Driving to Whitefish/Kalispell

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Fixed!

Seriously, unless you like an entire state that looks like Lethbridge (but with Casinos in every store/gas station). Montana is dulllllllll

You've obviously never been there. Glacier Park, Yellowstone, Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell, the Flathead valley.......

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by questionmotives

Agreed.

I actually enjoy the drive from Fernie to Whitefish/Kalispell. The roads are decent and the scenery isn't bad. Also you can't go wrong with stopping at Bulldog's in Whitefish for a burger and a pint.

And not to be nosy, but are you by any chance going from there to Vegas? Allegiant Air does direct flights from Kalispell to Las Vegas and is as cheap as anything I have seen anywhere. I actually booked a package with my girlfriend this morning in late April for $550 cdn, including flights and 4 nights at the New York New York. You can stay just about anywhere on the strip.

And now I can't get anything done because all I can think about is Las Vegas and golf.

Hmmm...never thought of this option before, sounds awesome! Where are you going to park in Kalispell?

[tvp2003]

Hehehe... we'll be doing the same thing in a couple of weeks (to buy baby stuff), only we're going to Great Falls. The drive is pretty boring, but I like that it's pretty flat and straight... just hit the cruise and relax (nice paved highways/interstate to boot)

I think we might consider Kalispell next time though -- they have Costco, as well as a Five Guys there (get the fries... they're wicked!). Good to know about the little short cut from Nanton.

[Redliner]

Am I the only one who doesn't mind the Fort Macleod / Cardston / Carway route? I guess since I grew up in Lethbridge we always went that way and I just got used to it. I agree that Browning is quite possibly the nastiest little town on earth, and the town pump gas station there is the busiest gas station I've ever been to in my life. Fuel up in East Glacier instead.

The road through Marias Pass can be bad in the winter, but it's beautiful in the summer. You're even better off if you take the Going to the Sun road during the summer. Absolutely gorgeous and even with the tourist traffic it still shaves off a half hour driving time.

[Northendzone]

i should also note that there is an awsome pizza place in downtown whitefish - can't remember the name of it though.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Better chance of seeing a Bear if you cross at Babb and come over via Marias Pass too.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by brownie

Thanks for all the info folks. Yeah I know the shortcut past Nanton and its save a bit of time.

Actually going down for a shopping trip to buy some stuff for our baby who is arriving in July. Which should be alot more fun than going golfing in Vegas. But some friends of ours are doing the same thing as questionmotives. Driving down to Kalispell and flying out of there to Vegas.
Anyone think that the Flames/Sharks game will be on at any of the bars?

Thanks again

If you are going shopping in the States I highly reccomend driving the extra 3 hours each way and going to Spokane. The quality of stores is way higher.

[questionmotives]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Hmmm...never thought of this option before, sounds awesome! Where are you going to park in Kalispell?

I just park at the airport. The lot is patrolled 24 hours a day and I think it costs somewhere in the range of $3 to $5 a night.

Turns out the Canadian dollar was actually worth 1 cent more than the American today so tickets were actually cheaper than I expected. I plan on buying some American $ tomorrow. Any economists/banking types want to weigh in on expected trends?

[hockeycop]

(I know this thread may no longer be relevant to the original poster, but I put this in for any benefit to others who may make that drive)

I drove down through Coutts and back through Fernie last week.

The roads are perfect (in terms of snow and ice). The Fernie route is more scenic and roads are in better shape. The route on US2 from 89 has some construction delays right now that include a long stretch on an unpaved road that can lead to huge rock chips.

My advice is to go through Fernie.

Also, a benefit to the Fernie route is that you cross into BC. Because you are an Alberta resident, you will be exempted from any provincial taxes on products you import. This includes BC PST and Alberta Health Taxes. The health tax exemption save you a good chunk of cash if you are importing any alcohol or tobacco.

[keratosis]

I suggest you take a car on a road.
Much quicker than going cross country.

[CrusaderPi]

Ok, so once down in the Kalispell area what are somethings to do at this time of year? I'm looking for more unique / exciting stuff than what tourists and shoppers usually do. Any ideas are appreciated.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Ok, so once down in the Kalispell area what are somethings to do at this time of year? I'm looking for more unique / exciting stuff than what tourists and shoppers usually do. Any ideas are appreciated.

Impregnate a local.

[IliketoPuck]

Visit the Great Northern.

Make sure you bring a trucker hat and a plaid shirt and shave a handlebar moustache so that you can blend in with the locals and get local pricing at the bar.

[flamesdyehard]

Originally Posted by habernac

You've obviously never been there. Glacier Park, Yellowstone, Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell, the Flathead valley.......

Montana is a very beautiful place. I like the fact that it has no big cities, and is such an unspoiled land for the most part. The Western part of the state is simply stunning, and even the plains on the East side of the state have a very stark beaty to them. I completely disagree with Ducay, but then again I actually think Lethbridge is quite pretty.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Visit the Great Northern.

Make sure you bring a trucker hat and a plaid shirt and shave a handlebar moustache so that you can blend in with the locals and get local pricing at the bar.

Generalizations are fun!

Whitefish is a fairly affluent and upscale town.

[bossy22]

In no particular order...
Go to the bulldog for a burger.
Go to the Tupelo Grill for the best bread pudding in the world...even for those who hate bread pudding.
Go to Cowgirl coffee, for great coffee and eye candy.
Go to the beach. City Beach is the known beach and has a concession. The state park beach, which is down a little ways, is $2/car, clean and you can bring your own alcoholic refreshments.
On the ski hill is a zip line and a slide for the kids.
Columbia Falls has waterslides.
If you mountain bike, some fun trails on spencer mountain, reid divide, the pig farm trails, and of course the ski hill.
Hungry Horse Dam is pretty cool.
Tally Lake is beautiful.
Glacier National Park.
Whitefish golf course is pretty decent and cheap too (lots of golf courses in the area). Also the prime rib at the golf course is amazing.
Norm's news in Kalispell. They serve homemade soda and ice cream. The floats are awesome.
Go to flathead lake and visit Tamarack Brewing Company. Lanny McDonald has a development there and his daughter runs the brewing company.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Generalizations are fun!

Whitefish is a fairly affluent and upscale town.

When I say this, I'm honestly serious.

I have a soccer tourney there every summer, and one year for kicks one of the guys on the team shaved a handlebar stache, and wore a trucker hat when we went to the bulldog.

No word of a lie, the bartender looked over a line of 5-6 people waiting for drinks and asked my friend what he wanted first. And charged him half price.

Generalizations are fun, especially when they are true.