Montana ideas
Apr 8th, 2010, 06:03 AM
#1
Montana ideas
Need some help with ideas for a trip in mid-June. We'll be spending a week in Yellowstone/Grand Teton and heading up to Montana. We'll be staying near Livingstone for a few days and then???
It's the ??? we are unsure about.
We may head up through Glacier NP and then on to Calgary and Banff. If we go that route, the schedule will be full.
But, if we decide just to spend time in Montana, what would you recommend? The last time I just lollygagged around Montana it was to hang out on the river bank waiting for the fly-fishing to be finished for the day.
We'll be ending up at Kalispell for the flight home.
I've been looking at some Lewis and Clark websites, for festivals/special events, even a railroad option (not running while we are there).
So we are pretty much open for suggestions. Anything you just love in Montana that we need to see?
Thanks for your ideas
It's the ??? we are unsure about.
We may head up through Glacier NP and then on to Calgary and Banff. If we go that route, the schedule will be full.
But, if we decide just to spend time in Montana, what would you recommend? The last time I just lollygagged around Montana it was to hang out on the river bank waiting for the fly-fishing to be finished for the day.
We'll be ending up at Kalispell for the flight home.
I've been looking at some Lewis and Clark websites, for festivals/special events, even a railroad option (not running while we are there).
So we are pretty much open for suggestions. Anything you just love in Montana that we need to see?
Thanks for your ideas
Apr 8th, 2010, 06:43 AM
#2
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I can't give you advice from personal experience, but my Dad recently did a similar trip and the one thing I remember from his download was that he was much more impressed with Glacier NP than with Yellowstone. Good luck.
Apr 8th, 2010, 07:20 AM
#3
Thanks Brian.
I love them both. One of my most amazing travel memories was watching the snow fall on July 4th back in 1986. We were trying to catch coverage of the bicentennial of the Statue of Liberty on a little TV screen. There was "snow" on the screen and real snow falling outside. July 4th!
We are considering a red bus tour this time -
http://www.glacierparkinc.com/images...us_Shuttle.pdf
Any input/ experiences?
I love them both. One of my most amazing travel memories was watching the snow fall on July 4th back in 1986. We were trying to catch coverage of the bicentennial of the Statue of Liberty on a little TV screen. There was "snow" on the screen and real snow falling outside. July 4th!
We are considering a red bus tour this time -
http://www.glacierparkinc.com/images...us_Shuttle.pdf
Any input/ experiences?
Apr 8th, 2010, 07:34 AM
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Are you staying in Livingston? I would recommend checking out Chico Hot Springs and staying there instead.
www.chicohotsprings.com
It was fun place to stay. The rooms are rustic, but the pool is fun and the food is great. They also let you tote your wine wherever you want...to the pool, across the grounds, wherever.
Then I would either go to Glacier through Wilsall, White Sulphur, Great Falls (north and east side of the Rocky Mountain Front) and East Glacier or I would go through Bozeman, Missoula (or Helena) to Kalispell and West Glacier.
On the Bozeman route:
Museum of the Rockies. The dinosaur exhibits are amazing.
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. I used to tour guide here, and it's a great park. You can take a tour through the caverns...many formations, fossils, western big-eared bats, etc.
Virginia City and Nevada City. Two ghost towns; although, Virginia City is still the county seat for Madison County. The drive between Lewis and Clark Caverns to Virginia City is beautiful (right through the Tobacco Roots -- and where I grew up ). You'll go through Ennis, MT which is fun if you have a fisherman with you. 
In Virginia City, I'd recommend going to the Brewery Follies or the Virginia City Players. The Virginia City Players do a vaudeville type show, and they're great. The Follies are a lot of fun and not appropriate for an underage crowd.
Both Missoula and Helena are fun cities to visit, and so is Butte, MT just for the mining history. Butte has an incredible mining museum. I like Helena a lot, but I love Missoula. It's a fun place to show up in the evening, and stay the night. They have outdoor concerts at Caras Park downtown. If you stay downtown (Holiday Inn Parkside) you can walk to many great restaurants and stop and watch the kayaker's playing in the wave that's right downtown.
The road between Missoula and West Glacier is not that exciting. Although, the Mission Mountains are stunning. I'd also check out Whitefish as a place to stay if you have extra time. It's not a great home-base for Glacier, though.
Great Falls route:
When you leave Livingston, you can head north through Wilsall, Ringling, and White Sulphur Springs. The drive is beautiful. I'd recommend reading Ivan Doig's book, "This House of Sky" if you go this way.
Then you'd head through Great Falls. In Great Falls, I'd check out the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center which is along the river just past the great falls that Lewis and Clark portaged around. There's a nice river walk for several miles along the Missouri in Great Falls.
Usually, during the second or third week in June, the Interpretive Center holds an outdoor art gala and auction to benefit the Center. There are many local artists and regional artists that auction their paintings. It'd be fun if you could be in town for that, but I can't find the dates for 2010.
From Great Falls, you'd travel north along the front. I don't particularly like this drive, but many people do. I think it's windy and less scenic than the western part of the state, but once you get to East Glacier, it's beautiful.
I'd be happy to share more ideas. I'm glad you get to come to MT!
www.chicohotsprings.com
It was fun place to stay. The rooms are rustic, but the pool is fun and the food is great. They also let you tote your wine wherever you want...to the pool, across the grounds, wherever.
Then I would either go to Glacier through Wilsall, White Sulphur, Great Falls (north and east side of the Rocky Mountain Front) and East Glacier or I would go through Bozeman, Missoula (or Helena) to Kalispell and West Glacier.
On the Bozeman route:
Museum of the Rockies. The dinosaur exhibits are amazing.
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. I used to tour guide here, and it's a great park. You can take a tour through the caverns...many formations, fossils, western big-eared bats, etc.
Virginia City and Nevada City. Two ghost towns; although, Virginia City is still the county seat for Madison County. The drive between Lewis and Clark Caverns to Virginia City is beautiful (right through the Tobacco Roots -- and where I grew up
). You'll go through Ennis, MT which is fun if you have a fisherman with you. In Virginia City, I'd recommend going to the Brewery Follies or the Virginia City Players. The Virginia City Players do a vaudeville type show, and they're great. The Follies are a lot of fun and not appropriate for an underage crowd.Both Missoula and Helena are fun cities to visit, and so is Butte, MT just for the mining history. Butte has an incredible mining museum. I like Helena a lot, but I love Missoula. It's a fun place to show up in the evening, and stay the night. They have outdoor concerts at Caras Park downtown. If you stay downtown (Holiday Inn Parkside) you can walk to many great restaurants and stop and watch the kayaker's playing in the wave that's right downtown.
The road between Missoula and West Glacier is not that exciting. Although, the Mission Mountains are stunning. I'd also check out Whitefish as a place to stay if you have extra time. It's not a great home-base for Glacier, though.
Great Falls route:
When you leave Livingston, you can head north through Wilsall, Ringling, and White Sulphur Springs. The drive is beautiful. I'd recommend reading Ivan Doig's book, "This House of Sky" if you go this way.
Then you'd head through Great Falls. In Great Falls, I'd check out the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center which is along the river just past the great falls that Lewis and Clark portaged around. There's a nice river walk for several miles along the Missouri in Great Falls.
Usually, during the second or third week in June, the Interpretive Center holds an outdoor art gala and auction to benefit the Center. There are many local artists and regional artists that auction their paintings. It'd be fun if you could be in town for that, but I can't find the dates for 2010.
From Great Falls, you'd travel north along the front. I don't particularly like this drive, but many people do. I think it's windy and less scenic than the western part of the state, but once you get to East Glacier, it's beautiful.
I'd be happy to share more ideas. I'm glad you get to come to MT!
Apr 8th, 2010, 07:37 AM
#6
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Oh, one more suggestion for the western route...if you want to try something that's uniquely Montana and so much fun (I think).
If you go to Lewis and Clark Caverns and are traveling to Ennis, try to hit Norris Hot Springs at night (get a hotel room in Ennis and drive to Norris after dark). They have an old wooden pool that they empty and refill every night. It's super rustic (no bathrooms), but they usually have a band playing, there are no outdoor lights so the stars are amazing, and they serve Moose Drool and Cold Smoke. You can hang out in the water, watch the stars, drink beer, and relax. It's a lot of fun (except when you're getting out of the pool in January and it's -2 degrees outside and you're running to your car with a wet swimsuit).
www.norrishotsprings.com
If you go to Lewis and Clark Caverns and are traveling to Ennis, try to hit Norris Hot Springs at night (get a hotel room in Ennis and drive to Norris after dark). They have an old wooden pool that they empty and refill every night. It's super rustic (no bathrooms), but they usually have a band playing, there are no outdoor lights so the stars are amazing, and they serve Moose Drool and Cold Smoke. You can hang out in the water, watch the stars, drink beer, and relax. It's a lot of fun (except when you're getting out of the pool in January and it's -2 degrees outside and you're running to your car with a wet swimsuit).
www.norrishotsprings.com
Apr 8th, 2010, 07:54 AM
#7
Thanks, kureiff! I'm so glad you signed on to give suggestions!
We're staying at a private place in the Crazy Mountains near Livingstone (I'm being vague here on purpose). I was REALLY hoping to stay at another place that literally backs up to GNP (river at the boundary) but someone snagged it before me.
That's why I'm trying to come up with a Plan B for the last days of the trip. heading up to Banff is an option, but it's SO much driving. I'd really prefer exploring parts of Montana none of us have seen before. Your ideas sound perfect!
I'd checked out some options on the Lewis and Clark websites and the festival in Great Falls starts on the day we are leaving. I've been scrambling for other ideas and yours will really help!
We're staying at a private place in the Crazy Mountains near Livingstone (I'm being vague here on purpose). I was REALLY hoping to stay at another place that literally backs up to GNP (river at the boundary) but someone snagged it before me.
That's why I'm trying to come up with a Plan B for the last days of the trip. heading up to Banff is an option, but it's SO much driving. I'd really prefer exploring parts of Montana none of us have seen before. Your ideas sound perfect!
I'd checked out some options on the Lewis and Clark websites and the festival in Great Falls starts on the day we are leaving. I've been scrambling for other ideas and yours will really help!
Apr 8th, 2010, 07:54 AM
#8
Festival info -
http://greatfallscvb.visitmt.com/cat...8901&siteid=26
http://greatfallscvb.visitmt.com/cat...8901&siteid=26
Apr 8th, 2010, 10:25 AM
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starrs,
A couple years ago I did a trip with a few days camping in Yellowstone and continuing up to the Paradise Valley, MT which I just love. It's so gorgeous!
I had 3 nts reserved at Chico Hot Springs in their Fisherman's Lodge. OMG, what a horrible place. Granted this is just my personal experience and opinion, but it was about 90 degrees and the rooms had no A/C. For the prices they charge??? Unacceptable - and nowhere on their web site does it tell you this! I tried it one night and had to sleep with the room window open which as a woman traveling solo I really didn't want to do! The other big problem for me was that for some strange reason this "resort" attracts TONS of smokers. I think I was the only person there who wasn't smoking. Very unpleasant.
Their restaurant was outstanding. I had a great meal there, but I did check out after that 1 nt and went and spent the next night at a lovely B&B, The Paradise Gateway. Amazing owners, views of Mt. Emmigrant and awesome breakfasts.
I also spent 4 more days at another wonderful property where I had a tiny cabin with kitchen and my own front porch literally right on the Yellowstone River. Yellowstone River Cabins, at the north end of the Paradise Valley.
Have fun!
A couple years ago I did a trip with a few days camping in Yellowstone and continuing up to the Paradise Valley, MT which I just love. It's so gorgeous!
I had 3 nts reserved at Chico Hot Springs in their Fisherman's Lodge. OMG, what a horrible place. Granted this is just my personal experience and opinion, but it was about 90 degrees and the rooms had no A/C. For the prices they charge??? Unacceptable - and nowhere on their web site does it tell you this! I tried it one night and had to sleep with the room window open which as a woman traveling solo I really didn't want to do! The other big problem for me was that for some strange reason this "resort" attracts TONS of smokers. I think I was the only person there who wasn't smoking. Very unpleasant.
Their restaurant was outstanding. I had a great meal there, but I did check out after that 1 nt and went and spent the next night at a lovely B&B, The Paradise Gateway. Amazing owners, views of Mt. Emmigrant and awesome breakfasts.
I also spent 4 more days at another wonderful property where I had a tiny cabin with kitchen and my own front porch literally right on the Yellowstone River. Yellowstone River Cabins, at the north end of the Paradise Valley.
Have fun!
Apr 14th, 2010, 02:34 PM
#14
Thanks everyone with your suggestions so far.
The Montana week is shaping us so far as...
Leaving Yellowstone via the Beartooth Highway
several nights in the Livingston area
heading up to Glacier via Great Falls
several nights near Glacier
The original Plan B was to head up to Waterton Lakes for a night (we've opted out of the Banff leg for this trip) but I'm thinking about just staying in and around Glacier.
A contact suggested Whitefish and/or Bigfork as artsy towns to wander around in. I've checked out their websites and am intrigued.
We may cook in some of the time, but probably will eat out a lot. Mixed ages and interests, so we'll have to find a variety of options to make everyone happy.
Two of us are going to do the Red Bus tour (the 8 hour option) and that looks interesting. I will be glad to ride along the Going to the Sun and not worry about anything - other than perhaps snow.
If you have any other suggestions/ ideas please send them my way. Let me know if you think the Whitefish and/or Bigfork sound like good destinations for a day of wandering around Montana. I'm thinking it may be a good option for the two keeping the car while we're on the Red Bus.
The Montana week is shaping us so far as...
Leaving Yellowstone via the Beartooth Highway
several nights in the Livingston area
heading up to Glacier via Great Falls
several nights near Glacier
The original Plan B was to head up to Waterton Lakes for a night (we've opted out of the Banff leg for this trip) but I'm thinking about just staying in and around Glacier.
A contact suggested Whitefish and/or Bigfork as artsy towns to wander around in. I've checked out their websites and am intrigued.
We may cook in some of the time, but probably will eat out a lot. Mixed ages and interests, so we'll have to find a variety of options to make everyone happy.
Two of us are going to do the Red Bus tour (the 8 hour option) and that looks interesting. I will be glad to ride along the Going to the Sun and not worry about anything - other than perhaps snow.
If you have any other suggestions/ ideas please send them my way. Let me know if you think the Whitefish and/or Bigfork sound like good destinations for a day of wandering around Montana. I'm thinking it may be a good option for the two keeping the car while we're on the Red Bus.
Apr 15th, 2010, 07:10 AM
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I love Whitefish, and it's easy to spend a few hours wandering around Whitefish and Big Fork (on the same day, if you want).
Food in Whitefish: Wasabi for sushi and the Tupelo Grille. I love the lemon bread pudding and shrimp and grits at Tupelo.
Food in Whitefish: Wasabi for sushi and the Tupelo Grille. I love the lemon bread pudding and shrimp and grits at Tupelo.
Apr 15th, 2010, 08:16 AM
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Hopefully, Going to the Sun Road will be opened by mid June. We've had a mild winter but the Park just received about a foot of snow. Plowing has begun on the lower portion of the road.
An alterative to the Red Bus is the FREE shuttle offered by the park which covers the entire Road but is NOT a tour. The free shuttles will not start running till July so I guess this is not an option for you.
An alterative to the Red Bus is the FREE shuttle offered by the park which covers the entire Road but is NOT a tour. The free shuttles will not start running till July so I guess this is not an option for you.
Apr 15th, 2010, 10:25 AM
#17
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If you're near Anaconda, I'd suggest you make a little detour to see Philipsburg, a former silver-mining town and now a National Historic District. It's quite charming, with a lot of buildings from 1890 or so, which have been restored. Lots of shops and restaurants.
We went to Montana a couple if years ago--at the end of May. In Missoula and points north the weather was fine, but Philipsburg had 16 inches of snow the day we visited. We stayed at Butte that night, but Butte also had snow--though only 4 or 6 inches.
Check the extended forecast before you go.
We went to Montana a couple if years ago--at the end of May. In Missoula and points north the weather was fine, but Philipsburg had 16 inches of snow the day we visited. We stayed at Butte that night, but Butte also had snow--though only 4 or 6 inches.
Check the extended forecast before you go.
Apr 15th, 2010, 12:26 PM
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One big problem is the Going to the Sun road in Glacier may not be open yet. It doesn't open a lot of years until July--depends on snowfall. If you can't do the road, there's not much point in going to Glacier, IMO.
Apr 15th, 2010, 01:37 PM
#19
Thanks, Peg!
GTTS is scheduled to open on June 18th. Hope it actually does! We're staying in the area anyway - got a great deal on the lodging and we fly out of Kalispell.
I'm looking for other options in and around the area with side trip ideas into Canada. Three of the four of us have driven the road before, so while we hope it will be open it will be okay if it's not.
One of my favorite travels memories is watching it snow on us while we drove it...on July 4th!
GTTS is scheduled to open on June 18th. Hope it actually does! We're staying in the area anyway - got a great deal on the lodging and we fly out of Kalispell.
I'm looking for other options in and around the area with side trip ideas into Canada. Three of the four of us have driven the road before, so while we hope it will be open it will be okay if it's not.
One of my favorite travels memories is watching it snow on us while we drove it...on July 4th!
Nov 4th, 2011, 08:24 AM
#20
Topping this for more ideas.
I've decided that I'm returning for at least a couple of weeks next summer. My horseback riding friend from years ago has remarried and they are living on a ranch near Helena. I'll hang out near Livingston for most of the time, head up to Glacier for a while and visit Great Falls and Helena for sure. I'll dip down to Yellowstone and Grand Teton NPs and will do some "just get in the car and drive" kind of days like the old days when "the boys" were fishing the Snake and I would head out and just follow my nose during the day. LOVE those kinds of days from years ago.
So topping this in hopes that folks will share some of their favorite perhaps less seen places in Montana. Any ideas welcome. I'd love to stretch it out longer than 2 weeks and that may be a possibility.
I've decided that I'm returning for at least a couple of weeks next summer. My horseback riding friend from years ago has remarried and they are living on a ranch near Helena. I'll hang out near Livingston for most of the time, head up to Glacier for a while and visit Great Falls and Helena for sure. I'll dip down to Yellowstone and Grand Teton NPs and will do some "just get in the car and drive" kind of days like the old days when "the boys" were fishing the Snake and I would head out and just follow my nose during the day. LOVE those kinds of days from years ago.
So topping this in hopes that folks will share some of their favorite perhaps less seen places in Montana. Any ideas welcome. I'd love to stretch it out longer than 2 weeks and that may be a possibility.
