Montana trip to Glacier

 MEADOW LAKE RESORT     COLUMBIA FALLS

sunset dinner at the grill:   steak and caesar salad topped with salmon.   creme brulee desert.

overlooking the golf course

Super 1 Foods at the turnoff  on Hwy 2.   open 24 hrs.
apples on sale  .78 cents

The place to buy, or simply look at, museum-quality Native American art and artifacts is the Montana Fur Trading Company in Martin City. See beadwork, jewelry, furs, and other goods in multiple themed rooms.

tasted some gin

Apgar Visitor Center also serves as the west side transit hub.

LAKE MACDONALD

road to Logan Pass is closed.   Sprague fire.

drove up to Polebridge--population 10

huckleberry bear claws

Next

Waterton

Easy to visit from Glacier National Park

I had heard that Waterton was very beautiful, but was concerned that it would be difficult and expensive to take a rental car across the border. It turned out that as long as you bring your passports and don't have any fruit or vegetables in your car, crossing the border is easy.

We were staying in East Glacier Park, so we thought that the drive might be terribly long, but by taking the longer route through Browning, we were able to make better time by taking the straighter and higher speed roads (and got excellent views of the mountains). We got to Waterton in about 2 hours and were able to cover the park in a day and return to East Glacier.

The site of the old chalet-style hotel is beautiful. We enjoyed both walking around the hotel and using its hill to look at the surrounding area.

The red rocks gorge is unusual and very pretty. We saw a herd of mountain goats in the red rocks parking lot.

In contrast with US National Parks, the Waterton town area in the middle of the park was filled with private restaurants and shops.

I liked Waterton much better than the Many Glaciers area.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g143026-d144767-r228667336-Waterton_Glacier_International_Peace_Park-Glacier_National_Park_Montana.html#

https://wikitravel.org/en/Waterton_Lakes_National_Park

$7 adult

Waterton Shoreline Cruise, Waterton Marina (near Waterton Ave and Mountview Rd), ☎ +1 403 859-2362, [1]. Two cruises per day (one morning, one afternoon) May to early Oct. 

• Waterton Lakes is joined with Glacier National Park across the border in Montana. It can be accessed by heading south on Highway 6 (The Chief Mountain Highway). The border crossing on the highway is only open between May and October.

Closed
October 1st to May 14

Whitefish

Good tour and great beer-Great Northern Brewing Company

Nice brewery in Whitefish with interesting tours offered on weekdays for only $5, with a beer included in the price. I highly recommend the excellent Going-to-the-Sun IPA, inspired by beautiful Glacier National Park. The brewery's bar area is spread over two floors, with a nice amount of seating, a good selection of beers, and a decent food menu too. There are some nice balconies overlooking Whitefish, which make for a nice place to enjoy your brew.

Had great sandwiches, a great choose-your-own flight (anywhere from 5 to 12 beers)

 the balcony view is special, looking east towards the ski mountain and Glacier. Only drawback was the limited lunch menu,

the local Oktoberfest in the park across the street, so things were quiet. Were able to sit at the balcony and people watch

We enjoyed a flight of beers upstairs! The price was $7 for seven 6 oz pours this was a great bargain!

We ordered a sampler of all of their beers on offer (6).

We also went on the brewery tour the next day at 3:00 and was about 35-40 minutes long. Pay $5, but get 16oz draft and the tour. Well worth it.

The beer was average. Our favourite was the huckleberry. 

there is a tiny bar as you enter on the first floor, then the draught house and game room on the second floor.  The Great Northern Brewery houses the Black Star Draught House. 

Glacier Notes

one of guests’ favorites is Many Glacier, considered to be the heart of the park. 

Driving from East Glacier, Highway 49 is the shortcut that will take you past the turn to Two Medicine and eventually connect with Highway 89.  This is the way I would recommend driving.  It cuts time off of the longer way around through the town of Browning, and takes you right past the the Two Medicine junction, which leads into the stunning Two Medicine area of the park. 

Highway 49 is a winding, narrow road. I much prefer driving it from East Glacier toward St. Mary, instead of the other way.  That way you are driving in the inside lane and are not so close to the edge.  Pulling a camper is not recommended, so if you do have your camper, you will need to take the drive around through Browning

The views that Highway 49 provides are truly incredible.  You are looking at rolling plains and mountain peaks, and I, for one, just can’t get enough. You will get beautiful views looking into the Two Medicine valley at the start.  It is only 13 miles from East Glacier to the Highway 89 junction.

From the West

At West Glacier continue on Highway 2 to Browning. If your vehicle is shorter than 21-feet, you can take Highway 49 at East Glacier to St. Mary. This road is very curvy and slow driving. If not, continue on Highway 2 to Browning and take the first left to Highway 89 north to St. Mary. Highway 89 is very curvy slow driving and crosses a mountain pass with a 6% grade into St. Mary. If you are driving an RV, see the note above regarding Highway 464 for an alternate route.

Road to the Sun

http://letsgetdealstoday.com/7-must-see-stops-along-the-iconic-going-to-the-sun-road-glacier-national-park-montana/


http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/montana/best-views-glacier-national-park-mt/


Museum of the Plains Indian  $5

This 12-mile drive enters Glacier on the northeast side of the park, west of Babb, and travels along Sherburne Lake for almost 5 miles, penetrating a glacially carved valley surrounded by mountains. It passes through meadows and a scrubby forest of lodgepole pines, aspen, and cottonwood. The farther you travel up the valley, the more clearly you'll be able to see Grinnell and Salamander glaciers. The road, which passes Many Glacier Hotel and ends at the Swiftcurrent Campground, is usually closed from October to May.

Many Glacier
Ptarmigan Dining Room - Breakfast, lunch, and dinner within Many Glacier Hotel
Swiss Lounge - Lunch and dinner within Many Glacier Hotel
Heidi's Snack Shop - Espresso, food, and retail within Many Glacier Hotel
Nell's - Breakfast, lunch, and dinner within Swiftcurrent Motor Inn

Don't drive between St Mary and Two Medicine at night. I did it once two years ago and will never do that at night again.
I would by-pass both goat lick and two med and do fishercap lake(for moose)
I don't recommend driving at night on the east side of the park with the free range cattle and horses. Most of the horses go home for the night but that doesn't always hold for the cattle.

On the east side of the park, try out beautiful Highway 49, also known as Looking Glass Pass, from the Two Medicine area towards St. Mary.

The stunning Many Glacier Road might also be open, although you should top off your gas tank and pack a lunch, as there are generally no services available in the shoulder seasons there.

From West Glacier, drive Highway 2 into Glacier National Park. Stop for lunch in Essex, and enjoy the delightful year-round Isaak Walton Inn — especially a hit with train lovers! You can even stay in a caboose at the Isaak Walton.

Keep driving on Highway 2, but take time to commune with the mountain goats at Goat Lick.

At the end of the day, return to East Glacier and savor a Serrano’s Montana-Mexican dinner. Serrano’s opens as reliably as the sun every year on May 1, and remains open through September 30. 

Check out the Apgar Visitor Center

First time visitor to Glacier National Park? Make Apgar, the park’s only visitor center with semi-year-round hours, your first stop. 

p.s. in 2017, the western half of the Going to the Sun Road will close on Monday, October 9, for culvert replacement

Meadow Lake Resort

the local grocery store Sold soft ice cream Vanilla or Chocolate in a cone for .25 cents!
 24 hour grocery store nearby to pick up food/supplies. 

The new 6 faucets shower in the bath was high powered and wonderful.
 a game room.   reccenter with ping pong, 
 The Family Rec Center has a free book exchange, 

Happy hour & half price appetizers
a great little quick breakfast & coffee bar, a wonderful happy hour bar 3-6 PM, delicious dinner menu and incredible view of the Rockies

The 45 person hot tub was so amazing and hot.
Two bed two bathroom and our own hot tub. Kitchen very well equipped and an electric BBQ on the decking.
there is a hot tub/jacuzzi in the room.


we asked for a shuttle ride to the airport -- which is 5 miles away! We asked around 8am for a ride around noon, but were told no, we have to book the shuttle to the airport 24 hours in advance! 

The resort offers a shuttle service which is handy especially if you happen to fly into or out of FCA. 

The resort has an onsite golf course and organized activities for all ages published in a weekly schedule. Some may require a small fee. There is a resort fee for RCI exchangers 12 dollars per night for this visit. There is a mid-visit light cleaning offered once which is included in the fee as is the shuttle service and amenities like WiFi.


There are 3 separate groups of condos all part of Meadow Lake. Glacier Village, Meadow Lake and Nenastakis (?spelling) All different sizes but all very nice

 We drew Building 3 which is in the oldest phase of the development where we stayed in a 2 bedroom unit. Newer units are found in the more modern phases known as Glacier Village (C921) and Nenastako Village (5994). 

The advanatge of the older buildings includes covered parking, and their location near to the main lodge & restaurant, main family center with rec room & pool,
 The newer units have central HVAC and elevators (Glacier Village).

 Movies and books may be borrowed at the rec center. 

provide a bar of soap, but no shampoo/conditioner/anything else.

Glacier NP Kalispell Resort

The Enterprise office is located offsite of the airport. Upon arrival, please call 406-755-4848 for shuttle service. Please select option "4" at the menu 

After Hours Service

IF RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT OUTSIDE OF ENTERPRISE BUSINESS HOURS, CUSTOMER CAN CHOOSE TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN THE LONG TERM PARKING LOT AND LEAVE THE PARKING TICKET ON THE DASH. CUSTOMER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A $10.00 PARKING CONVENIENCE FEE WHICH WILL BE ADDED ONTO THE FINAL BILL. LOCK THE VEHICLE AND PLACE THE KEYS IN THE ENTERPRISE KEY DROP BOX LOCATED INSIDE THE DOOR NUMBER 4 BREEZEWAY. IF RETURNING TO THE RENTAL BRANCH, PLEASE PARK THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT AND PLACE THE KEYS IN THE KEY DROP BOX LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF THE FRONT DOOR WITH NO COST TO CUSTOMER. THE CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VEHICLE'S CONDITION ENDS ONCE AN ENTERPRISE EMPLOYEE INSPECTS THE VEHICLE THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.

Reservation Number: 537271468

Meadow Lake Golf Resort(#1909)
100 St. Andrews Drive,
Columbia Falls, MT, USA, 59912
Resort telephone number: 406/892-8700
www.meadowlake.com

Unit Type: 1  Bedroom
Travel Dates: 28-Sep-2017 - 05-Oct-2017

This reservation is not eligible for Upgrades & Changes

• Meadow Lake Bar & Grille  Nightly Appetizer and Dinner Specials.

Meadow Lake Resort is located on the west edge of Columbia Falls off of Hwy 2. Turn north on Meadow Lake Blvd. off of Hwy 2 

http://www.meadowlake.com/docs/MeadowLakeResortMap.pdf

http://www.tiensplacerestaurant.com/#about

https://www.yelp.com/biz/tiens-place-oriental-dining-columbia-falls

https://www.yelp.com/biz/charlie-wongs-restaurant-kalispell

Los Caporales Authentic Mexican Food

http://www.chinawallwhitefish.com/lunch.html   in whitefish

Eat a steak at the Babb Bar Cattle Baron Supper Club. 

The Museum of the Plains Indian and Blackfeet Heritage Center in Browning. 

The place to buy, or simply look at, museum-quality Native American art and artifacts is the Montana Fur Trading Company in Martin City. See beadwork, jewelry, furs, and other goods in multiple themed rooms.

(and take a tour) at Glacier Distilling Company.  in Coram

 huckleberry gin

https://www.yelp.com/biz/glacier-distilling-company-coram

http://www.whitefishoktoberfest.com/festivalinfo/

The Great Northwest Oktoberfest covers two weekends of fun in September and October. The event blends the best of Old Germany and the Wild West, bringing some of the greatest polka and oompah bands in the U.S. and Canada to the Oktoberfest Bigtop in Whitefish Depot Park. Beer-fueled contests include waitress races, log sawing, stein holding, and keg hurling.  http://www.whitefishoktoberfest.com/music-food-beers/

Thursday, September 28:  5 pm to 11 pm
Friday, September 29: 5 pm to 11 pm
Saturday, September 30: 12 noon to 11 pm

 

The Crown of the Continent Discovery Center

Stretch your legs, have a coffee or a cocktail, buy some Montana-made memorabilia and get information on Glacier activities at the discovery center, which is located less than two miles from the west entrance to the park

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/montana/best-views-glacier-national-park-mt/

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/places-to-stop-on-your-way-to-glacier-national-park/article_ac233ede-9ef9-586e-8394-8b7a49abba18.html

Fall driving trip with pictorial essay

Great ideas

Driving Times

Times within and around the park are estimates and will vary with construction and time of day.

St. Mary to Many Glacier Valley: 20 miles, 30-40 minutes
St. Mary to Two Medicine Valley: 34 miles, 1 hour
St. Mary to Waterton Lakes National Park: 50 miles, 1 hour plus customs

West Glacier to East Glacier: 56 miles, 1 hour
West Glacier to St. Mary (Going-to-the-Sun Road): 50 miles, 2 to 2 1/2 hours
West Glacier to St. Mary (US Hwy 2 to Hwy 89): 90 miles, 2 to 2 1/2 hours
West Glacier to Many Glacier: 70 miles, 2 1/2 to 3 hours
West Glacier to Polebridge: 28 miles, 1 hour