Think of
Montana when you plan your next family vacation. You probably fished Montana
with a couple of frat buddies in college, or perhaps you joined some colleagues
for a fall fishing trip to the Madison River. Remember how impressed you were
with that Big Sky fishing experience? Well, start planning the perfect family
vacation or newly wed honeymoon from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone
National Park. You and your wife will have so much fun that she will insist
that you go fishing along the way, so be sure you pack your emergency trout-fix
kit.
Plan at least a
two-week trek to include day hikes to mountain glaciers, scenic boat cruises,
whitewater rafting, kayaking, rodeos, golf, horseback riding and, of course,
shopping. Did I mention fishing? Fly to Kalispell, your jumping off spot for
Glacier National Park, rent a
vehicle and begin your family odyssey through the Last Best Place. End your visit at Yellowstone National
Park and fly home from Bozeman International Airport, gateway to Yellowstone
National Park.
If you haven't
driven to Montana and you are not sure of the driving time, plan on 22 driving
hours from the Los Angeles basin, figure 18 hours from the Sacramento area or
San Francisco area, and an easy 10 hour jaunt from Seattle. "All aboard!" For
the enterprising vacationers who want an unparalleled experience of seeing our
great continent and its spectacular scenic landscapes, book your trip through
Amtrak. From Chicago or St. Paul, take the Empire Builder. From California or
the Northwest, book passage on the Coast Starlight. Amtrak provides European
style coaches with reclining seats, laptop outlets, movies and breathtaking
scenery.
Arriving at
Kalispell airport, or West or East Glacier if by train, the neighboring towns
and resorts offer great accommodations for modest budgets and up. The Flathead
Lake area to Whitefish and onwards to West Glacier offers resort seclusion in
natural surroundings to Victorian era Bed and Breakfast establishments in the
middle of town.
Day 1: Pick up
your rental car and check into your lodging. Relax.
Day 2: If you
have young children, spend a day at the water slides in Columbia Falls, gateway
to Glacier National Park, or take a beautiful trip around Flathead Lake and
sample the Bing Cherries at the many stands around the lake. If you are a
Golfer, do not pass up Polson's course on the lake. Do you need a more sedate,
relaxed first day? If so, then motor down the east-side of the lake to the
little town of Big Fork, with its many shops and regional theatre. (Keep in
mind that the Swan River is just around the corner, although I would recommend
a fishing guide, as access is difficult. Many guiding companies are available
to the hungry fisherman who experiences a Mac Attack and wants to fish the lake
for lake trout.) I would recommend staying in Polson for Day 2. Stay at the
Best Western KwaTaqNuk if you want to do some gambling.
Day 2: Rested
and ready to go? Do you want a whitewater adventure on the Flathead River below
Polson or a visit to the National Bison Range near Moise. Established in 1908
to protect American bison, this grasslands park is home to bison, deer, elk,
antelope and big horn sheep. The refuge offers a big canvass for the artist or
photographer in the family. Do you need to cool off? Picnic and swim in the
crystal clear waters of Flathead Lake at Polson's city park.
Day 3-5: It is
time to see Glacier National Park. If you are on a budget, the park offers
great campsites, and outside the park your family will find many RV parks and
campgrounds, along with many "tourist traps", as my father reminded his
children when we drove by the Mysterious House, the Snake Emporium, and the
motorized go-cart track. Day 3 should be devoted to a self-guided tour of the
park or with one of the tour companies. If you are going to take the
Going-to-the Sun Road and want to get out and walk the trails to see the Billy
Goats, start early as mid-summer the parking lot gets full.
Day 4 should
include a day hike into one of Glacier's beautiful lakes. (Dad, be sure to
bring your fly rod along.) Day 5 should be devoted to a family adventure.
Depending on your pocketbook, your family could experience a helicopter tour of
the park, a scenic float down the North Fork or a guided trip down the Middle
Fork of the Flathead River. Another option is to book lodging in the park at
the Many Glacier Hotel or at Swift Current Lake and take a cruise with Glacier
Park Boat Company, which offers boat excursions at Many Glacier Lake, Rising
Sun Lake, Two Medicine Lake and Lake McDonald.
Day 6-7: If
your time is limited to two weeks, it is time move to another location. Your
next stop is the Seeley-Swan recreation corridor. The Seeley-Swan is a
beautiful valley sandwiched between the Swan Mountain Range and the Bob Marshall
Wilderness. If you like backpacking, this is a must-stop visit. If you like
swimming, canoeing, biking, fishing, golfing and luxurious resorts, you will
wish you had more time to spend in the Seely-Swan.
Day 8: Follow
Highway 200 to Missoula along the Blackfoot River of "A River Runs Through It"
fame. You could spend the entire day fishing or visiting the Garnet ghost town.
Pack a lunch and don't rush to Missoula. It is just another city less than a
hundred miles away. But if you need a city fix or a Moose Drool Beer, your trip
will be short. Stay in Missoula.
Day 9: Take
Interstate 90 east from Missoula and exit at Montana's famous, blue-ribbon Rock
Creek. Follow the creek all the way to the mining town of Philipsburg. Yes, it
is a dirt road and bumpy in places, but the fishing, I mean driving, is well
worth getting off the Interstate. After all, you do want to see as much of the
"Last Best Place" as possible. From Philipsburg, drop down to Anaconda along
the scenic byway. Spend the night in Butte, Montana.
Day 10: Well,
folks, we're running out of time. Day 10 needs to be a driving day--about an
hour and a half total driving time. However, are you really going to pass up
the Three Forks of the Missouri River State Park or the Buffalo Jump? Spend
your evening in Bozeman, which offers great shops and fine restaurants.
Day 11: From
Bozeman take Highway 191, The Gallatin Gateway, to West Yellowstone. The entire
trip is stunning in its scenery and fishing opportunities. Stay in West
Yellowstone and just have fun.
Day 12-13:
Yellowstone National Park
Day 14: Bid
Montana farewell and fly home from Bozeman, Montana. Oh, you say you need more
time to fish. Well, that's easy - spend another week in Yellowstone National
(fishing) Park!
