Exploring Whitefish, Montana

Downtown Whitefish, MT. Photo courtesy of Whitefish, MT. Lodging, Dining and Official Visitor Information, http://www.explorewhitefish.com. Photo credit Brian Schott.

Oh Whitefish, why do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 1. Great restaurants (my bellwether). 2. Great shops. And I kinda hate shopping. 3. The vibe. It always comes down to the vibe. And this town has it going on. 4. TONS of outdoor sports, including Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort (known to the locals as Big Mountain), summer activities on Whitefish Lake, and one of the crown jewels of the National Park system, Glacier National Park, a quick car ride away. Plus soooo much more.

So let's go through the categories. I will start with the vibe. Whitefish, MT. is decidedly western, with saloons, western-flavored shops - art, jewelry, clothing and more. There is "traditional" western intermingled with a contemporary vision of western that I just dig.

Shops inlclude a bit of what I mentioned in my Kalispell, MT. post. There is a Toggery and a Sportsman's -- but their merchadise can be different, so one needs to shop both! The independently-ownded art, jewelry and home design shops are totally worth exploring. I will not list them all by name, just go and meander. So much to choose from! Toys, antiques, art, western jewelry, clothing and more. For every taste and across all spectrums.

I fell in love with one relatively new art gallery, "Underscore Art". Modern art with a western flair. All local artists. Just a few images to sample. Maybe not your cup of tea, but it totally was mine. https://www.underscoreart.com.

And now for food. And lodging. We have three faves for dining in Whitefish. First and foremost is McGarry's Roadhouse. I mentioned them in a recipe post. Steve, the owner (along with his wife Sandy), gave me his rice pilaf recipe and it was simple but perfect. I had the best piece of salmon in my life here. And McGarry's is home to the Huckleberry Martini, the most delicious drink on the planet. That was Sandy's invention. Great menu which changes often, great atmosphere, owned by two people who have been in the hospitality industry forever and just know how to take care of you. Awesome. http://mcgarrysroadhouse.com.

Our second, but equal fave in Whitefish is the Tupelo Grille. Great wine list, great cocktails, great food, great service. We come here maybe once a year and the same guy waits on us and we remember each other. Crazy! https://www.tupelogrille.com.

Third but equal is Latitude 48. Whitefish is located at latitude 48. Get it?!! They feature small plates and entrees in a contemporary atmosphere. The restaurant is on the main floor, and the Red Room is below. It has a drink menu for tourists, one for transplants and one for locals. Cute. You can get any drink from any menu. http://latitude48bistro.com.

For downtown lodging, the new hot-spot is the Firebrand Hotel. Pretty hip for a cowboy town. It is relatively new. Nice, spacious rooms with little faux firepaces and large bathrooms. The public space is cool with a coffee bar, cocktails, appetizers and quite frequently, live music. In the summer months you can enjoy the rooftop patio. The fitness center is open year round. And they accept dogs in certain rooms, and in a certain space in the lobby area. Love it. http://firebrandhotel.com. I've included a picture of Bob ignoring me while we are out on the town together.

For outdoor activities, we have first and foremost, Whitefish Mountain Resort, the ski area formerly known as Big Mountain. Whitefish offers impressive views of Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest. The vertical drop of the ski area is 2,353 feet (717m), with a summit elevation of 6,817 ft (2,078 m) and a base of 4,464 ft (1,361 m). The average annual snowfall is 300 inches (760 cm) and there is 3,000 acres of skiable terrain. All this adds up to great snow and great fun! It's vast, it's varied, with something for novice to expert. You could ski a week here and never get bored. http://skiwhitefish.com.

The peaks of Glacier National Park behind Whitefish Mt. Resort (it will always be Big Mountain to me). After a long day of skiing, have a Moose Drool at the Hell-roarin' Pub.

In the summer there is Whitefish Lake, and The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, a sister property to the Firebrand in downtown Whitefish. The Lodge at Whitefish boasts 5 restaurants, a marina, a seasonal outdoor pool, a year round outdoor hot tub, an indoor pool and hot tub, plus shuttles to downtown and the ski area. Plus a Tesla charging station. I do not have a Tesla. But I guess it is important for those who do. You can access much of what Whitefish Lake has to offer from here.

Last but certainly not least is Glacier National Park. Just 40 minutes from Whitefish, Glacier is open year round, but activities vary from season to season. I have been here 4 - 5 times and it is stunning. From the Going-to-the-Sun Road, to hiking, camping, cruising MacDowell Lake or just basking in its beauty, Glacier is a must-see. Then again, all of our National Parks are. Please check the web site to plan your visit before you go. Photos courtesy of the Glacier National Park website. And they do not begin to do it justice.

One can also find river rafting, fly-fishing, hiking for all abiities, rock-climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding -- just anything you can imagine to do in the great outdoors, all in the Whitefish area. Whitefish has a dog park so that dogs with pent-up energy -- like Jack -- can run around and exert some energy. Jack had his own pastures to explore, so we never made it, but here is a link: http://www.whitefishdogpark.org. There is ample doggie day available, just do a quick online search. And there are tons of other lodging and dining options besides the ones I've mentioned. Burgers, dive bars, Mexican, wood-fired pizza, etc. The list goes on.

So get yourself to Whitefish, MT. and the surrounding towns of Bigfork and Kalispell. SO much to do and see. And bring your dog. You won't regret it.