whicn 2 - 3 places should we stay in Glacier NP----need advice
 

I am beginning to plan a trip to GNP for next July. We will fly into Kalispell and drive around to the East side of the park (i think that's the way we will do it). I've heard its best driving the scenic highway from east to west? is that true? WE want to stay at 2 or 3 lodges. Which should they be? It looks like Many and Lake McDonald are the nicest with the best scenery and access to outdoor activities. A friend of mine said that Many was so out of the way we might be better off going up to Waterton and staying there for a night or two====or staying at one of the lodges on the eastern part of the park. My husband doesn't enjoy packing and unpacking, so i'm trying to keep it to 2-----3 at the most accomodations. We will be there for about a week. Please advise.

We were in GNP at the end of June this year. For many reasons, we did not stay in the lodges, except for one night at Many Glacier. Yes, it's a bit out of the way, but I would say it clearly has the best views of all of the lodges in GNP. (It's actually pretty spectacular there!) That is the one lodge that I would definitely recommend you stay in, if just for the scenery.
Since your husband does not want to move around a lot, I would recommend staying at Many Glacier for the eastern side of the park and then you could stay in the Lake McDonald Lodge on the western side of the park. The two sides of GNP are very different and each deserves several days, if possible.
Finally, be aware that these are both "historic" lodges and the rooms are a bit on the rustic side. The rates are fairly expensive, yet we found the 2 rooms we had at Many Glacier to be sparsely furnished with paper-thin walls. I'm still glad that we spent the one night there, but don't go expecting any luxury--besides the location.

With a week, I would look at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Lake McDonald, a few nights each. I hope you enjoy hiking because that's what this park is all about !

A week sounds like a long time in GNP unless you are really into long hikes. I'd look into seeing areas outside the park, too, plus Waterton (don't forget passports). There's an indian reservation NE of Many Glacier. Many Glacier and Lake McDonald would be my choices. They both have lots to do (riding, boats, hikes). None of the hotels are 5 star, and they are only open for 2.5 months every year, so they are rustic. I would: Land Kalispel, Lake McDonald 2-3 nights, do all the stuff available including as many Red Jammer drives as you can (especially Going-to-the-Sun Road!!), drive around to Many Glacier for 2-3 nights, repeat. There's golf and a pool at Glacier Park Lodge if you'd prefer.

In the west part, apgar village inn, direct on the shore of lake Mc Donald is a good adress and not too expensive : large rooms(suite like), clean and quiet. Eddie's has good breakfast and diners too. Avoid Belton Chalet(highway and railway noise+++).Lk Mc Donald Lodge is also a nice option, but more expensive. Diner here is to have.
In the east part, Many Glacier Hotel is an option but expensive and standard rooms are not no great(small, overdated, noisy...).
Swiftcurrent motor inn have motel like rooms direct at the beginning of trails.The view is not so nice, but it's clean, quiet and less expensive. The garden restaurant is good/pizza, some specials(venaison sausage,..) and the ptarmigan room at many Glacier hotel is a top for dining in an outdated atmosphere, but that was it is charming.
I've made a report of our last summer vacation in Grand Teton/Yellowstone/Glacier(just click on my name to find it) and we'll be there next year, but only on the east part(we have only 2 weeks and so we have to choose...).
In Glacier, important is to hike and there are hikes for everyone, easy to strenous.
Erik.

how does Glacier Park Lodge compare to Many & lake McDonald in terms of scenery? And thanks for the advice that 7 days is too m any. We like to hike, but we call a 3 - 4 mile hike "long" Where else should we go outside of the park? Is Whitefish worth a night or two? Since we're flying in from Chicago, we want to make it a total of 7 days. After spending time in Glacier, I wonder if Waterton would be somewhat of a letdown.

We stayed a couple nights in East Glacier where the Glacier Park Lodge is located. Although the lodge itself is pretty impressive, the scenery there is nothing to compare with the scenery at Many Glacier or Lake McDonald. The Glacier Park Lodge was built to accomodate visitors who came by train and the hotel is located near the train station in East Glacier.
We stayed 7 nights in/around Glacier and we didn't think it was too much time at all. In that amount of time you can hike in all areas of the park--West Glacier, Bowman Lake, Logan Pass, Many Glacier and Two Medicine. You'll definitely want to do some hiking, but there are plenty of good hikes that are 4 miles or less. You can also take boat rides or just sit around and enjoy the scenery--especially if you are at Many Glacier.
One day we drove down from West Glacier to the National Bison Range and that was a fascinating day trip. They've got a great visitor's center and then you can take a loop drive to see the various wildlife. Don't be surprised if a herd of bison walk around your car! There are 2 places where you can get out and take a hike and I recommend doing that. We did a great short hike up to the highest peak in the park and the views were amazing! They've also got a great picnic area, so pack a picnic lunch to take with you.
Finally, we did not visit Whitefish, but I recently read an article in Budget Travel about it. Here's the link: http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/c...91101780.html#

Golf in Glacier National Park !? That sounds like an oxymoron.

Waterton would round out your trip if you feel you need more to do but the drive alone would take up two days coming and going.

If you like to enjoy unhurried vacations , 7 days at Glacier sounds perfect.

If you want 1-2 days outside the parks, there are a lot of possibility , but all with miles to drive...
-Helena(Capitol ,museum with a nice collection of Russel's painting, Gate of Gods,Missouri river...)
-Great Falls(Russel's house, Lewis and Clark center)
-Missoula and the Bitterroot valley(nice old buildings in Missoula, Smoke jumper center, Fort Missoula, Carroussel, easy hikes in the valley), and also the road to Lolo.
-the Swan Valley(lake, some hikes, nice scenery)
-Flatehead valley, "west" of the lake with effectively the national bison range, but also the indian center in Pablo.
-Some ghost towns(Garnett near Seeley lake, Virginia City more on south, Elkhorn-combo possible with a visit to Butte...)
But as said in an other reply, 7 days seems sometimes short in Glacier...
In Many Glacier, Grinnel lake(with boat tour from MG hotel), Redrock falls and bukll head lake, Iceberg lake and Apikuli falls are short and easy hikes and a lot of wild life;
On Going to the sun road, Hidden lake overlook and hiking on the wall garden are also easy hikes.
Two medecine have also some not diffcult hikes and a boat
tour;
On the west part, Lake Mc Donald and around have a lot of easy hikes, canoe, boat, rafting possibility.
You can also drive the highway south of Glacier, between east and West with some nice scenery and easy rafting...
Beware that between Glacier and all of the "outpark" activities(Helena, great falls, missoula,...) there are some miles to drive...
Erik.

thank you all for your advice---we might make it a 6 day---3 at each lodge lake mcdonald and many----i should probably make the reservations soon.

Spent 5 days in Glacier in September. Not too long at all. Lake McDonald lodge is best but we could not get rooms. Many Glacier is a must see but the lodge is rather rundown. FYI..You do not go to Glacier for the food. We stayed 2 nights at Mountain Lake Lodge overlooking Flathead Lake in Big Fork. We highly recommend this place. We stayed two days in White Fish at White Fish Lodge. Don't bother. Nothing special in WhiteFish other than skiing.
Best thing we did was to take the full day Red Bus tour over the Going to the Sun highway. We loved it and did not have to worry about the driving. We could look at the scenery rather than the guardraid. The Avalanch Lake trail is beautiful and should not be missed. It starts with a boardway but then follows a river/steam. Beautiful. Glacier NP is wonderful!!

i read somewhere that it is best to drive east to west on the going to the sun hwy------if this is true, we should fly into kalispell, drive around the park to the east entrance, then go back east to west. does this make sense?