Flathead Valley vacation
Rimmed by mountains that maintain majestic snow cover year-round, the emerald-tinted Flathead Lake offers a breathtaking welcome as you drop into the Flathead Valley on Montana’s Highway 93.
The Flathead Valley is considered the gateway to a wilderness and recreation area larger than the state of Vermont. This area has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a great couple’s weekend or a fun family getaway. While Glacier Park, to the north, is considered a primary destination for many travelers, the Flathead Valley offers plenty of its own unique charm.
The Flathead Valley is peppered with small- and medium-sized towns, each possessing a unique personality. To the north of Flathead Lake, located at the base of Big Mountain, is Whitefish. Celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, Whitefish offers visitors a tremendous variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Summer activities here include mountain biking and hiking atop Big Mountain. Nature walks on Big Mountain, often led by local experts, give trekkers a chance to take in the natural beauty and learn about the valley’s geologic history. For a more relaxed day on the mountain, gondola rides offer impressive views of the Whitefish, Flathead and Swan mountain ranges.
Located at the base of Big Mountain is one of Whitefish’s premier lodges, the Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Situated on the eastern shore of the lake, this lodge boasts rental condo units for those desiring a little more space than that typically offered with a standard hotel room. Appointed in warm colors, stone gas fireplaces and rich leather furniture, the units look out to Whitefish Lake on one side and Big Mountain on the other. Guests enjoy a cozy stay in the midst of Montana’s natural wonders.
The talk of the town in Whitefish is the new lodge under construction adjacent to the condo units. Opening this fall, the chalet-style Averill’s Lodge at Whitefish Lake will feature 65 new suites, a new dining room and a signature spa. Each room will open to a private balcony with views of the lake or mountains. Kelly Semenza, senior sales manager, said this massive expansion comes in response to booming tourism in the Flathead area – a trend that has been occurring for the last couple of years.
Dawn Stoik, executive director of the Flathead Convention and Visitor Bureau, echoed these thoughts.
“After 9-11, inquiries from visitors increased dramatically,” said Stoik. “People wanted to get out of the city.” Tourism is now Montana’s second-largest industry. “The comfortable feel you have when you’re here is one reason we’re suddenly a very popular destination.”
Business owners agree. Downtown Whitefish didn’t have many new businesses a few years ago. Today, trendy restaurants, shops and galleries line many streets. One of these eclectic eateries is Tupelo Grille and Wine Bar. Owner Patrick Carloss brought his Southern/Cajun cuisine to Whitefish 10 years ago. Wondering if the business would ever make it, Carloss hung tough and today his restaurant is one of Whitefish’s most popular.
Throughout the Whitefish Lake area are numerous boating, kayaking and canoeing options with many locations renting boats and personal watercraft. Golfing is also an option with a variety of courses to challenge all skill levels. In fact, The Flathead Valley was rated one of the 50 Top Golf Destinations of the World by Golf Digest in 2000. Visitors can reserve tee times on any of the area’s nine championship courses through the GolfMontana Web site at www.golfmontana.net.
To the south of Whitefish sits Kalispell, a town with a perfect blend of new and historic buildings filled with interesting shops and restaurants. On summer evenings, the Glacier Symphony and Chorale perform, and art and car shows are scheduled throughout the warmer months. There are plenty of great dining options in Kalispell, including the Knead Café, a local favorite, and Wheat Montana Bakery and Deli, a unique bread and sandwich shop where you can purchase and grind your own mix of wheat into flour. The wheat is grown only a few miles away and is considered some of the best and healthiest around.
Kalispell also is home to some great museums. You don’t want to miss the Hockaday Museum of Art and the Museum at Central School (located within walking distance from one another), each featuring works from local artists and historical displays of the Flathead area.
Also, be certain to stop at the Conrad Mansion and tour Kalispell’s founding father’s home. Locals recommend a stop at the top of Conrad Cemetery (just down the road from the mansion). Behind the Conrad Mausoleum are the “Fairy Steps” — what makes them magical is that you’ll never count the same number of steps going down as you do going up, no matter how hard you try!
At the northern tip of Flathead Lake is Bigfork. Like many other spots around the lake, Bigfork is home to a variety of unique places to stay, including old-fashioned log lodges, quaint cottages and upscale condos. One such destination is the Marina Cay Resort, featuring a private marina for guests. Marina Cay staff can rent you a boat, wave runner, canoe, aqua cycle and just about any other kind of watercraft. The resort also features an award-winning dining room, lounge, casino and Tiki Bar. Rooms look out over Flathead Lake and are decorated with lodge- and mission-style furnishings.
Downtown Bigfork has made quite a name for itself – and for good reason. It was recently named among the 50 Great Towns in the West and the 100 Best Small Towns. Numerous galleries line the western-themed Main Street. Diverse restaurants and shops give visitors a unique taste of Montana lifestyle. One such restaurant, Montana Bistro on Electric, sits on the second floor overlooking a courtyard and Bigfork’s bustling main thoroughfare.
Also located in downtown Bigfork is the trailhead of the self-guided Swan River nature trail. The two-mile trek (great for all ages) takes you along one of the Flathead Valley’s most beautiful river basins.
The Flathead Lake shoreline is interspersed with numerous lodges, marinas, parks, restaurants and shops. Traveling the roads that follow the shoreline you find stunning lake views and plenty of small family-owned cherry orchards. During the summer, fruit stands along the highway feature fresh area-grown fruits. Lake cruises, parasailing and even a winery, Mission Mountain Winery, can be found along Flathead Lake. In addition, several of the communities feature acclaimed summer theatre.
Whether it’s the outdoor recreation, culinary destinations or arts and entertainment, the Flathead Valley offers visitors an unforgettable experience.