Jill’s Favorite Things and Guidebook
My Favorite Breakfast Spots
Awesome breakfast and brunch. Go on a weekday if you can. Weekends are slammed. Prepare to wait a little, but it will be worth it!
93 locals recommend
Echo Lake Cafe
1195 MT-83Awesome breakfast and brunch. Go on a weekday if you can. Weekends are slammed. Prepare to wait a little, but it will be worth it!
Lake Baked
191 Mill StFor delicious cinnamon rolls the size of your head... it's a must!
Just a good old fashioned breakfast. They have some fun kids options too.
55 locals recommend
Pocketstone Cafe
444 Electric AveJust a good old fashioned breakfast. They have some fun kids options too.
Bigfork Harvest Foods
8111 Montana Hwy 35Surprisingly good donuts!
My favorite coffee spots
Fieldheads Coffee Roasting Co.
482 Osborn AveGreat local coffee!
Colter Coffee
424 S Main StIn downtown Kalispell
Sable Coffee
625 Treeline RdUp near all of the stores and shopping in Kalispell
My favorite Fine Dining Dinner Spots
In downtown Whitefish, worth the drive! My favorite things here are the shrimp & grits, elk meatloaf and bread pudding.
119 locals recommend
Tupelo Grille
17 Central AveIn downtown Whitefish, worth the drive! My favorite things here are the shrimp & grits, elk meatloaf and bread pudding.
Abruzzo Italian Kitchen
115 Central AveVery good! The cauliflower appetizer is a must.
If you want to check out the other side of the lake, Bear Grass Bistro is an excellent choice for dinner.
21 locals recommend
Beargrass Bistro
306 Stoner LoopIf you want to check out the other side of the lake, Bear Grass Bistro is an excellent choice for dinner.
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake
1380 Wisconsin AveNice food, drinks and atmosphere on Whitefish Lake
My Favorite Lunch and Sweet Treat Spots
This is an absolute must stop spot! It's great after a day on the lake or river or a day of hiking. Good ole greasy burgers, homemade fries and onion rings. Don't forget the old fashioned milk shakes!
28 locals recommend
Burgertown Dairy Freeze
8595 Montana Hwy 35This is an absolute must stop spot! It's great after a day on the lake or river or a day of hiking. Good ole greasy burgers, homemade fries and onion rings. Don't forget the old fashioned milk shakes!
This is absolutely the best ice cream ever! They have unique flavors and it is all made on site. There is a location in Whitefish as well.
56 locals recommend
Sweet Peaks Ice Cream- Kalispell
343 S Main StThis is absolutely the best ice cream ever! They have unique flavors and it is all made on site. There is a location in Whitefish as well.
Really good local pizza. My favorite is the Thai Pie! There is a location in Whitefish as well.
18 locals recommend
MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill & Pub
45 Treeline RdReally good local pizza. My favorite is the Thai Pie! There is a location in Whitefish as well.
Things to Do
We are really close to the the Jewel Basin Hiking Area which is some of the best hiking around! Be warned, if you get car-sick, the road up to the parking area may be difficult for you. Once you park, there are maps of all the trails. Bring the bear spray and lots of water!
You can access a map of the hikes here: https://flbs.umt.edu/newflbs/media/2007/jewel_basic_map-hiking.pdf
My favorite hike for a beginner or any level is Twin Lakes. Great views throughout the whole hike.
For a little more of a challenge, try Mt. Aeneas. It is one of the highest peaks in the area and will give you that "top of the world" experience.
105 locals recommend
Jewel Basin
We are really close to the the Jewel Basin Hiking Area which is some of the best hiking around! Be warned, if you get car-sick, the road up to the parking area may be difficult for you. Once you park, there are maps of all the trails. Bring the bear spray and lots of water!
You can access a map of the hikes here: https://flbs.umt.edu/newflbs/media/2007/jewel_basic_map-hiking.pdf
My favorite hike for a beginner or any level is Twin Lakes. Great views throughout the whole hike.
For a little more of a challenge, try Mt. Aeneas. It is one of the highest peaks in the area and will give you that "top of the world" experience.
Also known as the "Wild Mile". This is a beautiful flat walk along the Swan River. We like to start at the end on the Swan River Road side and either walk or bike into Bigfork for a meal or ice cream. It will put you out right in downtown Bigfork. Another thing we like to do is go pick up sushi at Sake-to-me, then walk from the Bigfork side about halfway to the picnic tables and have a sushi picnic on the river!
It is also safe to swim here along the way just don't get too close to the big red buoy's at the end by the dam.
You will likely see otters playing in the water and bald eagles soaring.
23 locals recommend
Swan River Nature Trail
Swan River Nature TrailAlso known as the "Wild Mile". This is a beautiful flat walk along the Swan River. We like to start at the end on the Swan River Road side and either walk or bike into Bigfork for a meal or ice cream. It will put you out right in downtown Bigfork. Another thing we like to do is go pick up sushi at Sake-to-me, then walk from the Bigfork side about halfway to the picnic tables and have a sushi picnic on the river!
It is also safe to swim here along the way just don't get too close to the big red buoy's at the end by the dam.
You will likely see otters playing in the water and bald eagles soaring.
Enjoy the bounty of summer every Tuesday from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m., from late May through September at the Whitefish Downtown Farmers Market where local farmers and craftsmen showcase their products at the North end of Central Avenue. Live music, prepared food, and the season's freshest products are featured.
29 locals recommend
Whitefish Farmers' Market
1 Central AveEnjoy the bounty of summer every Tuesday from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m., from late May through September at the Whitefish Downtown Farmers Market where local farmers and craftsmen showcase their products at the North end of Central Avenue. Live music, prepared food, and the season's freshest products are featured.
May 20 - September 30th, 2021
Thursdays 5pm to twilight
Columbia Falls Community Market offers friends, families, neighbors and visitors the chance to more conveniently live a farm-to-table lifestyle while enjoying each other’s company, live music, fresh food, desserts, artisan gifts and locally-brewed beer. The weekly event is held every Thursday through the summer from 5:00pm until twilight, beginning the 2nd Thursday in May. The highway-front location at the heart of town and the gateway to Glacier National Park is sure to grab your attention!
24 locals recommend
Columbia Falls Community Market
830 1st Ave WMay 20 - September 30th, 2021
Thursdays 5pm to twilight
Columbia Falls Community Market offers friends, families, neighbors and visitors the chance to more conveniently live a farm-to-table lifestyle while enjoying each other’s company, live music, fresh food, desserts, artisan gifts and locally-brewed beer. The weekly event is held every Thursday through the summer from 5:00pm until twilight, beginning the 2nd Thursday in May. The highway-front location at the heart of town and the gateway to Glacier National Park is sure to grab your attention!
Glacier Raft Company
1509a Lafontaine RdIf you want to raft, Glacier Raft is a great option.
Glacier Park Rafting
12127 US-2Another great option for rafting near Glacier Park.
Tube, paddle-board or boat rentals
You can rent tubes at the Ferndale Market and they will drop off and pickup for floats on the Swan River.
9 locals recommend
Ferndale Market
1845 MT-209You can rent tubes at the Ferndale Market and they will drop off and pickup for floats on the Swan River.
Paddleboard or boat rentals. They will drop off and pickup the rental at the destination of your choice or you can go pick up.
11 locals recommend
Bigfork Outdoor Rentals
110 Swan River RoadPaddleboard or boat rentals. They will drop off and pickup the rental at the destination of your choice or you can go pick up.
Paddle-board or boat rentals. They will drop off and pickup at the destination of your choice or you can pick up.
27 locals recommend
Base Camp Bigfork, LLC
8525 Montana Hwy 35Paddle-board or boat rentals. They will drop off and pickup at the destination of your choice or you can pick up.