street would go smoothly.

Members of Jus' Action troupe poured bottled water over themselves and squirted water over each other with water guns to keep cool under a blazing sun.

Other performers included traditional Indians, dressed in mutli-colored feathered headdresses, beating drums and intermittently echoing Native American war cries.