One of the more upscale places we’ve stayed in Montana, at least among the corporate offerings, was the Hampton Inn in Kalispell. In short, the beds were great, the hospitality was fantastic, and the breakfast was exactly what we needed to get us going on our daily way. Continue Reading

One surprising gem in Kalispell is the Museum at Central School. Housed in the original school building, painstakingly restored and brought back up to modern museum speed, the archives have depth you might not imagine, and exhibits you might only expect in a major, coastal city. Continue Reading

The greater Kalispell / Flathead lake area has no shortage of hotels, even when you consider the peak season. There are hotels and motels a’plenty, as well as bed and breakfast and other boutiques that abound. With that in mind, why you would ever spend the night at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell is beyond me. Continue Reading

If you’re looking for a great Independence Day parade, the one offered in Kalispell is the only one we’ve experienced, but we’ve seen other parades, and this one was well worthy of recommendation for a bunch of reasons. It has good offerings, it’s not too crowded, and it makes for a great day of fun. Continue Reading

Whitefish Montana has enjoyed success for a number of reasons. They’ve got a killer ski resort in Ski Whitefish, they’re right off the highline just a quick Amtrak ride from Seattle, and they really know how to cater to locals and visitors alike. While we haven’t yet taken in the resort, we did spend the 4th on the lake last year, and it was a perfectly solid fireworks display. Continue Reading

One of the biggest, strangest, most wonderfully eclectic places we’ve ever seen on our travels is the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, Montana. They’re right along Highway 93 on the west side of Flathead Lake, right along your way from Missoula to Kalispell. It’s right on the way and well worth the visit. Continue Reading

Along the northwest corner of Flathead Lake is a unique and interesting little place called The People’s Center, where you can learn about the indigenous cultures of the area. Sqejlixr/Aqzsmaknidk when translated to English mean “The People” in Salish and Kootenai, respectively. And this wayside museum even more cultural information than you might expect. Continue Reading

If you’ve never ridden a duck or a hippo, it’s an experience quite unique, and you simply must try it out. The World War II era Ducks, and Korean War era Hippos are amphibious watercraft that have been sagely appropriated for tourist rides, and if you want a mixed land/sea adventure, there’s little finer you can find for your adventure. Continue Reading

During our latest tour, we took the time to visit each and every IHOP in Montana. It’s not as hectic as hitting every Starbucks in Manhattan or every McDonalds, well, anywhere, but it did make for a nice, familiar taste in many of the places we went. Continue Reading

We published a review of KOA Campgrounds a few days ago, specifically as it pertains to the property in West Glacier. We enjoyed a number of thoughtful and detailed responses to the review, and as promised, I’ve taken them all into account and written this response which will hopefully clarify a few of the original points, as well as expand into new areas of consideration raised since it was published. Continue Reading

We were driving up from Missoula to Kalispell, along a narrow and winding road infamous for fatalities, so I was already well aware that I might well get a ticket if I went over the speed limit. I kept my speed within a few ticks of the limit at all times, but when I passed through Polson, I saw that dummy sitting right there in his car and I had frankly had enough. Continue Reading

KOA, also known as Kampgrounds of America, has carved out a clever corporate niche in a world of otherwise independent providers. While you technically need nothing more than a few square feet upon which to pitch your tent, KOA has brought in a nationwide corporate brand, and in doing so, they’ve managed to successfully prey on consumers unaware that there is in fact an alternative. Continue Reading

Flathead Lake Lodge has an event upcoming featuring Pat Metheny, Scott Tennant, Alex DeGrassi and more. They invite the public to join in for the upcoming Guitars & Glaciers event taking place at the Flathead Lake Lodge August 29th through September 5th, 2010. Continue Reading

For years now, IHOP has been the clearest face of Pancake Day, a quasi-holiday dating back at least 1,000 years. At first I thought this nationwide fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network was little more than an easy-breezy publicity stunt for this house of pancakes, so ostensibly international. I was dead wrong. This is a serious charity drive, and it serves the children well, as the results surely show. Continue Reading

This coming Tuesday is National Pancake Day. Sure, it’s only marked on the most comprehensive of every-holiday calendars, but it happens every year, and it’s a day for win-win benefit all around, so maybe you need to gear up for a hot breakfast this Tuesday, February 24th, and get ready to chow down… for the children.
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Plum Creek Timber Company may be citing a decline in home building wood products for the reason their laying off more than 145 workers, but the bottom line is looking more black than red, and an 11th hour Bush shift in land use rights is to blame.
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