Page 14 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

Kalispell
Location: Highways 93 and 2; 33 miles from
Glacier National Park, 53 miles from Polson,
15 miles from Whitefish, 7 miles from Flathead
Lake. Greater Kalispell Population: 34,000.
Visitor Information: Kalispell Convention and
Visitor Bureau, 15 Depot Park, on Highway
93 in downtown Kalispell; Phone: (406) 758-
2800 or (888) 888-2308; Website: www.
discoverkalispell.com; Email: visitkalispell@
kalispellchamber.com.
Kalispell is located in the beautiful Flathead
Valley, an area noted for its spectacular scenery
and magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains.
Clark Fork River, Paradise Recreation opportunities abound in this picturesque
photo by: valley surrounded by thousands of acres of National
Jerry Huddleston
Forest and wilderness with hundreds of miles of
hiking trails, extensive fishing access and abundant
St. Regis lake is different every day. wildlife. Seven miles south of Kalispell on US 93,
Flathead Lake provides excellent fishing, swimming,
Located in the northwestern corner of the State, The six state parks located around the lake provide sailing, camping, cruises, charter guide services,
exit 33 off I-90. Montana Information Center, public access, with camping facilities available rentals and resorts. Nearby Glacier National Park,
PO Box 200, St. Regis, MT 59866; Phone: at five. West Shore, Big Arm, Wild Horse Island, Hungry Horse Dam, Whitefish Mountain Resort and
(406) 649-2290; E-mail: mtinfo@bigsky. Finley Point, Yellow Bay and Wayfarers State Parks Whitefish Lake make Kalispell the first choice for
net; Website: www.stregis.bigsky.net/mtinfo are among Montana’s most visited. RV parks and outdoor enthusiasts.
motels are located nearby in Kalispell and on the Tourism plays an important part in the area’s
Missoula lake in Somers, Lakeside, Polson and Bigfork. Visit economy as does the art business, which is a
stateparks.mt.gov for information on these state parks.
Location: Near the junctions of US Highways flourishing multi-million dollar enterprise. The valley
93, I-90, 200 and 12; 116 miles to Helena, 150 boasts over 2,000 artists and craftsmen in residence.
miles to Glacier National Park, 120 miles to Lakeside The Hockaday Museum of Art and its 3-day major
Butte, 279 miles to West Yellowstone, 360 Location: Hwy 93; 14 miles south of Kalispell fundraiser “Arts in the Park” contribute to the success
miles to Billings. Population: 67,000. Visitor on the west shore of Flathead Lake. Population: of this industry. The Hockaday, located in the old
Information: Missoula Convention and Visitors 2,669. Visitor Information: Lakeside-Somers Carnegie Library at the corner of Second Avenue East
Bureau, 101 E Main; Phone: (800) 526-3465; Chamber of Commerce, located in the West Shore and Third Street in downtown Kalispell, has several
Website: www.missoulacvb.org. Community Library at 100 Bierney Creek Road exhibition galleries that include permanent as well as
in Lakeside; Phone: (406) 844-3715; Website: traveling exhibits.
Conrad Mansion is perhaps the most authentic
St. Ignatius www.lakesidesomerschamber.org. example of the luxurious turn-of-the-century
Location: On Highway 93; 42 miles north architecture and living style in the Pacific Northwest.
of Missoula, near National Bison Range. From its completion in 1895 until it was given to
Population: 780. Bigfork the City of Kalispell in 1975, the ownership of this
Location: Hwy 35; 17 miles southeast of beautiful Norman style mansion had remained in the
Polson Kalispell, 37 miles from Glacier National Park. Conrad Family. During the life of the mansion, there
Location: Hwy 35 and 93; 55 miles south of Population: 4270. Visitor Information: Bigfork have been no architectural changes in the building and
both the interior and exterior have been completely
Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 237,
Kalispell; 68 miles north of Missoula. Population: Bigfork, MT 59911; Phone: (406) 837-5888. restored to their original beauty. Located on Woodland
4,000. Area Population: 15,000. Visitor Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets East, the mansion
Information Center: Hwy 93, downtown Polson; One of Montana’s most charming villages, is open Tuesday through Sunday from May 15th to
Chamber of Commerce: Polson Chamber, 418 Bigfork was once a logging community located October 15th with guided tours at a reasonable rate.
Main Street, Polson, MT 59860; Phone: (406) where the Swan River meets Flathead Lake, well Call to reserve a time for a tour & tea for parties of six
883-5969.
known now for its art galleries, summer theater, or more, (406) 755-2166.
Another attraction in Kalispell is the Northwest
Flathead Lake fine dining and numerous outdoor recreation Montana History Museum. It is housed in an
opportunities.
The largest natural freshwater lake west of the Referred to as “One of the 100 Best Small Towns 1894 four-story stone building that opened as an
Mississippi, Flathead Lake dominates the entire of the Nation,” Bigfork is home to many unique and elementary school in the late 1800s and served as
beautiful valley, carved from the backbone of the distinctive galleries and specialty gift shops. There home to Flathead Valley Community College in the
continent by receding glaciers 10,000 years ago. At are over 20 eateries with menus ranging up to some 1980s. In the late 1990s the city completely restored
28 miles long, 15 miles wide and almost 400 feet of the finest gourmet offerings in the region. the structure and leased it to the Northwest Montana
deep, it is renowned for sailing and fishing. Two Back dropped by the Swan Range and close to Historical Society to operate as a museum, with
scenic highways wind along the lake; Hwy 93 on Jewel Basin, Bigfork offers Montana’s #1 ranked educational programs, school tours and exhibits
the west side and Hwy 35 on the east offer majestic golf course at Eagle Bend, hiking, fishing, horseback relating to the history of Northwest Montana. A gift
views of the lake, mountains and rolling hill scenery riding, sailing, water skiing and swimming on shop offers many unique items and a wide range of
that make Montana famous. The upper end of the lake Flathead Lake, white-water rafting, kayaking, books on local and regional history. Visit the museum
lies about 30 miles from Glacier National Park and canoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. 10 to 5 weekdays at 124 Second Ave. East in Kalispell
Whitefish Mountain ski resort to the north. After Thanksgiving, the village transforms itself or for more information phone (406) 756-8381.
Fed by the Flathead and Swan Rivers, Flathead into a nostalgic gingerbread Christmas card scene There are two main city parks in Kalispell.
Lake covers nearly 200 square miles with 180 miles trimmed with thousands of holiday lights and green Woodland Park, located off Woodland Avenue on
of shoreline, offering fabulous fishing for 50-pound boughs. Conrad Drive, is a serene setting alongside a placid
lake trout (mackinaw), native bull and cutthroat trout, lagoon with swans and geese, beds of flowers, a rose
perch and whitefish. From whitewater races and the SPECIAL EVENTS garden and picnic areas. There is a skateboard park
dragon boat festival in Bigfork, to fishing charters, Whitewater Festival: May and the Aquatic Center Lap Swim Pool and Lazy
sail boat adventures, dinner cruises, cherry picking, Festival of the Arts: August River feature two water slides. Biking and walking
performing and visual arts, exquisite dining, fun bars Tamarack Days: October trails, playgrounds and ball fields are also available.
and every manner of water sports, experiencing the Village Christmas: December Lawrence Park, located east of North Main Street,

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