Adventure to Bigfork, Montana
One of our favorite destinations in the Flathead Valley is Bigfork, MT. It is situated about 25 minutes south of Kalispell at the northernmost tip of Flathead Lake. Flathead Lake, by the way, is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. It measures 57 miles from north to south and encompasses 192 square miles in surface area. No joke. It's big. Bigfork is cradled by the Swan River and the Flathead River, making it a water enthusiasts haven! And we like water. Quite a bit.
The town of Bigfork is small, but laden with art galleries, gift shops, food emporiums, a thriving summer theater, and small restaurants featuring everything from burgers to sushi. Totally do-able by foot in a day. Here are a few pictures of the quaint downtown. Yes, it's adorable.
While we love to wander the downtown and support the local shops (most of which wrap, key in the holiday season), our favorite place to eat is the Flathead Lake Brewing Company. While they brew their own beer, they also serve craft cocktails and fantastic food with a view of Flathead Lake. We stopped there recently and had their "Duck Bites" - pieces of duck breast with a slice of jalapeño, wrapped in bacon and then baked and served with an ale-based honey mustard. Delicious. Their nachos have all the veggies, aged cheddar and then a homemade queso with -- you guessed it -- beer. We have been here 4 or 5 times. It is always delicious. http://flatheadlakebrewing.com.
When in the Flathead Valley, spend a day -- or two -- in Bigfork, MT. Peruse the town, take a boat tour of the lake and enjoy all that Bigfork has to offer in terms of shopping, art and food. It will be a memorable occasion.