September 2011 Trip to Glacier, Yellowstone, Tetons
Aug 22nd, 2011, 07:01 PM
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September 2011 Trip to Glacier, Yellowstone, Tetons
Thankyou to all of the Fodorites out there who have helped me so far with my numerous trip questions for our anniversary trip out west. We have decided to travel to Glacier at the beginning of the trip because we are going in September. Many of those we have talked to have told us that the threat of weather delaying, or changing our plans, is much higher in September. We are looking for suggestions on lodging in Glacier and on the route out. We will be travelling from Michigan and our route from N.Dakota to Glacier will be on US 2. Any suggestions for clean, reasonable places to stop for the night?
Starrs, I want to tell you how much I have appreciated your much detailed thread on your trip to the same area. Thankyou so much, everyone!
Starrs, I want to tell you how much I have appreciated your much detailed thread on your trip to the same area. Thankyou so much, everyone!
Aug 22nd, 2011, 08:42 PM
#2
Wow! How nice! Thanks. 
I'm glad you've found the information useful.
I have a couple of recommendations at Glacier. Chances are good that the Going to the Sun road won't be open when you are there. It was very late opening up this year and one really doesn't know. It wasn't open when we got there, but we lucked out and were one of the first vehicles past the barricade. It was fun - a party atmosphere.
Because of that, I would recommend staying on Hwy 2 south of the park. We stayed in that area in a private home and really liked the location. You'll be pretty much in between East Glacier and West Glacier and that works well if GTTS road is not open. There's not much there, but it's beautiful country. The community is Essex MT (for mapping purposes mostly).
If you want an economical option I highly recommend Glacier Haven -
http://www.glacierhaveninn.com/
The rooms are basic motel rooms but very very clean. The husband and wife team who own the inn/campground are very knowledgable and can help you plan your visit to GNP. They also serve a great breakfast. The wife sat down with us at the table and mapped out her suggestions and we even bought tickets for the boat ride at Many Glacier from her. A couple who were at breakfast at the same time didn't - and they were in the waiting line for the afternoon boat ride we had tickets for. The folks who own the house we stayed in know the Glacier Haven folks and highly recommend them.
The other option is the Izaak Walton Inn -
http://www.izaakwaltoninn.com/
You can stay in the historic lodge that was built to house the railroad workers or cabins or train cars. We stopped by to check the place out. I've never seen so many hummingbirds in one place - the flowers were gorgeous. The restaurant there was highly recommended, especially for their steaks, but we picked up stuff in East Glacier and ate att "home".
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glacie...713000?sk=wall
We loved the East Glacier Trading Company - a general store that has everything you need - food, drinks, souvenirs, internet access, even rental cars. They have a pizzaria there so we ordered a pizza to go and walked the little town of East Glacier while we waited. We stopped in one of the little diners and picked up a couple of slices of pie - huckleberry and blueberry - to take back home for dessert.
The other option in East Glacier is the historic park lodge -
http://www.glacierparkinc.com/lodging.php
I would stay in any of the park lodges in a heartbeat.
Between East Glacier and Essex (home) was one of our favorite parts of the trip - the goats at the salt lick
http://www.crownofthecontinent.net/c...AECE4F2E71943D
We stopped every time on the way "home" and got great pictures and had a blast watching the babies navigate logs and the river. They are most active in the afternoon/evening - which in June was around 9pm. I forgot how long the days were that far north.
Can't help you much on your route on the way in. The one thing I would do differently would be to spend the night in Great Falls. There's so much to see and do there and we just rushed through. I will go back...one day.
I'm glad you've found the information useful.
I have a couple of recommendations at Glacier. Chances are good that the Going to the Sun road won't be open when you are there. It was very late opening up this year and one really doesn't know. It wasn't open when we got there, but we lucked out and were one of the first vehicles past the barricade. It was fun - a party atmosphere.
Because of that, I would recommend staying on Hwy 2 south of the park. We stayed in that area in a private home and really liked the location. You'll be pretty much in between East Glacier and West Glacier and that works well if GTTS road is not open. There's not much there, but it's beautiful country. The community is Essex MT (for mapping purposes mostly).
If you want an economical option I highly recommend Glacier Haven -
http://www.glacierhaveninn.com/
The rooms are basic motel rooms but very very clean. The husband and wife team who own the inn/campground are very knowledgable and can help you plan your visit to GNP. They also serve a great breakfast. The wife sat down with us at the table and mapped out her suggestions and we even bought tickets for the boat ride at Many Glacier from her. A couple who were at breakfast at the same time didn't - and they were in the waiting line for the afternoon boat ride we had tickets for. The folks who own the house we stayed in know the Glacier Haven folks and highly recommend them.
The other option is the Izaak Walton Inn -
http://www.izaakwaltoninn.com/
You can stay in the historic lodge that was built to house the railroad workers or cabins or train cars. We stopped by to check the place out. I've never seen so many hummingbirds in one place - the flowers were gorgeous. The restaurant there was highly recommended, especially for their steaks, but we picked up stuff in East Glacier and ate att "home".
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glacie...713000?sk=wall
We loved the East Glacier Trading Company - a general store that has everything you need - food, drinks, souvenirs, internet access, even rental cars. They have a pizzaria there so we ordered a pizza to go and walked the little town of East Glacier while we waited. We stopped in one of the little diners and picked up a couple of slices of pie - huckleberry and blueberry - to take back home for dessert.
The other option in East Glacier is the historic park lodge -
http://www.glacierparkinc.com/lodging.php
I would stay in any of the park lodges in a heartbeat.
Between East Glacier and Essex (home) was one of our favorite parts of the trip - the goats at the salt lick
http://www.crownofthecontinent.net/c...AECE4F2E71943D
We stopped every time on the way "home" and got great pictures and had a blast watching the babies navigate logs and the river. They are most active in the afternoon/evening - which in June was around 9pm. I forgot how long the days were that far north.
Can't help you much on your route on the way in. The one thing I would do differently would be to spend the night in Great Falls. There's so much to see and do there and we just rushed through. I will go back...one day.
Aug 22nd, 2011, 08:46 PM
#3
I highly recommend taking a tour on one of the historic red jammers -
http://www.glacierparkinformation.com/redbus/
I'd driven through Glacier in 1986 and it was fine. I can't tell you how much more I enjoyed the trip riding in an open top bus and really seeing the spectacular scenery - rather than focusing on the curvy road as a driver. They have many different routes.
http://www.glacierparkinformation.com/redbus/
I'd driven through Glacier in 1986 and it was fine. I can't tell you how much more I enjoyed the trip riding in an open top bus and really seeing the spectacular scenery - rather than focusing on the curvy road as a driver. They have many different routes.
Aug 23rd, 2011, 07:03 AM
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I agree with starrs about the park lodges. I stayed at the Lake McDonald Lodge, the Apgar Village Inn and Many Glacier.
Loved them all and had gorgeous views of the lakes from all of my rooms. The Lake McDonald Lodge had a wonderful restaurant.
Loved them all and had gorgeous views of the lakes from all of my rooms. The Lake McDonald Lodge had a wonderful restaurant.
Aug 23rd, 2011, 07:49 AM
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GTTS road will close for through travel to Logan Pass on the west side this year on Monday Sept 19. Last day to travel the entire route west to east will be Sunday Sept. 18. GTTS road will be open on the west side to Avalanche Creek from Sept 19 till weather closes the road. Logan Pass will be accesible from the east side until October 16.
Aug 23rd, 2011, 08:42 AM
#7
My DW and I spent our 30th anniversary in the Glacier area.
We stayed at the Meadow Lake Resort near Columbia Falls.
It is a very nice place. http://www.meadowlake.com/
We arrived and departed from Whitefish on the Empire Builder.
We stayed at the Meadow Lake Resort near Columbia Falls.
It is a very nice place. http://www.meadowlake.com/
We arrived and departed from Whitefish on the Empire Builder.
Aug 24th, 2011, 09:37 AM
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Wow!! Fodor's is great! Now I regret NOT READING Fodor's Forums earlier in the trip planning process!!!! AUGH!!! This is the GREATEST thing since chocolate!!! Even better than a travel agent because you guys have been there!So many great suggestions, so many beautiful places to see, and now how to pack it all in. We've got two and a half weeks to travel to, and from Michigan, and to see the sights. I'll try to live up to Starrs after this trip and write about our experiences for the next traveller.
Aug 24th, 2011, 09:43 AM
#9
You're going to have a great time!
BTW, I changed my profile pic to the view of the window at Lake McDonald Lodge. It wasn't really lunch - it was more of a mid-afternoon meal in the bar. The jammer tour was at 10:30 and we were lucky enough to be among the first past the barricade when they opened up the GTTS road. The snow at Logan Pass was still over an adult's head and the gift shop wasn't ready to open. The meal at Lake McDonald Lodge was great and the room was full of folks from the jammer tour. A great day.
BTW, I changed my profile pic to the view of the window at Lake McDonald Lodge. It wasn't really lunch - it was more of a mid-afternoon meal in the bar. The jammer tour was at 10:30 and we were lucky enough to be among the first past the barricade when they opened up the GTTS road. The snow at Logan Pass was still over an adult's head and the gift shop wasn't ready to open. The meal at Lake McDonald Lodge was great and the room was full of folks from the jammer tour. A great day.
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