Great Falls Montana

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Next week we will be packing up the family and heading down to Great Falls to do a little cross border shopping and was wondering if any of you fellow CP'ers have been to the town and have any recommendations/warnings for:

-Restaraunts
-Hotels
-Shopping
-Entertainment (it is St Paddy's day...but drinking green american beer, seems kinda like a waste of time )

Any ideas would be great!

[firebug]

Spent Canada day weekend there last year.

We always stay at the Best Western Heritage Inn which is cheap and has a good kiddy pool.

Shopping: isn't as good as it was 20 years ago when they had a lot of stores that didn't exist in Calgary, but the mall seems to be having some life brought back into it (Herbergers had good sales, and a Victoria's Secret), and there is a new power center along the highway with an Old Navy and Barnes and Noble.

They also have an old Target on the main drag which my wife loves.

The Lewis and Clarke Museum is worth a visit, and admission is very affordable.

The 'Sip and Dip' was selected the best bar in the US by GQ magazine (google it). Although my wife tells me as a child they stayed at the attached hotel and swam in the pool, which today seems mighty creepy.

Fudruckers is on the main drag if you enjoyed the Calgary edition from years ago.

Hope that gives you a start.

Was a fun cheap weekend trip for the three of us, and we will likely do it again, but this summer we will likely try Kalispell instead. But really, cross the size (and wind) of Lethbridge with the personality of Edmonton and your result would be Great Falls.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by firebug

We always stay at the Best Western Holiday Inn which is cheap and has a good kiddy pool.

Are you sure that's what it's called. Almost sounds like two different hotel chain names.

[firebug]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Are you sure that's what it's called. Almost sounds like two different hotel chain names.

2 pts for Ken please.

The correct name is Best Western Heritage Inn.

Thanks,

~Bug

[burn_baby_burn]

I used to go down there all the time. My brother even lived there for a year. The Heritage is a good place to stay. If you have kids there is lots for them to do. The old Sheritan is good as well, but I think it is called something else now (not that that will help you any). It is located on the south side of the main drag east of the Heritage. It has a huge American flag on the west side of it.

Near the State Fair grounds is a shopping complex that has Big Bear Sports, Target, Correll West Ranchwear (best western store around if your in to that kind of thing). If you are into hunting and fishing, or even just camping, Big Bear is a must and so is Shields at the Mall. Both stores also have a tonne of sporting equipment and apparell.

The mall is ok. When I was a kid I thought it was awsome. But like someone else said, it doesn't really offer anything that you can't see up hear except for Victoria Secret.

The Country Kitchen on the North side of the mall parking lot used to be an excellent restaurant. If your into the bar scene, there is the J-Bar-T down by the fair grounds. It is country and western. There is also a night club up on the south east side of the old Sheretan hotel.

If your into exotic dancers. Head down the main strip to the east part of town to the playground, south side of road. You won't believe what kind of attention you can get for a dollar from the lovely ladies.

The Lewis and Clark Museum is a good place to visit. Also the C.M. Russell Museum is good as well (He is the most famous western artist ever).

Other than that. Have fun. And don't drink too much of that cheap beer.

[Nikki]

There is also a Bath and Body Works in the mall, similar to the Body Shop up here.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Thanks for the tips everyone, it seems there is a CM Russell Art Auction that weekend and rooms are hard to find, I snagged two at the Fairfield Inn as a plan B.

The Art Auction sounds interesting but tickets are $150 each...bwwaaahhaaahhaaa

I'll stick to Ebay thanks

[tvp2003]

Is that mall still worth going? I went to Great Falls about 10 years ago when I was younger, and recently did some research about possibly heading back for some shopping. However, it seemed like many stores had moved out (including that buffet restaurant that was connected to the mall)...

http://www.holidayvillagemall.com/

[troutman]

Montana = flyfishing.

[vanisleflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Thanks for the tips everyone, it seems there is a CM Russell Art Auction that weekend and rooms are hard to find, I snagged two at the Fairfield Inn as a plan B.

The Art Auction sounds interesting but tickets are $150 each...bwwaaahhaaahhaaa

I'll stick to Ebay thanks

That is always a fantastic auction. Check out a viewing session if you get a chance. This year the catalogue looks very good, maybe even too good with all the Russell in there. It seems to me that there are some really nice pieces to be had at what will probably be some decent prices.