Whitefish, Montana
Weekend Getaway. By Colin Anderson.
Whitefish, Montana is truly one of the fist iconic tourist cities in the Western U.S. When Glacier National Park was officially given its designation, scores of tourists from the east coast loaded on the Amtrak Empire Builder and traveled west for days, finally landing in Whitefish, their last stop before entering the park. Whitefish grew so quickly that it was affectionately known as ‘Stumptown’ as streets and buildings were being built faster than stumps from felled trees could be removed. Today, the town has blossomed into a mix of upscale shops and eateries as well as authentic western saloons and ranches. It’s a place where high fashion meets cattle ranchin’.
If you don’t want to make the trek from Gig Harbor in your own vehicle, Iet someone else do the work. You can hop on an Amtrak train and take it all the way to the Whitefish Depot where those first adventure seekers landed decades ago. The Whitefish Depot is within walking distance of downtown and shuttles and taxis can be arranged to take you to your accommodations.
The other main attraction that helps define Whitefish is Big Mountain, now known as Whitefish Mountain Resort. The mountain is visible looking north of town and having been constructed in the 1940’s is one of the oldest resorts in the country. From the top you are also looking down on town and beautiful Whitefish Lake. There are ski in/ski out condos, luxury homes, and other mountainside lodging if your weekend involves a heavy dose of powder skiing. Summer time brings additional activities to the mountain including hiking, mountain biking, zip lining, an alpine slide, and scenic chair rides.
For the ‘out and about’ crowd there are dozens of restaurants and bars to choose from, many more than a town of less than 7,000 needs. Stop into Great Northern Brewing and pick up a growler of freshly made Montana beer to go or take a stroll through town and find fresh fish, elk steak and burgers, pizza, Italian, and just about anything else your pallet can handle. Other than its natural beauty, Whitefish also boasts a symphony with an ever rotating list of musicians as well as a theatre company that puts on performances throughout the year.
If you’re traveling in summer, it would be a mistake not to visit ‘The Crown Jewel of the Continent’ Glacier National Park. Just 30 minutes separates you from the West Glacier Park entrance and some of the most spectacular scenery in North America. Take the ‘Going to the Sun Road’ to Logan Pass, and it will be one of the more memorable drives of your life. It’s a white knuckle ride with thousand foot cliffs between your vehicle and a few feet of pavement, but the views are spectacular. Remember it can snow any month of the year in Glacier so just because it’s 75 degrees at the bottom doesn’t mean you won’t need a sweatshirt and gloves at the pass. The visitor center is located at the top of the 6,600 foot pass and is a wealth of knowledge about the park. You’re also likely to see mountain goats and bighorn sheep. Keep an eye out for Grizzlies and elk on your drive up and down. There are countless trails and backcountry to explore as well, just be sure to do your research before choosing a route.
Whitefish is positively one of the great vacation spots in our region. People from all over the country save up for a once in a lifetime trip to see its beauty. So whether by car, plane, or train, a trip to ‘Stumptown’ shouldn’t be missed.
