NW Montana Vacation (Kalispell, Libby, Eureka: rental car, rental, hotels)

[BikeChick]

In July I will be traveling to NW Montana for vacation. I'm going to be at the McGinnis Meadows Ranch in Libby the week of July 22nd but am thinking about taking a few extra days either before and/or after to explore the area. Yesterday I bought a book on Montana to research areas to see, but I was hoping to solicit some feedback from the forum group.

Originally I had planned to fly into Kalispell as this is what is recommended by the ranch. However, I'm wondering if I should fly to another airport and then drive to Kalispell. I know that Glacier Park is mentioned as a must see, however I'm wondering what other sights there in that area of Montana. How is the driving? I'd like to be able to see some of the local color and get a feel for the area.

Since I'm heading all the way out west from Florida I'd like to make the most of my time. Obviously travel books are really helpful, but they tend to direct you to mostly tourist spots and I'd like to see some of the favorite hangouts of locals. I know that NW Montana is a big area to cover so if I need to be more specific please let me know.

I hope to hear back from you.

[Montanamomb]

Hello...

I live in Libby, and I know the McGinnis Ranch

Flying into Kalispell will be your best bet...not to mention that the flight in has a spectacular view.

Are you going to rent a car?? Are you planning on "camping out" or are you planning to stay in some hotels along the sight seeing part of your trip??

I know some great places to see all throughout the area between Kalispell/Eureka/Libby/Troy/Yaak areas...let me know the logistics of your traveling and I'll point you in the right direction There are a TON of places/things to see that aren't in any travel guides and definatley not on the maps!

[BikeChick]

Hi. Thanks so much for responding.

Hopefully you've heard good things about McGinnis ranch. I did a lot of research of ranches since I wanted a working cattle ranch. I was deciding between McGinnis or a ranch in colorado. Decided to go with McGinnis since I've never been to Montana.

My initial plan is to fly into Kalispell (it's a single connection from Florida) on Saturday, July 21. I'll have that afternoon/evening into Sunday morning in Kalispell before heading to the ranch. I probably won't have a car then. The following Saturday I'll come back to Kalispell, pick up a rental car and then I don't know what I'll do. Originally I thought I'd stay in kalispell...do you know the Red Lion Hotel (I think that's what it's called)? A travel agent suggested I go to Big Fork.

I have no problem driving around to different sights and I'd like to see more than just what is mentioned in travel books. Since you live in the area, what do you recommend a visitor see?

If I didn't mention it before, I should say that I'm a single woman traveling alone so I'd prefer to go to places where I can interact with others, but not necessarily be crowded...if that makes any sense.

I really appreciate your help since I'm having a devil of a time putting this all together.

[Montanamomb]

Originally Posted by BikeChick

Hi. Thanks so much for responding.

Hopefully you've heard good things about McGinnis ranch. I did a lot of research of ranches since I wanted a working cattle ranch. I was deciding between McGinnis or a ranch in colorado. Decided to go with McGinnis since I've never been to Montana.

My initial plan is to fly into Kalispell (it's a single connection from Florida) on Saturday, July 21. I'll have that afternoon/evening into Sunday morning in Kalispell before heading to the ranch. I probably won't have a car then. The following Saturday I'll come back to Kalispell, pick up a rental car and then I don't know what I'll do. Originally I thought I'd stay in kalispell...do you know the Red Lion Hotel (I think that's what it's called)? A travel agent suggested I go to Big Fork.

I have no problem driving around to different sights and I'd like to see more than just what is mentioned in travel books. Since you live in the area, what do you recommend a visitor see?

If I didn't mention it before, I should say that I'm a single woman traveling alone so I'd prefer to go to places where I can interact with others, but not necessarily be crowded...if that makes any sense.

I really appreciate your help since I'm having a devil of a time putting this all together.

Yes...I've heard nothing but great things about McGinnis Meadows...I work at a propane plant in Libby, and we have installed all of thier propane stuff out at the ranch...our service guy just raves about how nice it is out there! I'd like to get out there and see it myself, as I have a small working ranch as well...I raise, breed and train draft horses and have a small egg business on the side And I rent out one of my pastures to a lady who raises cashmere goats and fiber sheep...I love all the animals around me )

If you are flying in Saturday and heading out to the ranch on Sunday I don't think you'll have much time for sight-seeing before you head out to McGinnis.

The Red Lion is nice...But Kalispell has turned into pretty much a major city now If you want the true flavor of NW Montana, I highly suggest getting out of it and heading to some of the smaller towns around the area.

Traveling as a single woman shouldn't be an issue....this ain't the city

How many days after you pick up a rental car are you planing to "toddle" around??? I would HIGHLY suggest taking I-93 noth to Eureka, then following MT-37 south to the town of Libby along the east side of Lake Koocanusa (an original name "Koo" for the Kootenai, "can" for part of the lake being in Canada, and "usa" for the lower part of the lake being in the USA...little history lesson there hahaha)...from there take Highway 2 west towards Troy and see Kootenai Falls...it's a gorgeous place...you'll NEVER forget it's beauty! Just past the falls (still heading towards Troy) take MT 56 south down around Savage Lake, and Bull Lake...just past Bull Lake is the Ross Creek Cedars...another VERY amazing place to visist and see Come back up MT 56 towards Troy and continue West towards Idaho...About 15 miles west of Troy there's a road that heads back North called "Yaak River Rd."...you can take that up to the Yaak...Very small town up in the mountains and the most spectacular view and scenery you'll ever see...nice people up there and don't forget to stop in at the "dirty shame" for lunch. Gloria (the new owner) is just charming! Then when you leave the Yaak head back down the "Pipe Creek Rd" way back to Libby. (You'll pass right by my place!! Feel free to stop in for a drink!LOL) There are plenty of hotels/motels/bed n breakfasts along the route...and you'll see the best of the best" that this area has to offer...Bring a camera, and LOTS of memory disks...you'll use them all! Don't tire yourself out too much....you definately need to see the sky in Montana at night...it's AMAZING!

If you need a mapped out version, let me know

[BikeChick]

Originally Posted by Montanamomb

Yes...I've heard nothing but great things about McGinnis Meadows...I work at a propane plant in Libby, and we have installed all of thier propane stuff out at the ranch...our service guy just raves about how nice it is out there! I'd like to get out there and see it myself, as I have a small working ranch as well...I raise, breed and train draft horses and have a small egg business on the side And I rent out one of my pastures to a lady who raises cashmere goats and fiber sheep...I love all the animals around me )

If you are flying in Saturday and heading out to the ranch on Sunday I don't think you'll have much time for sight-seeing before you head out to McGinnis.

The Red Lion is nice...But Kalispell has turned into pretty much a major city now If you want the true flavor of NW Montana, I highly suggest getting out of it and heading to some of the smaller towns around the area.

Traveling as a single woman shouldn't be an issue....this ain't the city

How many days after you pick up a rental car are you planing to "toddle" around??? I would HIGHLY suggest taking I-93 noth to Eureka, then following MT-37 south to the town of Libby along the east side of Lake Koocanusa (an original name "Koo" for the Kootenai, "can" for part of the lake being in Canada, and "usa" for the lower part of the lake being in the USA...little history lesson there hahaha)...from there take Highway 2 west towards Troy and see Kootenai Falls...it's a gorgeous place...you'll NEVER forget it's beauty! Just past the falls (still heading towards Troy) take MT 56 south down around Savage Lake, and Bull Lake...just past Bull Lake is the Ross Creek Cedars...another VERY amazing place to visist and see Come back up MT 56 towards Troy and continue West towards Idaho...About 15 miles west of Troy there's a road that heads back North called "Yaak River Rd."...you can take that up to the Yaak...Very small town up in the mountains and the most spectacular view and scenery you'll ever see...nice people up there and don't forget to stop in at the "dirty shame" for lunch. Gloria (the new owner) is just charming! Then when you leave the Yaak head back down the "Pipe Creek Rd" way back to Libby. (You'll pass right by my place!! Feel free to stop in for a drink!LOL) There are plenty of hotels/motels/bed n breakfasts along the route...and you'll see the best of the best" that this area has to offer...Bring a camera, and LOTS of memory disks...you'll use them all! Don't tire yourself out too much....you definately need to see the sky in Montana at night...it's AMAZING!

If you need a mapped out version, let me know

Wow, that's quite a route. I'm trying to envision it in my head, but not getting it right now. I should probably get a map of Montana at some point. I have a travel book that has small maps for the different areas, but doesn't cover specific roads. A mapped out version sounds exactly like what I need.

Since I haven't made my flight arrangements yet I can be pretty flexible as to when I do my sight seeing. I just didn't want to pay for a rental car when I'm at the ranch since I won't be needing it. From what I hear McGinnis is 75 miles from town...that will be an experience for me. I'm used to everything I want being 5 minutes away. However, I'm looking forward to the seclusion. If Kalispell is just like a city I might not want to stay there too long since that probably won't give me a view of the "real" Montana or at least my idea of Montana.

How many days do you think the route you've described would take? While researching the Libby area I came across the mention of Kootenai (sp??) for the weekend of July 27-28...have you ever been to that? It sounded like it could be fun and different (for me) to do. I would definitely have to stop a place called the "dirty shame"...the name is too funny. Given the drive you've described, I'll probably need a drink by the time I swing by your place, so if you see a short brown-haired woman pulling up in a rental car, it's just me (LOL).

[Montanamomb]

LOL........Yes, the Kootenai Rodeo in Libby is the weekend of July 27-28th...GREAT place to be if you like them "wrangler butts" :P (ahhhhh...a girl can dream!)

It is also the weekend of my annual "girls only camping weekend"...up at Lake Koocanusa. Once every summer me and a bunch of friends ditch all the kids and the dh's and get together for a weekend of camping, drinking, cooking, and debauchery at the rodeo. It's one of the weekends I look forward to the most all year....laughter is good for the soul

That route can easily be done in a couple of days...it could be done in one day, but I think it's better to take your time and take in all that you see...If you're like me...you kinda want a direction but not a definate plan. Have certain places picked out that you want to see, but go when you want, and relax when you get to somewhere you feel comfy

I have some great visitor guides we keep at my office, I could mail you one if you'd like. Here's the website to my ranch...you can email me there if you'd like me to send you guides, maps, etc from this area...

http://www.geocities.com/divagoddess_38/M2_Ranch.html

Mar

[rutroh50]

Bike Chick,,
I am also from FL and my wife and I visited Montana last July...I am originally from Libby..we drove from Seattle all the way across and went from Libby down thru Glacier and Yellowstone and then back to Seattle...what a great trip. We hope to relocate to MT in the future. I am sure you will enjoy your trip..just do not wear yourself out. We went whitewater rafting and hiking and the body let us know..LOL. anyways I will keep watching the posts and if I can help a little I will pipe in...enjoy your trip..PS I had a handheld GPS unit which came in handy a bunch of times...just a thought...

Chuck

[BikeChick]

Thanks for the info. I'm trying not to over-plan because I don't want to come back from my vacation exhausted. On the flip side, though, I want to take advantage of being out there.

[Montanamomb]

Just wondering if you got the links I sent you???

[BikeChick]

Montanamomb - yes I got the links. Thank you. They're going to be a great help in planning my trip.