Montana Travel Forum

Hi

I am travelling to Vancouver for 2 weeks in July and was planning on crossing the border into the USA for four days en route to Calgary.

I have already scheduled a stop over in Leavenworth (WA) and was planning a further 3 days in Montana to break up the journey.

looking at the map, Missoula, Billings and Great Falls would seem to be the best points to stop over.

I was wondering if these would be the best places to stop, are they safe? and are they attractive cities? and what is there of interest in these locations?

if not i would welcome any advice of where to visit and other places to stop over between Vancouver and Calgary.

Thanks in advance
Gary.

The eastern part of Montana beginning about from Great Falls is known as The Badlands. It's flat, cold, windy and lifeless. If that interests you, go for it.
The only interesting towns that I've encountered in Montana are Missoula and Bozeman. Montana west of the Continental Divide and around the Yellowstone is very pretty, but the rest, not so much.
I'd do: 1 night in Spokane or Coeur d' Alene, 1 night in Missoula, 1 night in Kalispell, and the last night in either Kalispell or closer to Glacier NP. You're going at the prime travel time, so make sure you book the Kalispell/Glacier stuff well in advance.

I loved Montana, but the real expert is a VT member located in Hamilton. She is EllenH. Write her an e-mail and ask her. I met Ellen and must say that she would be very helpful with where to visit. The Bitterroot Valley has an interesting past. Oh, BTW, if in Hamilton, the restaurant to visit is the Spice of Life.

In Great Falls there is an excellent Lewis and Clarke Museum.

From Billings it is easy to get down to Little Big Horn Battlefield site which is well worth a visit.

I would opt for a night in Spokane, Couer d'Alene or Sandpoint and then 2 nights in Glacier National Park (or close enough that you can spend 2 days exploring the park)

(Check out my travel pages for some pictures of the areas mentioned.)

Billings is too far out of the way and just a big city. Missoula and Hamilton (45 miles south of Missoula) is a nice part of the state. Travelgourmets pages are better then mine because he has an outside perspective. Anywhere along Flathead lake is nice, especially in July when the cherries are ripened. Kalispell and Whitefish are both nice places, Whitefish is full of tourists but still quite nice. Glacier, the going to the sun road will be open fully (probably) in July. Snow won't close it but construction may, and from the east entrance to the park you could head up to Calgary. On the way to Missoula or Kalispell depending on the road you choose, Hot springs Montana is a very laid back place if you like hot springs. In July it could be cool at night but if it is hot that is not where you would want to be.
We went through Leavenworth last year in April (off season) and I do not know what you do there but it was a very cool looking place, could have been in any small town in Germany for sure.
Also said here, I like Spokane, it is our closest BIG city at 4 hours away. We camp there, outside of town at a state park that is very nice. We also camp along the Flathead but in July that could be tough to get a spot. Our favorite is north end of the east side of the lake. Bigfork is a very artsy town near there, also touristy but that way for a reason I suppose.

thanks for the tips, they are all very helpful. I have decided to spend 1 day in Coeur D'alene in Idaho and then stay overnight in Missoula and Kalispell where i will spend one day exploring the national park.

I have decided not to stay in Calgary and will have 2 free days between Kalispell and Banff, giving me an opportunity to spend more time araound the national park or to find somewhere nice en route between Kalispell and Banff

You might want to check out Waterton Lakes National Park (on the Canadian side of Glacier NP) on your way north to Banff. The shoreline cruise there is well worth 2 hours of your day.

Thanks i will check that out, are there any particular towns or areas that would be good for a overnight stop over there?

If time when in the Kalispell area check out www.thebarw.com over in Whitefish.

By "over there", do you mean between Waterton and Banff?

If so, it's actually only a 4 hour or so drive between the two places. You might want to consider a night in Waterton NP or you could press on a little further north to one of the western-style bed and breakfasts that are located along the #22 highway. You could travel even further and overnight in Kananaskis country (in the mountains, about an hour's drive short of Banff). Let me know what interests you, and I would be happy to recommend a few nice spots.