Government Shutdown Ruined My Montana Vacation

What else is there to do in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana other then visiting Yellowstone & other national parks? The government shutdown pretty much guarantees that Yellowstone will be closed, and that is what I was spending money on going to see. I bought $1396 worth of plane tickets, according to the airlines they are non refundable - They are willing to give me a travel credit, but they want to charge me a $200 rebooking fee to do so and I will lose my rental car that was attached to my ticket. I just lost my job on Friday (The trip was planned way before this happened), and I was just looking forward to one nice thing. Any ideas would be awesome....

Some of the readers suggestions included making an attempt to visit the state parks. Sure, the national parks are closed, but there is still much beauty left in each state without the need to pay your way into the government operated areas.

Just getting in a car and driving is not too bad of an idea either. Just so long as you have a map, of course. Each of these states serve up plenty of roads and trails to explore. Other redditors suggest Colorado Springs, Jackson Hole in Wyoming, and for good measure I'll pitch in Flathead Lake up in Polson,Montana for some jaw-dropping beauty.

Other scores of advice include renting an ATV, winging it and staying in random hotels just for fun, and staying Colorado to smoke some pot...

Any advice? Now that the government has closed the gates on national parks what would you recommend to the tourists anxious to explore us?