110 Things To Do Outside Of Glacier National Park

Planes, Trains & Autos

Hey Guys!

I thought I would do something a little different.

We have been to GNP twice now….once in 2020 to visit the West side & again this year (Sept. 2021), to visit the East side since it was closed last year due to Covid.

Read my blog posts on Glacier Park – here, here, here, here, here, here, here, . Read my blog posts from 2021 here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here

I follow several Facebook Glacier pages & would see a lot of people asking what there was to do  outside of the park.

So, I compiled a list of 110 things to do outside of the park.

Note: Just an FYI – I have recently had this information stolen from me by people on one of the Facebook pages I followed …so, if you see anyone with this information, just know that I am the original author of the list.

  1. White water rafting – Glacier Raft Co is one of the most popular – they offer several different tours – other companies include Glacier Guides, River Wild & Great Northern Whitewater Rafting
  2. Zip-lining – Glacier Zipline $79 for 2 hrs – Glacier Highline , Whitefish Mountain Resort & more
  3. Bike rental – (can rent for inside or outside of park) – Glacier Guides (mountain bikes $55 a day or Ebikes $130 a day) – Glacier Outfitters (Ebike $117, hybrid $52, road $67) & more
  4. Hungry Horse Dam– At 564 feet high, it’s one of the largest concrete arch dams in the United States – 25 min drive from West Entrance
  5. Big Fork – named “One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in the Nation” – Bigfork is an exceptionally lovely, upscale, year-round resort village that is brimming with art galleries, fine restaurants, golf, high-end boutiques and live theater.
  6. Drive Hwy 2– the alternate road you can take to get from the West side of the park to the East (or vice versa) Stops along the way: Silver Staircase Falls (roadside), Goat Lick Overlook (see mountain goats), Skiumah lake (2 mi r/trip) and Stanton Lake 4.3 mi r/trip, have lunch at the historic Izaac Walton Inn
  7. Polebridge Mercantile – try out the Huckleberry Bear claws or the many other delicious baked goods – visit the nearby Bowman and Kintla lakes – 30 mins from the mercantile but inside the park – have lunch at Northern Lights Saloon right beside the mercantile
  8. Fishing – Glacier Guides and others offer fishing tours – or rent fishing gear from Glacier Raft Co
  9. The Mysterious Vortex and House of Mystery in Columbia falls – The Montana Vortex is a genuine quantum or gravitational anomaly that may re-define the laws of physics and nature. This internationally famous sacred site is located just thirteen miles west of Glacier National Park, and has been mystifying and exciting visitors for forty four years.
  10. Big Sky Brews Cruise– Whitefish area – 21+ – 4 hr tour – Tours offered Tues, Fri, Sat & Sun. Min of 4 passengers and a maximum of 10. The tour includes 3 stops to participating breweries, cideries , wineries and/or tap house in and around Whitefish, Kalispell, Columbia Falls and/or Flathead Lake area; a behind-the-scenes look at a craft brewery facility with an overview of the brewing process; and 4 samples of beer at each stop. $64 pp or custom tours for $695 per tour up to 11 people.
  11. Whitefish Historical Walking tours – A full walking tour guide is available at the Whitefish Museum, operated by Stumptown Historical Society, in the Whitefish train depot and at the Whitefish Visitor Info Center. Explore the covered sidewalks of Central Avenue and downtown Whitefish and read the history of the various buildings in this section of town.
  12. Hot air balloon rides – 2FlyUs out of Kalispel (June-Sept – 2-3 hrs – $325 pp or private flight $1625) – Mountain Butterfly – Blackfoot River/Flathead Mission area 1-2 hrs & others
  13. Rent a Boat at one of the nearby lakes – Flathead Lake, Lakeside, Hungry Horse Reservoir – Ashley Lake
  14. Take a Boat Tour on Lakeside Lake – 1 hr from the West Entrance – Far West Boat Tours – or Flathead Lake Sailing & Charters – on Flathead Lake 1 hr from West Entrance (not operating in 2021)
  15. Amazing Fun Center in Columbia Falls – has the The first 2-level, human-sized wooden maze ever built in North America – a unique 18-hole miniature golf course – a bumper boat pond with a fountain and electric boats that can squirt water at each other, a Bankshot Basketball and a deluxe go cart track.
  16. Horseback Riding – Bar W Ranch in Kalispel (featured on the Bachelor), Swan Mountain Outfitters , Glacier Gateway Outfitters near Two Medicine area, (Trips inside the park originate from Apgar and Lake McDonald near West Glacier and from Many Glacier near St. Mary. Half day and full day trips are available) Artemis Acres Guest Ranch in Kalispel is a Western lodging and horseback riding facility
  17. Explore ghost towns in Garnet – 3 hrs from West Glacier – Coloma – 2 hrs 45 mins from West Glacier – Beartown – 3 hrs from West – Keystone – 3 hrs from West – Pardee/Hall Gultch – 3 hrs from West – Taft – 3 hrs from West – Read more here
  18. Golf – Glacier View Golf Club & Meadow Lake Golf Course both in Columbia Falls & others around Whitefish & Kalispel – Eagle Bend Golf Course in Big Fork is a 27-hole course that is divided into three 9-hole courses. The third 9-hole course was designed by Jack Nicklaus….on the East side, Glacier Park Lodge and Resort attracts golf enthusiasts and leisure travelers to the Flathead Valley area each year, and the resort’s Glacier Park Golf Course is Montana’s oldest grass greens course. The nine-hole, par-36 course is 3,300 yards long. The venue features a miniature golf course for families and young children, and the season runs from the middle of May to the middle of October.
  19. Play Miniature Golf – Golfing to the Sun in West Glacier and Amazing Fun Center in Columbia Falls
  20. Drive the Lake Koocanusa scenic byway to Libby and visit Kootenai Falls and the suspension bridge – the scenic byway is a paved sixty-seven mile drive in Northwest Montana that runs between Eureka and Libby. Open year-round. The Revanant with Leo DCaprio was filmed there. Drive 35 mins past the falls to see ancient cedars at Ross Creek Cedars
  21. Eat ice cream at Sweet Peaks in Whitefish or Kalispel – family run company nationally recognized. They use locally sourced ingredients & are committed to quality ingredients and unique flavors.
  22. Visit one of the many Farmers Market – Locations: Whitefish on Tues – Bigfork & Cut Bank on Wed – Columbia Falls & Libby on Thurs – West Glacier & Polson on Fri – Kalispel on Sat – Seeley Lake on Sun (a lot of them carry the baked goods from the Polebridge Mercantile)
  23. Rent a canoe, kayak or SUP on one of the many surrounding lakes – Sea Me Paddle in Lakeside – Great Northern Whitewater Raft – Base Camp in Bigfork – Paddle Board Outfitters near Flathead lake & others
  24. Drive around Flathead Lake and make stops along the way – check out the many cherry orchards – have lunch at Burgertown Dairy Freeze in Bigfork
  25. Seeley Lake – 2 hrs from West Glacier (1 hr from Missoula) – the area offers trails, historic ranching communities, the Lewis and Clark Trail, old mining ghost towns and much more. Drive the Seeley-Swan Scenic Drive – The Seeley-Swan scenic drive is a 90-mile long corridor along Highway 83 stretching through the Swan Valley from Seeley Lake to Swan Lake. This is lake country. Hundreds of natural lakes, ranging in size from a few acres to several thousands of acres, are squeezed into this narrow, heavily forest valley.
  26. Placid Lake State Park – 15 mins from Seeley Lake – The state park sits on 31 acres at the eastern end of Placid Lake – offers camping, fishing and water sports
  27. Bob Marshall Wilderness –Together, the Great Bear, Bob Marshall, and Scapegoat Wildernesses form the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, an area of more than 1.5 million acres. This is the third largest wilderness complex in the lower 48 states. The Jewel Basin Hiking Area is a unique 15,000 acre hiking area maintained exclusively for hiking and camping. This high mountain area is popular for backpacking, fishing and plant and wildlife viewing.
  28. Have a nice steak dinner at Summit Mountain Lodge and Steakhouse – Dining with a view -Our restaurant prides itself on using fresh, local beef and produce and making everything, from our marinades to sauces to salad dressings, in the kitchen. Our food is fresh and original. Our two executive chefs believe in quality, taste and presentation. The food is rivaled only by the east glacier restaurant views. 50 mins from W. Glacier – open 5-9 pm daily except closed on Mondays. They also offer cabins for rent.
  29. ATV Tours with Glacier Ridge runners or northwest Montana adventure and click here & here for more
  30. Conrad Mansion Museum in Kalispel – Tues – Fri – 10 -4 – walk ins welcomed for self guided tour ($12) or call and make a reservation for a guided tour ($20). Built in 1895, the Conrad Mansion offers a glimpse into the life of a Montana pioneer.
  31. Whitefish Mountain Resort – take the gondola or ski lift to the top and shop or have lunch, hike the popular Danny on Trail – or enjoy the many other activities located here
  32. Whitefish City Beach – a 7-mile-long glacial lake – The park has a sandy beach, shaded grass area, designated swimming area, docks, gazebos, and picnic tables. During the summer, Paddlefish Sports offers and kayak and paddleboard rentals.
  33. Lone Pine State Parkin Kalispel – The day-use state park’s 270 acres include 7.5 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and horseback riding.
  34. Echo Lake– Echo Lake is a small lake located five miles from Bigfork and 25 miles from Kalispell. The lake is filled by warm springs and a small amount of mountain runoff from Echo Creek, making it one of the warmest lakes in the Flathead Valley.
  35. Whitefish Lake State Park– sits on 10 acres – has 25 campsites – Boating, swimming, camping and fishing are popular activities and the lake is rarely windy so it provides ideal conditions for water-skiing
  36. Flathead National Forest – 2.4 million acres – With lakes galore, rugged wilderness, wild rivers, over 2,000 miles of trail, campgrounds, ski areas, and year-round beauty, this forest is a premiere natural landscape of the American West.
  37. The Whitefish Trail– The Whitefish Trail currently consists of 12 trailheads and 42+ miles of natural surface trail comprised of stacked loops, scenic overlooks, single‐track trails, and gated logging roads.
  38. Big Sky Waterpark in Columbia Falls – 10 exciting water slides, a huge whirl pool, kid’s activity pool, mini golf, bumper cars and more. $22.99 – $27.99 full day
  39. Swan Lake – 1 hr from West Glacier – Tucked in the picturesque Seeley-Swan Valley and located at the southern tip of its namesake—Swan Lake—the once-hopping timber camp of Swan Lake is well-known for incredible outdoor recreation. Year-round visitors use the town as a launching point for fishing area lakes and streams, hiking, birding, dog sledding and backcountry skiing nearby mountains. A popular ice skating lake during the winter. For excellent bird viewing opportunities, visit the Swan River Wildlife Refuge—home to osprey, cranes, bald eagles and a variety of ducks.
  40. Visit the St. Ignatius Mission – The St. Ignatius Mission was built in the early 1890’s. This Catholic Church is unique because its walls and ceilings have 58 original paintings by Brother Joseph Carignano on them. The Mission Mountain Range is a beautiful backdrop of scenery behind the Mission Church. The church is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation. – 2 hrs from West Glacier
  41. Visit the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas – Established as an international center for peace in 2000, the 750-foot circular monument sits on ten acres of rich natural land comprising the garden. The statuary is arranged in the formation of a “wheel of dharma” meant to represent the “Noble Eightfold Path” which encompasses the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. – 15 mins from #40
  42. Pablo National Wildlife Refuge– is 2,500 acres of water, marsh, and upland grassland. The refuge provides nesting and resting areas for migratory birds and other wildlife. Shaped by glacial activity approximately 12,000 years ago. – 30 mins from #40
  43. Visit the National Bison Range –  the Bison Range is well-known for its incredible wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities. The primary means of access is by vehicle with some limited walking trails. – 30 mins from #40
  44. Visit the Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge– This exceptional wetland complex contains over 800 glacial potholes and a 1,770-acre reservoir. About 200 bird species have been recorded. – 20 mins from #42
  45. Visit the Safe Harbor Marsh – Within the 132-acre preserve, various plant and animal communities radiate out in concentric rings from the open water at the core of the marsh to the rocky cliffs facing Flathead Lake. It also lies within the boundaries of the Flathead Indian Reservation, an area rich in both biological and cultural resources.
  46. Woodland Water Park – The Woodland Water Park is the only outdoor waterpark in the City of Kalispel. Activity Pool has zero-depth entry with water features making it perfect for young children. Two 3 story waterslides, large lazy river with water features & six lane lap pool
  47. Visit the Miracle of America Museumin Polson – open daily 9 – 5 – admission is free – $10 pp – dedicated to the preservation of one of the largest collections of American history
  48. Visit the many historic hotels around Glacier and have lunch or stroll the grounds- Izaak Walton on Hwy 2 – the Belton Chalet right outside the West Entrance – Tamarack Lodge & Cabins – 1o mins from West Entrance – Double Arrow Resort near Seeley Lake is the first “Dude Ranch” – built in 1929 (Inside the park Many Glacier & Lake McDonald)
  49. Visit a local brewery – Montana is the second state in the nation (behind Vermont) for number of breweries per capita, and Whitefish – a town of just 8,000 that has two of them (Bonsai Brewing Project, Backslope Brewing, Sacred Waters Brewing Co & more)
  50. Take a Coffee Tour – Montana Coffee Traders runs tours of their roastery (located on Hwy. 93, not at the downtown coffee shop) every Friday at 10:00am. Space is limited, so make sure you call ahead for a reservation.
  51. Theatre: Both the Whitefish Theater Company and Alpine Theater Project host frequent shows, including plays, concerts, readings, and other special events. Bigfork Summer Playhouse is planning to celebrate its 62nd Season of live professional theatre in 2021.
    June 5th opening date – Several new shows and some favorites: Jersey Boys, 9 to 5, Bonnie & Clyde, Lucky Stiff and The HITS of the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s. This summer we plan to bring back the ever popular Benefit Revue (scholarship show and gala).
  52. Visit a Museum/Art Gallery – On the East side, you have the The John L. Clarke Western Art Gallery & Memorial Museum that features a collection of turquoise jewelry, wood carvings, original paintings and bronzes from Montana artists. You also have the Museum of the Plains Indian and the LodgePole Gallery & Tipi Village on the East. In Whitefish, there’s Sunti World Art Gallery, Going to the Sun Gallery, The Purple Pomegranate and more.
  53. Take a Helicopter Tour – Kruger Helicop Tours out of West Glacier offers a 30 min tour for 1-4 persons ($595 each to $150 each) and a one hour tour for 1-4 persons ($1180-$295 each) 406-387-4565 – Glacier Aviation Services out of of Kalispel offers helicopter and airplane tours – Glacier International Airport | 4170 Highway 2 | Kalispell – 406.387.4141 | 877.811.1142 – Montana Air Adventures (a division of Red Eagle Aviation) offers scenic flights from an airplane – contact them at 406-755-2376 (located in Kalispell)
  54. Go see a Movie – Mountain Cinema in Whitefish & Signature Stadium in Kalispell – both on West side – Glacier Cinemas in Polson on the East side
  55. Antique shops – In Whitefish you have Big Sky Antiques, Cowboy Cabin, Pine Cone Hill Trading Co & more..in Columbia Falls you have Station 8 & Bad Rock Betty…  (there’s also cabin rentals) In Kalispell you have Kalispell Antiques Market. You have Meadowlark Vintage in Babb on the East side and Second Hand Antiques in Hungry Horse and so many more around the area.
  56. Paint & Sip – try out your artistic abilities at one of the many painting businesses – In Kalispel you have the Tipsy Brush & Artisan Oyster. In Whitefish you have Canvas & Cocktails at Stumptown Art Studio & Good Medicine Lodge (a B&B also)
  57. Go Skydiving – Skydive Whitefish offers a tandem jump from an altitude of 10,ooo ft for $279 – this also includes a 20 min scenic flight
  58. Take a Cooking Class – Trovare in Whitefish offers cooking classes or order one of their picnic pack cheese boxes
  59. Stay at a Dude Ranch – the Bar W Ranch in Whitefish offers many different packages and activities and was even featured on the Bachelor – Deep Canyon Guest Ranch and JJ Wilderness Ranches are both located 2.5 hrs from West Glacier. Artemis Acres Guest Ranch is a Western lodging and horseback riding facility in Kalispel that offers many activities and lodging.
  60. Take a Train ride – book a train ride from Whitefish to Essex & have lunch at the historic Izaak Walton hotel or book a ride from Whitefish to East Glacier Park
  61. Visit a Winery – Unleashed in Whitefish is a tasting room and gathering space. They offer locally-crafted wines inspired by the flavors of their mountain town. Glacier Sun Winery in Kalispel is famously known for their Huckleberry Peach wine. Tailing Loop Winery in Kalispel features a variety of red and white wines from all branches of the wine spectrum. They also have Live Music, Food Trucks, and $5 Mimosas to pair with your shopping experience. Family and pet-friendly! There are other wineries as well.
  62. Go Dog Sledding – Base Camp Bigfork is a tour company that offers many different excursions in the Bigfork area, a coveted one of which is dog sledding. You’ll have the opportunity to go mushing with an actual sled dog team and learn how the harnesses work and how the dogs are cared for.
  63. Go Cross Country Skiing– One of the best winter activities to do in Bigfork is cross-country skiing.If you have a Montana Recreational Use License you can access over six miles of groomed cross-country skiing terrain at the Bigfork Community Nordic Center.The Blacktail Mountain Nordic Trails are also a great option as they’re groomed daily between December and March and cover over 15 miles at an elevation of up to 5,000 feet.
  64. Go Mountain biking – While in Bigfork, you’re close to many trails that are prime for traversing with a mountain bike. Use your own mountain bike or rent a mountain bike from one of the many rental shops in town. Beardance Tail is an especially popular trail for mountain biking in Bigfork due to its varied terrain and exciting to navigate obstacles. The trail is just under 14 miles to the top and back down.
  65. Attend a Festival – In Bigfork for Memorial Day Weekend you can attend the annual Bigfork Whitewater Festival – or Festival Amadeus – a week long classical music festival in Aug – or the Whitefish Songwriter Festival – Sept 16-18 -features hit songwriters from Nashville and Rising Stars from across North America including Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Alberta, and Nashville that will share their songwriting, creativity, and stories with you. The Huckleberry Fest in Whitefish Aug 13-15 – over 100 vendors of fine arts, crafts and great food, the festival also includes a mobile climbing wall for kids & adults, live music on the Community Stage and a Huckleberry bake-Off! Admission is free; Oktoberfest in Whitefish – September 23-25 AND Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2, 2021 and the Whitefish Arts Festival July 2 -4 or the Cherry Festival in July in Polson, MT
  66. Attend a Rodeo – Brash Rodeo in Columbia Falls May 29th at 6 pm. Blue Moon Rodeo in Columbia Falls – Every week of the summer, on either Thursday or Saturday night the Blue Moon Rodeo will provide you with some of Montana`s best riders and ropers. Glacier County Rodeo in Columbia Falls – Western Montana`s longest running Series Rodeo. Featuring bull riding, bareback, saddlebronc, team roping, tie down roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing. Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo in Kalispel and more.
  67. Visit an orchard – pick your own fruit at one of the many orchards – Hockaday Orchard in Lakeside – pick your own cherries – Picking begins usually in late July as fruit ripens; We normally run a week to 10 days, but can go up to two weeks; Brigadoon Orchard in Bigfork (cherries) – Fat Robin Orchard & Farm in Polson -(apples & cherries) – Getman’s Cherry Red Orchard -Bigfork (cherries, apples, pears, peaches, plums & raspberries) – Spotted Bear Vineyard & Lavender Farm in Polson (cherries) There is a lovely vineyard, lavender farm and guest house on the property for you to enjoy with a beautiful view of the East bay of Flathead Lake and the mountains.
  68. Go Flyfishing– There are numerous flyfishing outfitters who will take you on a guided expedition or will make it easy for you to rent the equipment you need. Popular places to go flyfishing near Bigfork include the Flathead River and Swan River.
  69. Go Bowling – Pin & Cue in Whitefish – Pick’s Bowling Center in Big Fork – Glacier Lanes Montana in Columbia Falls
  70. Go to a Casino – Victorian Casino in Whitefish – Emerald City Casino in Whitefish – Buster’s Casino & Liquor Store – Magic Diamond Casino in Columbia Falls – Lucky Lil’s Casino in Kalispell- Windiggers Casino in Kalispel – The Remington Bar in Whitefish – Kelly’s Pub & Casino in Columbia Falls and more
  71. Visit the Huckleberry Patch Restaurant & Gift shop for all things huckleberry. Pick your own berries – available for picking between mid-August and mid-September or stop at one of the many fruit stands in the area and purchase some. They sell cherries too when they are in season.
  72. Visit Wild Horse Island State Park – The largest island in the largest freshwater lake (Flathead Lake) west of Minnesota. Wild Horse Island has been a landmark since the Salish-Kootenai Indians were reported to have used it to pasture horses to keep them from being stolen by other tribes. The park is noted for its wildlife including bighorn sheep, mule deer, songbirds, waterfowl, bald eagles, and falcons, as well as five wild horses. You can access the park by boat only – Rent a boat or take a boat – Shuttle Costs:$45 /person, $20 /child 7 and under$20 /child 7 and under, $40 /person with 3 or more adults. Shuttles Depart: 9 am and return at 12:30pm 12, Noon and return at 3:30pm, 3 pm and return at 6:30pm. Call 406.260.5090 to reserve a seat – 1 hr from West Glacier
  73. Rent a Jet Ski – Marina at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake – Paddle Board Oufitters – Flathead Wild Wave Rentals offers jet skis for 1/2 day for $295 – $350 and full days for $395 – $425 and many others – Flyboard of Montana in Whitefish
  74. Go Water Skiing – Flathead Wakeboard Academy – Whitefish Marine – Rosewater Ski Community – Marina at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake
  75. Go Snow Skiing – The Whitefish Mountain Resort offers 3,000+ acres of skiing trails – they offer ski lessons as well.. Turner Mountain in Libby offers excellent snow conditions, wide-open slopes, beautiful scenery, no crowds and affordable lift tickets. Combine all that with a vertical drop of 2,110 feet and 25 named runs and you have a successful day on the slopes. Blacktail Mountain is 45 minutes from downtown Kalispel -With 250 inches of snow each year, Blacktail Mountain is an ideal family-friendly ski destination. Ski its light, dry powder and take in the brilliant views of Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park and the Mission Mountains.
  76. Book a Massage or Spa Day – The Spa at Whitefish Lake offers all kinds of wonderful services from a couples massage to a Lakefront massage that includes extra time to enjoy a hibiscus spritzer and Montana’s fresh air! Seasonally available from mid-June thru mid-September. There’s Natural Elements Massage & Spa in Whitefish that offers massages, foot scrubs, body wraps and so much more. The Firebrand Hotel in Whitefish offers facials, couples massage and more….and many other spas in the area.
  77. Tube the Whitefish River – rent a tube from Whitefish Outfitters – Think mellow, relaxing, and family friendly.
  78. Book a Romantic Love Package – at The Lodge at Whitefish – package includes Two nights’ lodging in your choice of accommodations, $250 Spa gift card, Room service breakfast on one morning, Picnic lunch – perfect for a day exploring Montana’s natural beauty, $100 Boat Club gift card
  79. Try Flyboarding – Flyboard of Montana in Whitefish – Flyboarding is an exciting extreme water sport that will literally take you to new heights. Attach it to your personal watercraft, hop on and the water will be propelled beneath your feet on the device. It is essentially a hoverboard you can use on water. First time flyer – $150 – 1 hr up to 2 riders $250 – 4 hrs up to 8 riders $750 – 8 hrs up to 10 riders $1500 – 10 hrs up to 15 riders $2000 – (They also rent jet skis and boats)
  80. Go Snowmobiling – Whitefish Marine rents snowmobiles & offers snowmobile tours – Northwest Montana Adventures – Northwest Montana Adventures in Olney (1 hr from West Glacier) rents snowmobiles and does tours as well (they also offer ATV rentals) – Action Rentals in Olney rents snowmobiles & ATVs –
  81. Rent an RV – Whitefish Marine offers 5th wheels and travel trailers – Whitefish RV Rentals – from camper vans to pull behinds they have everything you need – others in the area as well
  82. Do a Llama Trek – Guests can choose to lead or hike with their own llama, or hike without a llama (the guides can lead your llama at any time throughout the hike). The half-day llama trek includes a moderate 2.3 mile (4.6 mile round-trip) hike to beautiful Bond Falls. After arriving at Bond Falls, guides will prepare a creek side lunch including a wide array of deli meats, cheeses, spreads, bread, veggies, fruits and yummy snacks. Contact Swan Mountain Llama Trekking – they offer several different tours – 1(406) 387-4405. Their address is: 26356 Soup Creek Road, Swan Lake, MT 59911. Call toll free at 1(877) 888-5557.
  83. Attend the People’s Market – 3 miles west of East Glacier at the Bison Creek Ranch every Fri & Sat from 3-9, June – Sept. Food, vendors, art and crafts booths, music, wagon rides and more.
  84. Check out a Book Store – there are many unique used book stores in the area – Bookwork of Whitefish – Voyageur Booksellers – Bad Rock Books – Blacktail Mountain Books in Kalispel and more.
  85. Visit Big Mountain Ciderworks – a family owned & operated orchard & cidery in Kalispel. Weekdays and Saturday: they offer their full menu from 3-8 PM and appetizers from 8-9 PM Sunday: they offer their full menu from 12-5:30 PM and appetizers from 5:30-6 PM
  86. Visit the Creston National Fish Hatchery in Kalispel – established in 1939 – visit our hatchery, take a nature hike around the grounds and learn about the wonders of the aquatic world around us.
  87. Visit Crown of the Continent Discovery Center – this one stop shop near Glacier National Park is famous among tourist and locals – why? They offer Montana made ice cream, a bar serving local beer, cocktails and wine, coffee & espresso, lunches/food to go, made in Montana gifts & souvenir shop, outdoor recreation gear, horseback trail rides, moped rentals, petting zoo and much more
  88. Have Coffee – enjoy a delicious cup of coffee at one of the many coffee shops in the area – Fieldhead’s Coffee Co in Kalispel buys specialty Arabica beans which make up only 10 percent of the worldwide coffee production. Montana Coffee Traders in Whitefish & Kalispel offers a variety of drinks & homemade pastries – Since 1981, Montana Coffee Traders has been roasting arabica coffees at our vintage farmhouse landmarked by our iconic chuck wagon. They are devoted to bringing you the finest coffees from around the world. Others like Wild Coffee Co, Cowgirl Coffee & Folklore Coffee. Mountain Mocha in Columbia Falls – a drive in coffee shop.
  89. Take a sailing lesson – Flathead Lake Sailing Co – The crew has grown over the last few years and now offers lessons, rentals, and charters. We now have 7 sailing ASA Instructors /Captains, access to 10 different boats, sailing in three locations on the lake, and new Flathead Lake Biological Station nautical chart to share with you
  90. Drive the Hungry Horse Reservoir Scenic Loop – the entire loop is approximately 112 miles mostly on gravel road with no services other than Forest Service campgrounds and boat launches. If you choose to travel the loop in its entirety make sure you have a full tank of gas and lunch packed. Visitors often access from the west side, which is paved for the first 11 miles to Lid Creek. There are a few off the grid guide and outfitter operations located near the Spotted Bear Ranger District Station on the south end of the reservoir on the upper South Fork of the Flathead River.
  91. Go Diving – Glacier Divers in Kalispel offers dives all year, winter ice dives as well as summer dives and shore and boat dives. They also offer both daytime and night time dives, underwater guided tours, instruction and recovery, advanced, technical, search & rescue training, underwater photography, underwater communications, tank fills, tank inspection and regulator repair. Equipment rental/sales, new/used. S.E.I certification, re-certifications. Family discounts. Lakes or rivers include Glacier Park, Libby, Lake McGregor and surrounding areas of Flathead Lake.
  92. Hidden Key Escape Room – Your team of 2-10 will enter a room, search for clues, solve puzzles and work your way through to escape in 60 minutes! In our immersive experiences you can even get hints when needed by your enthusiastic game master.
  93. Visit the Imagination Station – in Whitefish & Kalispel – Imagination Station is a unique toy store that offers classic toys you loved as a child, learning toys so fun they ‘trick ’em into learning’, and puzzles and games for all ages. Locally owned,
  94. Check out the Kalispel Center Mall – The Kalispell Center Mall is a shopping mall. Its anchors are JCPenney and Red Lion Hotels. It also has a casino and a US Bank. It opened in 1986.
  95. Lake Mary Ronan State Park – a public recreation area located seven miles northwest of the Flathead Lake community. The state park occupies 120 acres on the east side of 1,500-acre Lake Mary Ronan. The lake is 47 feet deep at its deepest spot and is known for kokanee salmon and yellow perch.
  96. Kwataqnuk Resort Lake Cruises– Polson 1.5 hrs from West Glacier – offers daily bay cruises 90 mins $20 pp – 1.5 hr sunset cruises $20 pp – 2 hr Dinner Cruises $46 pp – 2 hr brunch cruise $46 pp – they also offer specialty cruises & private charters
  97. Loon Lake – The lake is located just 4.7 miles from Bigfork. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including crappie, perch and bream/bluegill here.
  98. Take a Trolley Ride – the Montana Trolley Co out of Kalispel offiers historical tours, pub crawl tours, brewery tours and much more
  99. The Northwest Montana History Museum– Kalispel – The Museum is housed in the historic Central School building, which first opened its doors in 1894. In nearly 100 years of serving the educational needs of the Flathead Valley, Central School had been a high school, a junior high school, a grade school, and housed classrooms for Flathead Valley Community College.Today the Northwest Montana History Museum carries on this educational tradition, preserving and presenting local history.
  100. Wayfarers State Park – a 67-acre public recreation area overlooking Flathead Lake, one-half mile south of Bigfork. The state park hosts the annual Northern Rockies Paddlefest at Wayfarers State Park, which in 2013 attracted over 200 participants. In 2016, nearly 160,000 individuals visited the park.
  101. Whitefish Vertical Adventures– offers back country ski tours, rock climbing, ice climbing & gear rental.
  102. Go Ice Skating at Stumptown Ice Den– Ice skating rink located in Whitefish
  103. Go Ice Fishing on Whitefish Lake
  104. Take a sled ride at Cripple Creek Horse Ranch just 40 mins from Whitefish, or more here
  105. Go Hunting – Whitefish hunting allows sportsmen a chance to shoot trophy-sized grizzly bear, elk, moose, wolf and more.
  106. Book a wagon ride & dinner combo at the Cripple Creek Horse Ranch – 1 hr 15 mins from the West entrance of Glacier park or 40 mins from Whitefish
  107. Rent a motorcycle
  108. Take a horse pack trip – a great way to view and enjoy the natural beauty of northern Montana
  109. Take a Guided Tour of Glacier or the surrounding area
  110. Learn all about the Blackfeet Indian Tribe by booking a tour with the renowned tour guide  Joe Kipp – he has been featured in all kinds of magazines, books, newspapers, TV shows & more

Note: My next blog post will be the Cincinnati Zoo

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