Best place to treat yourself to a fantastic upscale Montana dinner and a nice glass of wine in town: The Whitefish Lake Restaurant (yup, at the Golf Course in the authentic log dining room)
Best place to pamper your body and soul: The Whitefish Lake Lodge Spa. Talk to the Spa Director Criswell about setting up a massage or facial with a mimosa
Best place to get an awesome salad: Backslope Brewery in Columbia Falls. (The creamy peppercorn dressing is delectable)
Best place to get a Christmas Tree: FREE in the Lolo (Western Montana) National Forest (see link) https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/flathead/passes-permits/forestproducts/?cid=fseprd842819
Best place to get great craft beer: Tamarack Brewery in Lakeside (I like the Apricot Beer called ‘Sip and Go Naked’)
Best place to get a cheap beer and a decent burger: This one is a toss-up, either-The Northern’s bacon double cheeseburger with a side of fries (1$ PBRs on Wednesdays) -OR, for 10 dollars Piggy Back BBQ has a pulled pork sandwich with one side (I like the side of mac ’n cheese) and a PBR
Best dive bar: Stillwater Bar in Olney, where you can fly fish steps from the outdoor deck with a whisky, literally, 'on the rocks’ beside the river
Best place to adopt a dog: The Humane Society on Hwy 93 (that’s wear I got Kip and my two cats Alice and Katie)
Best Radio Station: 600am (golden oldies music, great morning show on weekdays and old western/cowboy songs Sunday mornings from 9-10am)
Best footwear for a wet fall, cold winter and muddy spring: Boggs ( pick up a pair at Sportsman Haus at the Whitefish Mountain Mall when you drop your skis off to get waxed for the season)
Newspapers you want to get:
Daily Interlake (get the digital one it comes out at 5 a.m. every morning)
Whitefish Pilot (get the hard copy so you also get the weekly deals grocery store specials at Super 1, Safeway and Smiths (every once in a while large avocados go on sale at Super 1 for .88 cents each or Safeway has Peet’s Coffee for 5.99 a bag). Generally, Smiths in Columbia Falls has the best deals on produce. Try to time your visit to Columbia Falls on a Sunday because everything at the thrift store across the street is 50% off!
Hungry Horse News (has interesting articles about Glacier and the surrounding communities)
Drive Slowly, Smile at People and Say Hello when you pass them on a walking path… Acknowledge people. Always accentuate the positive and provide a smile to anyone that might need one.
- Patrick & Kip