- Spend a day hiking through a cedar and hemlock forest to arrive at Glacier’s Avalanche Lake. This half day hike offers splendid views of waterfalls. It’s one of the park’s most popular hikes for a good reason. Recommended time: Full day with drive. Hike is considered half day. Distance: 1.25-hour drive from Meadow Lake Resort Cost: None Recommended Attire: Layers, sunscreen and sunglasses. Check for weather in park Intensity: Intensity moderate More Information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk (800) 321-4653 or direct to websites: http://www.visitmt.com/listings/general/national-park-trail/avalanche-lake-trail.html https://www.hike734.com/hiking/avalanche-lake/ http://www.hikinginglacier.com/avalanche-lake.htm
- You’ll find Glacier’s Lake McDonald Lodge right off the Going to the Sun road. Enjoy the historic Swiss Chalet style 1913 lodge built to lure rail travelers to the Northwest. It sits astride Glacier’s largest lake and was once only accessible by boat. Plan to get out on the emerald-hued lake in a rented personal watercraft or enjoy an hour tour in the historic wooden hulled DeSmet. Recommended Time: Two hours to half day Distance: Hour drive from Meadow Lake Resort Cost: Varies. Boat tours $18.25 per adult and $9.25 per child. Rentals range from $10 per hour for paddle boats to $23 per hour for 8 hp motorboats Recommended Attire: Layers, sunscreen and sunglasses. Check for weather in park Intensity: Intensity appropriate for all ages More Information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk (800) 321-4653 or direct website: http://glacierparkboats.com/tour/lake-mcdonald/
- Spend some time sampling Montana’s contribution to the national craft-beer and distilling explosions. Flathead Valley hosts ten breweries and distilleries, each producing multiple libations. Visit the websites for tour and entertainment offerings. Columbia Falls own Backslope Brewery is just five minutes from Meadow Lake Resort. Remember to designate a driver, drink responsibly, or a little of both. Distance: Five minutes to 1 hour drive from Meadow Lake Resort Cost: Entry is free. Prices vary by consumption Recommended Attire: Weather appropriate casual. Intensity: You pick the intensity. Check websites for age restrictions More Information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk (800) 321-4653 or direct websites: Columbia Falls: Backslope Brewing— http://www.backslopebrewing.com/ Whitefish: The Great Northern Brewing Company -http://www.greatnorthernbrewing.com/ Bonsai Brewing Project –http://www.allaboutbeer.com/article/bonsai-brewing-project/ Spotted Bear Spirits -http://www.spottedbearspirits.com/ Kalispell: Kalispell Brewing Company -https://www.kalispellbrewing.com/ Sacred Water Brewing - https://www.sacredwatersbrewing.com/ Bigfork: Flathead Lake Brewing Company –http://www.flatheadlakebrewing.com/ Whistling Andy Distilling -http://www.whistlingandy.com/ Lakeside: Tamarack Brewing Company -http://www.tamarackbrewing.com/lakeside/ Coram: Glacier Distilling Company -http://www.glacierdistilling.com/ Eureka: H.A. Brewing Company -http://www.habrewing.com/
- Your trip to Montana will not be complete without spending some quality time with horses. Hop on over to Whitefish’s Bar W Guest Ranch for a trail ride that can last from an hour to a half day depending on your preference. Newbies might prefer a lesson. Family members of all ages can enjoy the 45-minute evening wagon rides that can be capped off with a dinner on the range. Recommended Time: Two hours to half day. Distance: Half hour drive from Meadow Lake Resort. Cost: It’s tour dependent with posted prices on website ranging from $50 for an hour to $110 for a half day trail ride. Recommended Attire: Layers, durable pants and shoes. Intensity: Moderate-to-intense for horseback riding. Less intense for wagon rides. More Information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk (800) 321-4653 or Company directly: https://www.thebarw.com/horseback-riding-vacations/ 866.828.2900
- It’s almost certain that there’s one thing missing in Montana that your home state has: SALES TAX. Every week is tax free week for Montana shoppers. You can support local shops in Whitefish, Big Fork, Kalispell and Columbia Falls for unique items. Head to Kalispell’s downtown local storefronts and mall, or north side for the national chains where you can stock up on sneakers at Famous footwear, find deals at JC Penny, bulk up at Costco, or dress for less at Ross, not to mention the many more that are being constructed. Recommended Time: It’s shopping so you choose. For some, as quick as possible. Others will make a day of it. Distance: Up to 22-minute drive from Meadow Lake Resort to Kalispell’s North Side shops. Cost: Less than were you live. Recommended Attire: Weather dependent. Intensity: Hopefully low. More Information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk (800) 321-4653
- Spend an afternoon at Kalispell’s Conrad Mansion, a turn of the century 13,000-foot estate that was constructed for one of the West’s early developers. Check the website for special events the week of your visit. Recommended time: 2 to 3 hours Distance: 25-minute drive from Meadow Lake Resort. Cost: $18 per person. Recommended Attire: Nothing special Intensity: Low More Information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk (800) 321-4653 or direct http://www.conradmansion.com/index.html
- For centuries, Salish-Kootenai Indians used the largest Island in Flathead Lake to keep their horses safe from the raids of other tribes. Today the Montana State Park is home to a herd of wild horses, Big Horn sheep, Mule Deer and Bald Eagles. An hour or two on a hiking trail accessible to almost anyone who is ambulatory is bound to provide for numerous opportunities to view and photograph wildlife. If you’re lucky, you may even run across the six often elusive wild horses that provide the island’s name. In addition to hiking, Wild Horse Island is ideal for a picnic and an afternoon of swimming. Family members of all ambitions and abilities will enjoy the time spent on this state park. It’s accessible only by boat. Spring, Summer and Fall trips can be booked from Big Fork, just minutes from Meadow Lake’s Rocky Bar O lake front lodge. Boat shuttles are also available from Big Arm MT, the closest town to the Island. Recommended Time: Half Day Distance: Big Arm Boat Shuttle is an hour drive from Meadow Lake Resort. Big Fork is 40 minutes Cost: The state park is free. The trip to Island costs $40 per person round trip from Big Arm. The Big Fork service offers custom pricing. Call for details. Recommended Attire: Layers, water gear for splashes if traveling from Big Fork, and hiking and swimming appropriate. Intensity: Moderate impact hiking. Fun for the entire family. More Information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk (800) 321-4653 Big Arm Shuttle: http://www.boatrentalsandrides.com/boat-rides-to-wild-horse-island/ 406.260.5090 BigFork: Wild Horse Island Boat Trips: http://www.wildhorseislandboattrips.com/ 406.837.5617
- Offering something for all ages, the Logan Pass Visitor Center is perched at the highest point of the Going to the Sun Road. It’s deep in the park and offers not only Ranger-led activities but trail heads for two popular hikes—the Highline and Hidden lakes trail. Parking can be difficult at the visitor center in peak seasons. It is the terminus on the park’s free shuttle service. Distance: 1 ½ -3 hour drive from Meadow Lake Resort depending on traffic congestion in the park. Cost: None after park entrance paid Recommended Attire: Layers, sunscreen and sunglasses. Check for weather in park Intensity: Intensity all ages. See hikes for specifics More Information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk (800) 321-4653 or direct websites: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/visitor-centers.htm http://www.visitmt.com/listings/general/national-park-trail/hidden-lake-overlook-trail.html
- Bring the bounty of Montana’s Flathead Valley farms to your resort kitchen to cook up for sumptuous enjoyment with your family and guests. Don’t want to cook? Pick up some locally grown and crafted pies and other delicacies. You may even find the perfect hand-crafted souvenir! From May to September, there’s plenty of Home Grown, Hand Made produce and goods to help you eat local and keep you entertained while you shop. It’s fun for ages. Here’s a schedule. Columbia Falls—Mondays, Marantette Park 133 13th St. E, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 5pm to 8pm. 10 minutes from Meadow Lake Resort. Whitefish—Every Tuesday from 5pm to 7:30pm. Central Avenue at Depot Park, Whitefish MT. 15 minutes from Meadow Lake Resort. Kalispell—Saturdays, 9am to 12:30pm. Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview Dr., Kalispell MT. 20 minutes from Meadow Lake Resort Polson—Friday’s 9 AM to 1 PM. 3rd Ave West, between Main St and 1st Street West. Polson MT 1 ½ hour from Meadow Lake Resort. Bigfork—Friday’s 10am to 1pm 8098 MT-35, Bigfork, MT 5991. 30 minutes from resort. Recommended time: One to two hours. Distance: Ten minutes to 1 ½ hrs. depending on market. Cost: Free Recommended Attire: Weather dependent Intensity: Low impact fun for the entire family. More Information: See Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk, market websites, or Facebook pages.
- Up for an evening of stimulating entertainment? Head to a one of the Valley’s three theater groups for shows that cater to all ages and interests. Stop for a pre-show dinner at Meadow Lake Bar and Grille before the show! Check the websites for shows and tickets or contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk. Whitefish Theater Company. http://www.whitefishtheatreco.org 1 Central Avenue Whitefish, MT 59937 15 minutes from Meadow Lake Resort Alpine Theater Project. http://www.atpwhitefish.org 127 Spokane Avenue Whitefish, MT 59937 15 minutes from Meadow Lake Resort Bigfork Summer Playhouse. http://www.bigforksummerplayhouse.com 526 Electric Avenue Bigfork, MT 59911, 30 minutes from Meadow Lake Resort. 15 minutes from Rocky Bar-O. Dinner and show packages available.
- Experience the thrill of shooting glacier fueled rapids on a trip down Flathead River’s middle fork. Those less inclined to adrenaline boosting will certainly enjoy a scenic float or a dinner float. With three companies competing for your business, there’s sure to be a trip made for you, regardless of your age, inclinations and interests. Recommended Time: Minimum half day. Distance: 45-minute drive from Meadow Lake Resort. Cost: It’s tour dependent with posted prices on companies’ websites ranging from $58 for half day to $100 for full day. Recommended Attire: Layers starting with swimwear. Sunglasses and straps. Sunscreen. Closed toe shoes. Intensity: Moderate-to-intense for rafting trips. Scenic floats are low intensity. More Information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort Activities Desk (800) 321-4653 or companies directly: http://www.Glacierguides.com 800-521-7238 http://www.greatnorthernresort.com 800-735-7897 http://www.glacierraftco.com 406-888-5454
- Spend a day enjoying the good life at a private beach lodge on Flathead lake, the largest freshwater body of water west of the Mississippi. Gas grills are provided so you can stay fueled up for summer time fun. Swim off the dock, lounge in the shade or paddle board out into the lake, with supplies provided on site. Wave Runners and power boats are available for rent on the adjacent dock. If it gets too hot, you can retreat inside the lodge for board games, a game of pool or a ping pong match. This place is fun for all ages. Recommended Time: Two hours to a full day. Distance: A scenic forty-five minute drive though the Flathead Valley. Cost: No cost to Owners and Guests Renting Accommodations. Recommended Attire: Swimwear, weather appropriate clothes, sunscreen and sun glasses. Intensity: Ranges from low impact lounging to thrilling wave running. Address: 33223 Lakeshore Drive, BigFork, MT 59911 More information: Contact Meadow Lake Resort (800) 321-4653