Please help me be happy in Kalispell.
April 25, 2011 8:32 PM Subscribe
I got a sweet internship in Kalispell, MT going from mid-June through July. I've never been up there - what should I know, see, and do?
Details: this may turn into a longer term thing so feel free to mention non-summer stuff. I am not much of a camper but enjoy hiking, running, and road biking (I could like camping but I am REALLY scared of bears). Married with a dog, have a car, and I've never been to that area at all so assume I will go to all the major parks at some point (and have looked at previous q's about them....feel free to share your face places again, though). I don't downhill ski but hubby does.
Where to eat, bike, run, find hot springs, play with my dog, etc.? If you've lived there, what did you think?
We will probably take a similar route to this though I am facinated by E Oregon..feel free to share on the road ideas.
Thank you!
Details: this may turn into a longer term thing so feel free to mention non-summer stuff. I am not much of a camper but enjoy hiking, running, and road biking (I could like camping but I am REALLY scared of bears). Married with a dog, have a car, and I've never been to that area at all so assume I will go to all the major parks at some point (and have looked at previous q's about them....feel free to share your face places again, though). I don't downhill ski but hubby does.
Where to eat, bike, run, find hot springs, play with my dog, etc.? If you've lived there, what did you think?
We will probably take a similar route to this though I am facinated by E Oregon..feel free to share on the road ideas.
Thank you!
Best answer: To eat I like Coffee Traders and The Knead in Kalispell, if you go to Whitefish, have a beer and a sandwich at the Great Northern. In Kalispell, Moose's is a friendly bar, also KB. There is a decent BBQ place in the Night Owl in Columbia Falls, I can't remember what it's called.
If you do drive to Kalispell I suggest Interstate 90 to 135 at St. Regis. It's gorgeous. Stop at the Silver Dollar bar!
Spend a weekend in Missoula hanging out. My favorite bar there is Charley B's followed by hashbrowns and gravy at Stockman's. See anything at the Wilma theater.
Drive down the long way to get there.
Drive around Flathead Lake, go to Bigfork for 4th of July. Swim in Whitefish Lake, Flathead lake, Lake Blaine and the Flathead River.
Get a phosphate at Norm's News.
Of course, do all of Glacier park and if you are into the cheesy at all stop at the place that has two big red horses in front of them in Hungry Horse to buy souveniers. Stay at the SnowSlip in Essex, Mt and get a gander at Triple Divide Peak, from which the water flows to 3 different oceans, hence the Continental Divide.
I think that's a damn fine summer.
posted by Duffington at 9:10 PM on April 25, 2011
If you do drive to Kalispell I suggest Interstate 90 to 135 at St. Regis. It's gorgeous. Stop at the Silver Dollar bar!
Spend a weekend in Missoula hanging out. My favorite bar there is Charley B's followed by hashbrowns and gravy at Stockman's. See anything at the Wilma theater.
Drive down the long way to get there.
Drive around Flathead Lake, go to Bigfork for 4th of July. Swim in Whitefish Lake, Flathead lake, Lake Blaine and the Flathead River.
Get a phosphate at Norm's News.
Of course, do all of Glacier park and if you are into the cheesy at all stop at the place that has two big red horses in front of them in Hungry Horse to buy souveniers. Stay at the SnowSlip in Essex, Mt and get a gander at Triple Divide Peak, from which the water flows to 3 different oceans, hence the Continental Divide.
I think that's a damn fine summer.
posted by Duffington at 9:10 PM on April 25, 2011
Sorry, link didn't work. Drive the long way to Missoula, through Seeley Lake.
posted by Duffington at 9:14 PM on April 25, 2011
posted by Duffington at 9:14 PM on April 25, 2011
As far as I know, there's not really skiiing after April in Montana. (I'm from Montana and have several friends in Bozeman.)
Make sure you wear sunscreen daily for outdoor activities, especially if you are fair skinned. The sun is much more intense up here.
If you've never been there Yellowstone Park is about a 7 hour drive away and the scenic route that goes by Seeley Lake is amazing.
I haven't heard of many people who encounter bears when camping. Storing food properly and making noise do the trick, at least in Southwest Montana.
posted by mtphoto at 9:16 PM on April 25, 2011
Make sure you wear sunscreen daily for outdoor activities, especially if you are fair skinned. The sun is much more intense up here.
If you've never been there Yellowstone Park is about a 7 hour drive away and the scenic route that goes by Seeley Lake is amazing.
I haven't heard of many people who encounter bears when camping. Storing food properly and making noise do the trick, at least in Southwest Montana.
posted by mtphoto at 9:16 PM on April 25, 2011
I think Bowman Lake is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Don't think it is dog friendly but don't know. I flew out there from the east and had to leave the pups at home. Definately drive up to Alberta too, very nice all of it. I went there cause some friends were traveling the country and said we should meet them at some point. Don 't know why I said Montana but I was glad I did, nicest vacation in the world, beautiful country. Also awesome minitacos in a little bar in Kallispell, lol.
posted by cellar at 9:27 PM on April 25, 2011
posted by cellar at 9:27 PM on April 25, 2011
Response by poster: I like my indoor fun, too. Any good gyms/indoor pools? Good local beers? I'm loving everything y'all are telling me - super excited for the summer and warming to a permanent move.
posted by adorap0621 at 9:48 PM on April 25, 2011
posted by adorap0621 at 9:48 PM on April 25, 2011
Best answer: I've visited my grandparents twice a year for oh so many years now. They live on flathead lake, so here's what comes to my mind for things to do around there. It's a nice place! Although I can't think of anything distinguishing about kalispell. The city is far from as stunning as the mountains and lakes and everything around it.
Should you happen to drive past, stop here. There's a restaurant with delicious huckleberry ice cream.
There's a great state park in the middle of the lake called Wild horse island. Glacier is tremendous, but there are lots of other hikes in the area. There's a book on local day hikes. Glacier gets crowded.
Bigfork is a beautiful town. There's a brewery there I think. A few minutes from my first link is a winery.
posted by kjell at 11:00 PM on April 25, 2011
Should you happen to drive past, stop here. There's a restaurant with delicious huckleberry ice cream.
There's a great state park in the middle of the lake called Wild horse island. Glacier is tremendous, but there are lots of other hikes in the area. There's a book on local day hikes. Glacier gets crowded.
Bigfork is a beautiful town. There's a brewery there I think. A few minutes from my first link is a winery.
posted by kjell at 11:00 PM on April 25, 2011
Best answer: what should I know
\I'd just like to drop in to mention that white nationalists who lead a movement called Pioneer Little Europe in Kalispell, so you might want to be aware that is going on in the area.
posted by vincele at 4:05 AM on April 26, 2011
\I'd just like to drop in to mention that white nationalists who lead a movement called Pioneer Little Europe in Kalispell, so you might want to be aware that is going on in the area.
posted by vincele at 4:05 AM on April 26, 2011
If you're traveling through Billings, Siam Thai is really, really, good. No liquor license though.
I've spent some time near Livingston, Montana is seriously beautiful. Enjoy!
posted by cyndigo at 11:18 AM on April 26, 2011
I've spent some time near Livingston, Montana is seriously beautiful. Enjoy!
posted by cyndigo at 11:18 AM on April 26, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone for the info! I bested the ones telling me where to eat in town - I like to hike but I *really* like to eat. :) I will update this with what I've learned when my summer is done just in case it helps out anyone else.
Vincele - I'm glad to have that on my radar. Thanks!
posted by adorap0621 at 1:54 PM on May 8, 2011
Vincele - I'm glad to have that on my radar. Thanks!
posted by adorap0621 at 1:54 PM on May 8, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by the jam at 8:54 PM on April 25, 2011