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in Blog on July 15, 2022 by Stacy Bronec

Hometown Travel Guide: Glacier National Park With Kids

Nestled on the Montana and Canadian border lies Glacier National Park. Growing up, I lived in Wyoming, and my family drove to Glacier Park nearly every summer to visit extended family. My great-uncle worked for the Park Service, and he and his family lived in government housing in Glacier—giving us unique access to the park that left me with many great memories.

Now, I live only a few hours from Glacier Park, and we make the trip once or twice a year with our kids: once in July, and if we’re able, another trip in the shoulder season—May or September. Glacier Park is a tourist area, so the summer lodging costs tend to be higher. You might find better rates if you visit during the shoulder season, but the weather can be hit or miss. And depending on what activities you want to do, not everything is open in the off-season—and nothing beats a hot day at the lake in July. 

My kids are 7, 5, and 2, so most of my recommendations are for places to go with young kids. Over the coming years, I’m excited to see more of Glacier Park and the surrounding area with them, giving my kids some of the experiences I had growing up. 

Places to Stay

There are plenty of things to do in Glacier Park alone, but the surrounding area, known as the Flathead Valley, offers a wide range of activities for families and places to stay in the nearby towns. Whitefish is 35 miles from the West Entrance of Glacier and is a ski resort town at the base of Whitefish Mountain. Their downtown is delightful, with stores selling Montana clothing, souvenirs, and great local places to eat. Columbia Falls is the closest town to Glacier, located 18 miles from the West Entrance. This is a logging town with a small-town Montana feel that offers local eateries (we love North Fork Pizza) and several fast-food chain restaurants. Kalispell is the biggest city in the area, located 32 miles from the park entrance. If you’re flying in, this is the closest airport to Glacier. Kalispell also happens to be the home of the only Chick-fil-A in the whole state (as of July 2022); they also have a Target, Walmart, Costco, Cabela’s Outpost, and more.

Between Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and Kalispell (all within 30 miles of Glacier Park), you’ll have plenty of activities for your family and options for places to stay, including hotels, Airbnbs, and camping.

Outdoor Activities

Glacier Park is a national park, so the outdoor options are endless. But depending on the age of your kids, you might need to explain what Glacier National Park is. Last year, when I told our kids, “We’re going to Glacier Park!” they responded upon arrival, “Where are the swings? This is a park?”. Although they had been several times before, they didn’t remember their previous visits.

When our kids were 6, 4, and a few months old, we took them on the Trail of the Cedars. We hadn’t attempted a hike during past visits, but we decided we were ready! The trail is a one-mile loop—the perfect length for young kids to walk on their own. Trail of the Cedars trailhead is located right off the Going-to-the-Sun Road and is a popular hike—so plan accordingly for parking during peak travel seasons. 

There are countless hikes in Glacier Park, depending on how advanced a hike you’re looking for. Be safe and smart when hiking—this is bear country. Do your research and know what to do if you encounter a bear.

As a kid, my favorite place in Glacier Park was Lake McDonald, right inside the West Entrance. The lake is 10 miles long and one of the most beautiful places I’ve been. And now, as an adult, it’s one of my favorite places to take my kids. The water is crystal clear, with beautiful colored rocks lining the shore. Usually, we sit on the beach and let the kids throw rocks while eating ice cream cones from one of the shops in Apgar Village. There are also kayaks, paddleboards, and boats to rent and take out on Lake McDonald. My sister and I took kayaks out growing up, but I haven’t taken my kids out on this lake yet.

If you’re in the area for a few days and want to spend some time outside Glacier Park, Big Sky Waterpark in Columbia Falls is a great place to go as a family. It’s Montana’s biggest waterpark, and the views of Glacier from the waterslides can’t be beaten. There is a kiddie pool, but because of the height requirement for most of the slides (48″ tall), this adventure would be best when kids are a little older. The waterpark was another place we visited every summer as kids. Since having my kids, I’ve only been once. It was when we had just one child, and my mom was also with us. We spent the day splashing in the kiddie pool, and the adults took turns going down the waterslides while one of us stayed with the toddler.

If the many lakes of the Flathead Valley are too chilly for swimming and your kids aren’t old enough for the waterpark, Columbia Falls also has an outdoor aquatic center. Pine trees shade the outdoor pool, and they have picnic tables and a small climbing wall.

Whitefish Mountain Resort is known for its skiing, but during the summer, the mountain is also a great place for families. You can hike the mountain or ride one of the chairlifts to see the views from the top. They also have alpine slides, ziplines, and summer tubing.

Outside Glacier Park are many other activities, including ziplining, horseback riding, go-cart racing, mazes, helicopter tours, and more.

Best Spot For Grownups

If you can swing a night away from the kids, make your way to Whitefish Lake Lodge. The views from the lodge are gorgeous, especially on a summer evening. One year, we were there on the 4th of July and watched the fireworks over the lake. I suggest dinner and drinks at their Tiki Bar & Grill. During the summer, they also have live music on the weekends. But even on the nights without music, you won’t regret a cool summer evening overlooking Whitefish Lake with a fancy drink in your hand.

In the Flathead Valley, there are several breweries to enjoy local craft beers. While many are family-friendly, if you’re looking for a beer sans children, you’ll find several options! Or grab a growler of local beer to take back to your Airbnb.

Best Coffee

Before you head out on your morning hike or a day at the lake, grab a cup of coffee at Montana Coffee Traders. They roast the beans outside Whitefish, and they have storefronts in Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and Kalispell. The food is great too if you’re looking for breakfast (or lunch!), in addition to your coffee. During the summer, they are busy during the week and weekends. They offer an option on their website to order online, so if you don’t feel like waiting with rambunctious vacation-mode kids—order ahead and grab it to go. Don’t forget to pick up a bag of their freshly roasted coffee beans too. After your vacation, you can close your eyes and dream you’re back in the mountains of Montana with a steaming mug of MCT coffee.

You won’t run out of things to do when you visit Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley. From low-key days skipping rocks across Lake McDonald to an advanced hike, there’s something for each family in each stage. The locals are friendly—don’t be afraid to ask for advice on places to eat or must-see spots.

Lastly, be prepared to take lots of photos—Montana is nicknamed Big Sky Country for a good reason!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: travel

About Stacy Bronec

Stacy Bronec is a wife, mom of three, lover of cake, and writer. She and her husband farm and ranch in the middle of nowhere Montana. In her previous life, she was a high school counselor. Now, when she’s not taking meals to the field or cleaning grain from the dryer vent, she’s doing spin classes in her basement, reading, or writing stories to make sense of the beauty and challenges of rural life. You can find her on her website, stacybronec.com.

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Did you know...? We publish fewer More Than Mom ep Did you know...? We publish fewer More Than Mom episodes in the summertime, and then ramp back up in the fall. Do you have a fun, fluffy topic you'd like to hear Meagan and Sarah tackle in a MTM this fall? Drop a comment below! ⬇️ ⬇️
New episode! When to get kids their first cell ph New episode!

When to get kids their first cell phone brings up all kinds of questions: How do you know when your child is ready? How to talk to kids about safety? How to help kids develop a healthy relationship with their phone? Social Media? Phone etiquette? (The list goes on!) In today's episode, Sarah welcomes back her friend Dr. Catherine Pearlman to talk about kids and technology--specifically the learning that happens when kids start to navigate their own personal devices, like phones. Today Catherine (@thefamilycoachsays) helps us navigate the new and murky waters of personal devices for our kids and answers some of your burning questions about first phones. Plus, stick around for a short conversation Sarah had with her own 9- and 12-year-olds about what THEY think about this topic!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
We're talking college on the podcast this week! No We're talking college on the podcast this week! Not necessarily the brass tacks of sending a kid for college, but more the role the very IDEA of it plays in our family culture.

Dressing tiny humans in university garb is for sure a little parenting joy - I had lots of fun doing it when my kids were small. Looking back at these photos makes me (Sarah) smile - and wonder what team colors are being flown in our listeners' homes!

Do you have little Longhorns or tiny Tigers or wee Wildcats? Do your kids know your college fight song? Are you a house divided by college sports rivalry? Is any of this this even a thing in your house? I'm here for it all. 💜 -S 

PS - Look for this image at the link in our bio to listen to the episode. It's as much for moms of littles as it is for those who have college on the horizon - and we tell some fun stories!
Listener Mail! 📬 Thanks so much for the travel Listener Mail! 📬 Thanks so much for the travel tip, Audrey! (Shared with permission.)

"I enjoyed your travel-related topics this summer and even though we had traveled quite a bit with our kids pre-pandemic, I found a bunch of the tips incredibly helpful as we have restarted our family travels again. One tip I would like to offer, is to put the kids in almost obnoxiously bright clothing on the day of travel. I make my two rambunctious boys wear neon-colored shirts when we are in airports for flight travel or crowded rest areas or restaurants on road trips. This allows my eyes to quickly spot them if ever they should lag behind or get ahead. It makes me feel more relaxed to think they would be a little easier to locate myself or for someone else should something happen, or if I’m overwhelmed trying to navigate new places and my attention is elsewhere." 

Don't forget that ALL our travel-related content is collected at http://themomhour.com/travel22! You'll find podcast episodes, packing lists, blog posts, Disney tips, and more. Click this image at the link in our bio to find the Travel Hub.

#travelwithkids #roadtriptips #familytravelhack #familytravel #familytraveltip #flyingwithkids #roadtripswithkids
New episode! College decision-making is influence New episode!

College decision-making is influenced by so many things--parents, peers, teachers, family members, your larger community and more. And as with everything else: all families approach this differently! While some bleed their alma mater colors, others don't see college as the only option for helping launch kids after graduation. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah have an open-ended conversation about the role college played in our own stories, our family-of-origin culture, and the narrative we're shaping for our kids now. We also give you a peek into our educational paths, how we made those decisions and how our eight kids perceive the idea of college today. This is a topic close to home for Meagan as she prepares to send Will off in the next few weeks to start his own journey.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Last week, on our annual extended-family up-north Last week, on our annual extended-family up-north trip, a few things struck me. 

One: this pack of boy cousins - now a mixed bag of older teens and young adults - has been goofing off for the camera pretty much just like this since they were toddlers and preschoolers. 

Two: things are changing almost unbelievably quickly. This year Will brought his car and drove several of his cousins to the meeting spot, a campground with spotty wifi in the middle of a data desert. With their own transportation and unreliable communication, that meant the boys were truly on their own for a good part of the trip.

There was a busy four-year-old boy with us on the trip, the son of my nephew's girlfriend. As the little guy leapt over roots and sprung from rock formations on one of our hikes, his (likely exhausted) mom keeping a wary and watchful eye, I was fielding texts from Will announcing that he and his cousins had decided to go shopping instead and would meet up with us later. I nearly protested, but stifled it with a sigh. 

When I was that wary, watchful mom with my own passel of busy boys, I would have given a lot for an hour's hike, unencumbered. But now that mine are rapidly growing and flying, I find myself wishing sometimes that the who's-in-charge and who-needs-whom dynamics were more cut-and-dried. 

Parenting young adults is a delicate balance between holding them accountable to everything - social expectations, their own commitments, basic politeness - and giving them the autonomy to decide for themselves when to strike out on their own and even what counts as quality family time. It's a tightrope walk between helping them make good decisions about bedtimes and dietary choices and letting them figure out for themselves the consequences of a 3 AM bedtime after a bag of chips and a two-liter of soda. 

It's a constant push-pull, albeit a lot more subtle than gripping a sturdy small hand for a stair-jumping assist, and full of deep breaths of suppressed frustration and small chuckles of appreciation when the moments come - and they do still come - when they momentarily shed those tough, adult exteriors, and ham it up like little kids again. -M
Getting ready for kindergarten? We’ve got you co Getting ready for kindergarten? We’ve got you covered!

We’ve talked about kindergarten over the years. A LOT. With the start of a new school year right around the corner, we've gathered all our kindergarten and kinder-adjacent podcast episodes and blog posts in one handy place to help you prepare for this milestone. 

Click this image at the link in our bio to access our kindergarten roundup of resources.

#kindergarten #firstdayofschool #motherhood #parenting #school #kindergartenreadiness #lunchpacking #choosingtherightschool #schoolvolunteering #tipsforstartingschool
We’ve had some big discussions on the show the l We’ve had some big discussions on the show the last two weeks about moms taking on extra emotional work: to keep morale up, to show up for a struggling kid, to shape our kids’ future identities within a sibling group. Even when we think we’re aware of these dynamics, it’s easy to assign ourselves extra work without even realize we’re doing it. (And often in areas where we really have very little control!)

Where can you give yourself a gentle free pass right now? Finish the sentence “It’s not my job to…” in whatever way rings true for you - and drop a comment if you want to share!

Here are just a few ideas, but please add your own! 🥰

It’s not my job to…
…prove that I’m a good mom
…keep my children constantly entertained
…prevent every disappointment 
…intervene in sibling dynamics
…be the sole keeper of the family schedule
…join my tween in her mood
Happy Birthday, @meaganfrancis! If you listened t Happy Birthday, @meaganfrancis!

If you listened to yesterday's podcast episode, we chatted about how Meagan is celebrating 45 in the UP with her extended family... possibly with a karaoke takeover of the campground bar and grill.

Meagan, this podcast wouldn't exist without you, full stop. It's no exaggeration to say that you've helped bring calmness and common sense to hundreds of thousands of families in your two decades of creating content about motherhood. (And, less notably but thank goodness nonetheless, to ME.)

That's worth raising a glass to, no?

Listeners, if you want some extra Meagan in your ears this week, head over to @motherofreinventionshow and subscribe to the podcast. I (Sarah) will be on with Meagan in her Season 3 finale tomorrow (7/28) talking about kids getting older, midlife, career pivots, and more. 

☀️ Sarah
New episode! What are Meagan and Sarah’s best t New episode!

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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
We posted this in our Facebook community last week We posted this in our Facebook community last week and the answers were GOLD. Midsummer family dinners are allllll over the place, and we're here to normalize cereal, takeout, leftovers, and all the shrug emojis.

What's for dinner tonight in your house? Real answers only. ⬇️
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Did you know...? We publish fewer More Than Mom ep Did you know...? We publish fewer More Than Mom episodes in the summertime, and then ramp back up in the fall. Do you have a fun, fluffy topic you'd like to hear Meagan and Sarah tackle in a MTM this fall? Drop a comment below! ⬇️ ⬇️
New episode! When to get kids their first cell ph New episode!

When to get kids their first cell phone brings up all kinds of questions: How do you know when your child is ready? How to talk to kids about safety? How to help kids develop a healthy relationship with their phone? Social Media? Phone etiquette? (The list goes on!) In today's episode, Sarah welcomes back her friend Dr. Catherine Pearlman to talk about kids and technology--specifically the learning that happens when kids start to navigate their own personal devices, like phones. Today Catherine (@thefamilycoachsays) helps us navigate the new and murky waters of personal devices for our kids and answers some of your burning questions about first phones. Plus, stick around for a short conversation Sarah had with her own 9- and 12-year-olds about what THEY think about this topic!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
We're talking college on the podcast this week! No We're talking college on the podcast this week! Not necessarily the brass tacks of sending a kid for college, but more the role the very IDEA of it plays in our family culture.

Dressing tiny humans in university garb is for sure a little parenting joy - I had lots of fun doing it when my kids were small. Looking back at these photos makes me (Sarah) smile - and wonder what team colors are being flown in our listeners' homes!

Do you have little Longhorns or tiny Tigers or wee Wildcats? Do your kids know your college fight song? Are you a house divided by college sports rivalry? Is any of this this even a thing in your house? I'm here for it all. 💜 -S 

PS - Look for this image at the link in our bio to listen to the episode. It's as much for moms of littles as it is for those who have college on the horizon - and we tell some fun stories!
Listener Mail! 📬 Thanks so much for the travel Listener Mail! 📬 Thanks so much for the travel tip, Audrey! (Shared with permission.)

"I enjoyed your travel-related topics this summer and even though we had traveled quite a bit with our kids pre-pandemic, I found a bunch of the tips incredibly helpful as we have restarted our family travels again. One tip I would like to offer, is to put the kids in almost obnoxiously bright clothing on the day of travel. I make my two rambunctious boys wear neon-colored shirts when we are in airports for flight travel or crowded rest areas or restaurants on road trips. This allows my eyes to quickly spot them if ever they should lag behind or get ahead. It makes me feel more relaxed to think they would be a little easier to locate myself or for someone else should something happen, or if I’m overwhelmed trying to navigate new places and my attention is elsewhere." 

Don't forget that ALL our travel-related content is collected at http://themomhour.com/travel22! You'll find podcast episodes, packing lists, blog posts, Disney tips, and more. Click this image at the link in our bio to find the Travel Hub.

#travelwithkids #roadtriptips #familytravelhack #familytravel #familytraveltip #flyingwithkids #roadtripswithkids
New episode! College decision-making is influence New episode!

College decision-making is influenced by so many things--parents, peers, teachers, family members, your larger community and more. And as with everything else: all families approach this differently! While some bleed their alma mater colors, others don't see college as the only option for helping launch kids after graduation. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah have an open-ended conversation about the role college played in our own stories, our family-of-origin culture, and the narrative we're shaping for our kids now. We also give you a peek into our educational paths, how we made those decisions and how our eight kids perceive the idea of college today. This is a topic close to home for Meagan as she prepares to send Will off in the next few weeks to start his own journey.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Last week, on our annual extended-family up-north Last week, on our annual extended-family up-north trip, a few things struck me. 

One: this pack of boy cousins - now a mixed bag of older teens and young adults - has been goofing off for the camera pretty much just like this since they were toddlers and preschoolers. 

Two: things are changing almost unbelievably quickly. This year Will brought his car and drove several of his cousins to the meeting spot, a campground with spotty wifi in the middle of a data desert. With their own transportation and unreliable communication, that meant the boys were truly on their own for a good part of the trip.

There was a busy four-year-old boy with us on the trip, the son of my nephew's girlfriend. As the little guy leapt over roots and sprung from rock formations on one of our hikes, his (likely exhausted) mom keeping a wary and watchful eye, I was fielding texts from Will announcing that he and his cousins had decided to go shopping instead and would meet up with us later. I nearly protested, but stifled it with a sigh. 

When I was that wary, watchful mom with my own passel of busy boys, I would have given a lot for an hour's hike, unencumbered. But now that mine are rapidly growing and flying, I find myself wishing sometimes that the who's-in-charge and who-needs-whom dynamics were more cut-and-dried. 

Parenting young adults is a delicate balance between holding them accountable to everything - social expectations, their own commitments, basic politeness - and giving them the autonomy to decide for themselves when to strike out on their own and even what counts as quality family time. It's a tightrope walk between helping them make good decisions about bedtimes and dietary choices and letting them figure out for themselves the consequences of a 3 AM bedtime after a bag of chips and a two-liter of soda. 

It's a constant push-pull, albeit a lot more subtle than gripping a sturdy small hand for a stair-jumping assist, and full of deep breaths of suppressed frustration and small chuckles of appreciation when the moments come - and they do still come - when they momentarily shed those tough, adult exteriors, and ham it up like little kids again. -M
Getting ready for kindergarten? We’ve got you co Getting ready for kindergarten? We’ve got you covered!

We’ve talked about kindergarten over the years. A LOT. With the start of a new school year right around the corner, we've gathered all our kindergarten and kinder-adjacent podcast episodes and blog posts in one handy place to help you prepare for this milestone. 

Click this image at the link in our bio to access our kindergarten roundup of resources.

#kindergarten #firstdayofschool #motherhood #parenting #school #kindergartenreadiness #lunchpacking #choosingtherightschool #schoolvolunteering #tipsforstartingschool
We’ve had some big discussions on the show the l We’ve had some big discussions on the show the last two weeks about moms taking on extra emotional work: to keep morale up, to show up for a struggling kid, to shape our kids’ future identities within a sibling group. Even when we think we’re aware of these dynamics, it’s easy to assign ourselves extra work without even realize we’re doing it. (And often in areas where we really have very little control!)

Where can you give yourself a gentle free pass right now? Finish the sentence “It’s not my job to…” in whatever way rings true for you - and drop a comment if you want to share!

Here are just a few ideas, but please add your own! 🥰

It’s not my job to…
…prove that I’m a good mom
…keep my children constantly entertained
…prevent every disappointment 
…intervene in sibling dynamics
…be the sole keeper of the family schedule
…join my tween in her mood
Happy Birthday, @meaganfrancis! If you listened t Happy Birthday, @meaganfrancis!

If you listened to yesterday's podcast episode, we chatted about how Meagan is celebrating 45 in the UP with her extended family... possibly with a karaoke takeover of the campground bar and grill.

Meagan, this podcast wouldn't exist without you, full stop. It's no exaggeration to say that you've helped bring calmness and common sense to hundreds of thousands of families in your two decades of creating content about motherhood. (And, less notably but thank goodness nonetheless, to ME.)

That's worth raising a glass to, no?

Listeners, if you want some extra Meagan in your ears this week, head over to @motherofreinventionshow and subscribe to the podcast. I (Sarah) will be on with Meagan in her Season 3 finale tomorrow (7/28) talking about kids getting older, midlife, career pivots, and more. 

☀️ Sarah
New episode! What are Meagan and Sarah’s best t New episode!

What are Meagan and Sarah’s best tips for getting kids started with their first phone? And with a new school year right around the corner, a mom asks how to prepare her child for the first day of kindergarten and looks for some fun traditions to help celebrate back to school. The “bigger kids, bigger problems” stage arrives early for one listener’s family, and she looks for strategies for maintaining her mental health and other relationships while they navigate tough times. Lastly, a mom of bickering siblings sets us up for a lively discussion about whether it’s mom’s job to prevent kids developing a complex or identity stemming from their birth order and sibling roles. In addition to our own thoughts, we tap the wisdom of our contributors as we tackle your listener questions in Episode 375.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

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