The Perfect Fall Vacation – Discover This Mountain Town!
Question: In what town in the United States can you relax on a sandy beach, wakeboard, snowboard, enjoy professional theatre, and drive to a pristine national park in less than 30 minutes? Answer: Whitefish, Montana!
The Ideal LocationIf the combination of a lake town and ski town intrigue you, add the proximity to Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake, an upscale, service-oriented tourist focus, and a location in one of the Northwest’s most beautiful valleys, and your interest is sure to be piqued. Whitefish is truly a haven for outdoor recreation brimming with an active community culture.
The town is on the north end of the Flathead Valley and is nestled beneath Whitefish Mountain (about 7 miles from downtown to the parking lot) and next to Whitefish Lake, which stretches for 7 miles beneath the tamarack speckled ridges of the mountain. It’s a community riddled equally with dirty Ford F-350’s and polished Mercedes M-Class SUV’s, both of which are capable carriers to the slopes in a snow-packed pinch. It’s a unique blend of rural reality and admirable elegance, with a whole lot of Montana: and that’s a recipe for fun.
What To DoThis is the easy part. To start with, the city beach is just blocks from downtown and offers a beautiful sand beach (a rarity along typically rocky mountain lakes) with a swimming area, boat launch and park-like setting with barbecue spits and gazebos. The Whitefish State Park offers another lakefront base for a day of water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and swimming. When you’re finished frolicking in the lake, stop by one of the area’s excellent restaurants to recharge before heading up to Whitefish Mountain to ride the lift for some breathtaking views of the valley. Whitefish Resort operates year round and when the snow melts you can ride the lift to the top for some breathtaking mountain biking and hiking.
In the fall, the area transforms into a hunting mecca and part of the town disappears in camouflage, heading out to harvest the area’s rich supply of whitetail deer, elk, and, occasionally, the randomly drawn Moose. The many river basins of the Flathead’s North, South, and Middle fork, Whitefish River, and Stillwater River, a low human population, and thousands of acres of protected national park land nearby all make the area an ideal breeding ground for big game.
Falling For FallIf you’re planning a Montana vacation this year, don’t disqualify fall in the Flathead. Yes, it is too cold to wakeboard and, no, there’s no snow for skiing yet, but fall plays host to some of nature’s most memorable moments. Sometime around the end of September every year, the Tamaracks change color and turn the forests around town into a stunning medley of yellows and greens, accented, or course, by autumn’s traditional reds. That being said, it’s hard to find a more picturesque setting for fly-fishing for rainbows or bow-hunting for grouse.
The nice thing about Whitefish is its diverse offering of distractions: if you’re not outfitted head to toe in Patagonia or especially inclined to lace up those hiking boots, the town itself can keep you entertained with its collection of local art galleries, fine fare, professional theatre, and a nightlife that – despite its obvious yearning to transcend to a metropolitan style venue – remains solidly Montanan. The town is also primed to host it’s first Octoberfest this year, an event that will feature stout locally-brewed lagers, bratwursts, log-sawing and keg-hurling contests, sauerkraut and polka dancing.
Where to Stay to PlayA great place to stay to experience all Whitefish offers is the Crestwood Retreat – a private residence retreat in the heart of whitefish that’s close to the lake, ski hill, theatre, and downtown dining. One of those little-known local secrets, the retreat is remodeled with natural wood and stone accents and provides an upscale, private accommodation whose backyard opens to a serene meadow. For more information visit http://www.lodginginmontana.com
The Verdict: for fall fun, few destinations offer the beauty and life Whitefish enjoys.