*Highline Trail, Glacier National Park, West Glacier, MT*

A little under one year ago, I moved from Lawrence, KS to Chicago, IL. I love my job, my awesome fellow theater-loving friend and roommate, and the other new friends I’ve made in the city. Even so, too much of any good thing can be just that — too much! I felt myself needing a moment of the slow and serene with nature scenes. My time in Whitefish and Kalispell, MT was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Here are 5 reasons you should choose Montana for your next vacation!

Glacier National Park (GNP)⛰️🌲
Known as the “Crown of the Continent,” this national park feels just as regal as its nickname sounds. Visiting Glacier was the most surreal experience of my life — and my first National Park ever! I had the best time riding shotgun along Going-to-the-Sun Road, eating lunch with mountain views, and truly hiking for the first time on the Highline Trail.
GNP Checklist
- Book your trip a day in advance here. I got the chance to visit the Park right before it closed for the fall!
- Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road. This 50-mile drive from the west entrance of the park offers breathtaking views from the comfort and safety of your car. Marvel at nature sights like Lake McDonald and Heavens Peak.
- Choose the best hike for you. The Avalanche Creek Trailhead is an accessible beginner hike. I opted for a more moderate hike on the Highline Trail. I didn’t finish the whole trail which would have required an earlier start, but I still saw amazing views immersed in nature.
- Enjoy wildlife. I saw two golden-mantled ground squirrels! You may see even more wildlife like mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, or harlequin ducks.

2. Bookstores & Antiques📖

Whitefish and Kalispell offers fun shopping experiences for “old souls” like bookworms and thrifting fans, so I felt right at home! In Whitefish, I got craft ribbon and an activity book at this thrift store. If I had more time, I would have also checked out Whitefish Thrift Haus. I just missed popping into Bookworks in Whitefish, but I did get to see the Whitefish Community Library. In Kalispell, I was instantly charmed by The Bookshelf with its colorful storefront, book page-covered shelve end caps, and book club bundles. The last place my friend and I checked out was the Kalispell Antiques Market underneath Western Outdoor. Holy moly, I could have spent so much time in there — so it was good for my pockets that I only had about 15 minutes to browse before close. Two cute handmade plush pumpkins for my bookshelf and a green stone beaded bracelet made it home with me, and I’ve worn the bracelet nearly every day since the trip.

3. WILDLIFE & LAKE TIME🐴

Want to see more wildlife beyond GNP? Clydesdale Outpost is the perfect place to get up close with the big, beautiful horse breed known as “Clydesdales.” Different from Quarter Horses, Clydesdales have “boots,” or long hair, that cover their hooves and are larger in stature. You might remember this breed of horse from Budweiser commercials. I met the mother of the ranch, Rain, and her daughters then got the chance to pet and groom them. A few of the horses thought my vegan suede jacket looked good enough to eat! (Note to self: Don’t wear hay-looking clothes around horses.) I finished out the tour by picking up merch from their well-stocked store. A sweatshirt, a National Parks coloring book, hiking jacket patches, a sage smudge stick, and a Clydesdale plushie — now fondly named “Bernard” — made it home with me. You can even book a cabin to stay on the ranch which I would love to do one day. Last but not least, the owners recently started up an ice cream shop in downtown Whitefish. Maybe next time! The following day, my friend and I spent some time at Whitefish Lake for low-key vibes with snacks and good conversation. Wildlife and nature make for a top-tier relaxing time.

@ Clydesdale Outpost, Whitefish, MT

4. Coffee, Cocktails, and hard ciders ☕🍸🍻

Before checking out the Clydesdales, my friend and I got caffeinated at Folklore Coffee. Already earning brownie points for sounding bookish and sharing the same name as my favorite Taylor Swift album — the coffee was great too! Since I stopped by a week or so before the fall menu went live, I ordered a pistachio latte, and my friend got a London Fog. They had a merch stand a guest book where I wrote, “Love from Chicago!” In terms of “sassier” kinds of drinks, I got a huckleberry cider at Blue Moon Nite Club my first night in and a strawberry lemonade cocktail at Bonsai Brewing Project my last night. Huckleberry is the unofficial state fruit, and strawberry lemonade anything felt like the perfect way to say “goodbye, summer.” At Bonsai, I sat outside with drinks and apps before our The Last Chair dinner reservation, comforted by the sound of rainfall — and hummus dip.

5. And, of course, food! 🍽️

Like any mini vacay, the restaurant moments are where some of the best conversations happen. Day two post-Glacier driving back to Whitefish, my friend and I stopped by Hungry Horse’s The Huckleberry Patch where I got a veggie wrap and fries and for dessert had a huckleberry turnover and puff. Stop by early to snag a huckleberry bear claw! In the gift shop, I picked up postcards for my junk journal and some huckleberry jam to share with my roommate. Day three post-clydesdales and booking it to book stores and thrift stores, we stopped for pho dinner at Pho 888 for the perfect recharge. Day four post-last day lake fun, I shared a poke appetizer, I got the most amazing curry entrée, and my friend ordered the popular beignets for dessert at The Last Chair. The energy of every single spot I stepped in was homey and sweet in its own way — the Patch a tourist must-stop, the pho joint true local feels, and The Last Chair the best way to spend a final evening in Whitefish in true class-paired-with-comfort style.

@ Bonsai Brewing Project, Whitefish, MT; The Last Chair, Whitefish, MT; Pho 888, Kalispell, MT

My time in Montana was fun from start to finish with stunning views, wildlife sightings, and cozy and relaxing “feels-like-home” entertainment. A simple grocery store outing became a picturesque moment with mountains as the backdrop to the drive as I’m not used to seeing them. Even so, the lush nature, street-side deer, and shops and businesses ran with heart felt similar to Kansas, the state I called “home” most of my life. This was definitely a trip I will never forget!