With the most important pure freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, thousands and thousands of acres of pristine wilderness, and the epic Glacier Nationwide Park, Western Montana doesn’t should do a lot to impress its guests. However with that sort of magnificence and pleasant locals who wish to share it, Glacier Nation has turn out to be one among our favourite locations. We’ve road-tripped Montana extensively and upon revisiting areas like Missoula, Flathead Lake, and Glacier Nationwide Park, it appeared as recent as ever due to the superior Montanans behind every place.
Quite than writing one other generic “greatest issues to do in Glacier Nation” article, we wished to go deeper in our collection of high sights, inns, eating places, retailers. As an alternative, we’ve pinpointed the small companies whose artistic choices and unbelievable hospitality make every place so particular and a street journey that significantly better. From the fifth-generation farmer making grain-to-glass whiskey in Missoula to the Blackfeet information risking all of it to share Glacier Nationwide Park’s First Nation story, permit us to introduce you to the Better of Glacier Nation. They stay up for assembly you too.
The Hip Strip, Missoula
A college city and the second largest metropolis in Montana, Missoula has a cosmopolitan-meets-mountain tradition that we love. There are superior indie companies throughout city, however no avenue says it higher than The Hip Strip. Stretching from the intersection of Brooks and Higgins to the south finish of the Higgins Avenue Bridge, this distinctive assortment of outlets is 100% regionally owned and operated, and splendidly Missoula. Like Strongwater Mountain Surf, which nurtures the unsuspecting surf tradition that’s shaped from the Clark Fork’s constant waves, or the Jeannette Rankin Peace Heart, which goals to construct a socially simply and environmentally sustainable world via considerate and humorous presents. (My favourite was that Revolutionary Warfare flag with the coiled snake, with their tackle it: “Nobody is treading on you, sweetie.”) And classic retailers like Betty’s Divine and Rockin Rudy’s Document Heaven made this place a pleasure to buy.
Missoula Journey Ideas
Missoula may actually warrant its Serene Nook weblog for buying, eating, and adventures alongside their 4 rivers and surrounding mountains. However to get you began, eat breakfast at Veera’s Donuts (all vegan and un-BE-lievable), caffeinate with freshly roasted espresso at Clyde’s, sip grain-to-glass cocktails at Montgomery Distillery, high-quality dine alfresco at Scotty’s Desk, line dance the evening away at Union Membership, and get a wonderful evening’s sleep at The Wren.
Meridian Farm & Forge, Mission Valley
We all the time love so as to add glamping to our journey itineraries and Meridian Farm & Forge embodies every little thing we love about this experiential lodging fashion. Not only a place for company to sleep, Meridian is a working flower farm, blacksmithing studio, and the collective dream of a husband & spouse crew pursuing their inventive passions. We stayed in Meridian’s lovely yurt, adorned with Zach’s steel sculptures and Danielle’s floral preparations, and soaked up views of the beautiful Mission Mountains. Then we obtained to strive our hand at their crafts. Danielle confirmed us one of the best flowers to reap and the artwork of wreath making, and Zach taught us the way to forge uncooked steel into our new favourite bottle opener!
We celebrated by opening their homebrewed mead and sharing dinner constituted of veggies grown of their backyard. It was such a stunning keep, one which despatched us away with new expertise and new pals. Don’t miss the video above for magic of this place.
Mission Valley Journey Ideas
Cease at Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana, to study extra in regards to the area’s first peoples–from the Kootenay, Salish, and Pend d’Oreille, to the Western pioneers with their fascinating artifacts and interpretive trails.
Miracle of America Museum, Polson
If the identify alone doesn’t flip your head, the World Warfare II fighter planes, 65-foot logging towboat, and wild assortment of relics within the Miracle of America car parking zone could have you pulling over for a better look. Undecided what we have been stepping into, we learn the signal on the entrance door and it swung open. Gil, the founder and lifelong collector behind this nonprofit welcomed us into his world…40 historic buildings full of over 340,000 items of Americana! “Once I was three years previous, I discovered my first arrowhead it felt like a treasure, mentioned this candy older gentleman, “I wish to share that pleasure of discovery with others.”
He led us via the maze of artifacts and classic vignettes…an old-time soda fountain, gasoline station, hair salon, and even a spaceship touchdown strip. It appeared like something was potential right here. “That is my roots part,” he mentioned pointing to a smattering of trinkets from across the globe. “America is from all over the place, so every time folks deliver me issues from their dwelling nation, I welcome that piece of our story.” We’re unsure what was higher at this roadside attraction…the artifacts themselves or assembly this one-of-a-kind character.
2FlyUs Scorching Air Ballooning, Flathead Valley
Floating wherever in a sizzling air balloon can be romantic, however with views of Western Montana’s jagged mountains, the huge Flathead Lake, fall foliage, and a glimpse into Glacier Nationwide Park, we knew this balloon trip can be a dream. We met husband and spouse crew Kevin & Debbie Flanagan of 2FlyUs, and their zest for all times was instantly evident. “My father used to say that should you discover one thing you like to do, you’ll by no means work a day in your life,” Kevin instructed us as we drove to the take-off website, “so I assume, I haven’t had a job in 30 years.”
Collectively they rolled out the 84-foot-long balloon, then fired up the fan to fill it with air and the flames to make it rise. Simply 4 company and our pilot Kevin boarded the basket, as Debbie sped off on a photograph safari to seize us from under. We soared a mile excessive for eye-level views of the mountains and a glimpse into Glacier Nationwide Park. We dipped all the way down to catch our colourful reflection within the river and teardrop silhouette towards the timber.
Kevin shared a bit in regards to the historical past of flying, a stable geography lesson on the area, and their adventures as a household of balloonists. Enjoyable reality, the Flanagan’s daughter is now the youngest balloonist within the nation at 17 years previous! And when winter is available in Montana, they snowbird all the way down to Arizona to share their love of ballooning year-round. They have been clearly residing their greatest life, doing a job that makes a visitor really feel like they’re doing the identical.
Flathead Valley Journey Ideas
Spending time on Flathead Lake is actually among the finest issues to do in Glacier Nation Montana. We spent days exploring the lake on our final journey and had an unbelievable time kayaking to Wild Horse Island, cherry selecting on the fifth-generation Bowman Orchard, and glamping at Camp Kapapa proper on the water. Learn all about issues to do on Flathead Lake right here.
Western Out of doors, Kalispell
Kalispell has a type of good Western primary streets with charming retailers adorned with flower bins and lit with wrought-iron lamp posts. But when the partitions of these false-front buildings may discuss, they’d have some Wild-West tales to inform…significantly at Western Out of doors. This Eighteen Nineties constructing was as soon as a pool corridor, opera home, and capturing vary…and for the final 45 years, it’s been the realm’s premier western put on clothing store because of the Pirrie household.
It was the legit stagecoach on the second-story touchdown that caught our eye, however after we walked in, it was the aisles of two,500 cowboy boots! Wandering the maze of sneakers in each shade and embellishment, led us via an archway to an old-time soda fountain with spinning stools and a grand bar. When the Pirries’ daughter-in-law Beth joined the household, they determined to purchase the neighboring Norm’s Soda Fountain and reconnect the Nineteenth-century constructing. We bellied up for a yummy breakfast burrito which they reimagined as a scrumptious vegan meal for us. Historical past, shock, delight, and Western hospitality, that’s what this place is all about.
Kalispell Journey Ideas
For extra gems on Predominant Avenue, head to Sassafras Artwork Coop options all Montana artists, working in each medium, from ceramics to watercolors in one other lovely historic constructing. For any of your journey wants, or simply to get ideas from true outdoorsmen, pop into Rocky Mountain Outfitters. The crew is so educated and candy, they gave us tons of native climbing and kayaking ideas! And final however not least, have a drink at Moose’s Saloon. With each floor etched with patrons’ signatures from their 66 years in enterprise and serving frosty mugs of beer and peanuts, you’ll be able to throw on the ground, it’s a dive bar dream! Need to keep the evening? Strive the superbly located and chicly appointed Sherman Lodge TK.
Zero-Waste Farmers Market, Whitefish
We arrived at Whitefish on farmer’s market day, simply when their group spirit shines brightest. Whitefish is a premier ski resort city and so they’ve properly used that success to spend money on the atmosphere and group. They’ve lately added 17 EV charging stations, planted pollinator gardens with native vegetation, and created a composting program via Discover Whitefish’s sustainability grant.
Although the sustainability initiative we beloved most? A zero-waste farmer’s market and celebration of excellent meals and native artwork! On Tuesdays from early Could via September, the attractive Depot Park is lined with distributors —produce, worldwide meals, and handmade crafts—all utilizing compostable or recyclable packaging and nary a single-use plastic! For dinner, we opted for buddha bowls at “Wild Baby.” The proprietor handed us a protracted checklist of substances, “Choose as many as you need, no additional cost.” Edamame, avocado, almonds, cucumbers, sesame, seaweed salad, tofu…we obtained all of it! The generosity of this meal and every little thing about this sundown market, made our evening.
Whitefish Journey Ideas
Whitefish is on a shocking lake, the stays of an ice-age glacier. Get pleasure from it from the sandy Metropolis Seaside or the lake’s two state parks. Drive up the east facet to play the scenic Smith Lake Disc Golf Course, funded by native companies. Regardless of the way you spend your day on Whitefish Lake, it’s among the finest issues to do in Glacier Nation, Montana
Dan d’ Lion Eatery, Hungry Horse
As a vegan, it may be powerful touring via rural areas, so when Dan d’ Lion Eatery appeared alongside the freeway to Glacier Nationwide Park, we couldn’t have been extra excited. Meg Blakney was a caterer for many years and observed the rising variety of folks with gluten allergic reactions and company preferring plant-based dishes. She didn’t simply wish to go away them hanging with a salad, so she began the Earth Angel Organics meals line and finally this gluten-free, plant-based, 95% natural, and ultra-delicious restaurant.
Meg was behind the counter, within the kitchen, and ready tables, however as busy as she was, came to visit to our desk with an enormous smile to inform us in regards to the day’s specials intimately. “At the moment, we now have Lebanese Backyard Hash, fabricated from inexperienced bean, potatoes, and zucchini in a tomato sauce of cumin, nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon. It’s served over millet rice and topped with edamame and toasted pumpkin seeds.” Say no extra, Meg. We ordered that and their pizza simply to see how good gluten-free, dairy-free pizza with do-it-yourself vegan sausage may very well be. The reply? Unimaginable. We obtained chatting with Meg about her kitchen backyard of experimental varietals and after we requested her about her inspiration to create this restaurant as a non-vegan she mentioned, “Folks with dietary restrictions should eat nicely too.” Regardless of your favourite technique to eat, you’ll love Meg’s fashion.
Solar Excursions, Glacier Nationwide Park
Earlier than Glacier turned a Nationwide Park, UNESCO Biosphere, and Worldwide Peace Park, it was dwelling to the Blackfeet Nation. They consider it to be the “Spine of the World” and it stays essentially the most sacred place of their tradition, however these tales weren’t being heard till the founding father of Solar Excursions, Ed DesRosie, raised his voice. He was decided to run excursions led by the information keepers in his tribe–regardless of getting his concessionaire license denied and getting fined for main excursions anyway. Three years of authorized battles and protests later, the park realized the significance of Solar Excursions’ perspective. Flashforward 30 years, Ed has served on the Montana Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council and earned a spot among the many “Native Enterprise High 50 Entrepreneurs.”
We joined Solar Excursions’ East Glacier half-day tour. On the St Mary Customer Heart, half-hour from the headquarters of the Blackfeet Reservation, we boarded our small bus tour with our information and driver Dan. We ascended the park’s Going To The Solar Street, the 50-mile switchback route, and historic Civil Engineering Landmark. We made stops at gorgeous lookouts like Jackson Glacier, Chook Lady Falls, and St Mary Lake’s Wild Goose Island. Dan shared the Blackfeet legend of two forbidden lovers being chased onto the island and the Nice Spirit turning them into geese to fly away in peace.
Climbing to six,000 ft, the mountain peaks swirled with clouds and a flash snowstorm greeted us on the continental divide. Dan navigated the icy roads like a champ whereas we admired the snow-dusted peaks (another excuse we’re glad we took their tour!). By the point we returned to St Mary’s Customer Heart, the solar was shining and the autumn leaves have been glowing. Dan concluded the tour with a language lesson, educating us the phrase “Oki” which implies “so long,” as a result of in Blackfeet tradition you by no means say goodbye.
Finest Issues to Do in Glacier Nationwide Park
The Crown of the Continent deserves all of the hype it will get. After all, driving Going-to-the-Solar Street for the large overview of the park and pull over in any respect the picture stops. We’d extremely suggest climbing the paths round Two Medication Lake and gearing up for the 10-mile round-trip to Iceberg Lake, the place icebergs actually float within the water into July and also you float on high of them like a penguin. To kayak among the many reflections of the lakes is a dream, with Swiftcurrent Lake and Two Medication Lake providing among the greatest views and boat rental operations. If in case you have your personal kayak, take this professional tip from our pals at Rocky Mountain Clothing store to paddle from McDonald Lake down McDonald Creek…subsequent time! For extra summertime concepts and one among our favourite journey tales try our Fb Gallery from our earlier journey.
Museum of the Plains Indian, Browning
Most individuals don’t go east of Glacier Nationwide Park, however that’s the guts of the Blackfeet Reservation and residential to among the finest museums on Plains Indian historical past and tradition. The displays of ceremonial clothes, baskets, weapons, toys, and extra have been in a stunning array of types from the Blackfeet, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Sioux, Assiniboine, and extra Plains Indian tribes spanning Canada to Texas. Although The Museum of the Plains Indian isn’t just a collection of historical past displays, there was a recent gallery that includes Native American artwork from across the nation and a working studio for native artists.
Paints, pencils, and palettes have been scattered throughout the tables with completed items on show. There have been colourful Western scenes painted on high of handwritten journal entries from the flip of the twentieth century. This was our first encounter with Native American Ledger Artwork. Typically chosen by Native People as a desired canvas for its flourish and moveable nature and different instances it was the one paper accessible, like within the jails the place Native People proof against reservations have been thrown.
We requested the gallery attendant in regards to the worth of this beautiful piece of horse ledger artwork and she or he mentioned, let’s ask Ernest. 5 minutes later the artist himself appeared from his close by dwelling and proceeded to share the that means of his Ledger Artwork and sparked our fascination with the legacy of this medium. We bought a bit of Ernest Marceau’s work, and as a thanks he gave us two sketches achieved on Museum of the Plains Indian Letterhead…an ideal canvas and memento from our time collectively.
Finest Time to Go to Montana
Montana has a correct 4 seasons, with wonderful snowboarding and a bounty of water sports activities, however to us, getting into September felt just like the candy spot. Attractive fall foliage gave our journey an unbelievable backdrop and the shoulder season meant there have been no crowds, significantly within the wildly in style Glacier Nationwide Park. Come after September tenth and also you received’t want a park reservation, you’ll be able to simply get last-minute lodging, and all providers are nonetheless open via the month.
Everytime you get to Montana, be sure you try the small companies above for one of the best issues to do in Glacier Nation and allow them to know Mike & Anne say hi there!
Many because of Glacier Nation Tourism for inviting us to return to their area and share tales of its lovely locations and folks! As part of our Bloggers Give Again initiative, we’ve donated to FAST Blackfeet and 5 Valleys Land Belief to indicate our appreciation to the group.