If you know my family, you know that the way to their hearts is by exploring new towns as often as possible. So, it was very popular when we got the opportunity to explore a whole new state this past week in our two days in Kalispell, Montana. The last time I was in Montana was during our cross country Empire Builder train ride with Amtrak, and before that was in my early adolescence. So, to say I was overdue for exploring Montana is an understatement.

The plan, or lack thereof

We had originally intended on doing a camper van trip through Glacier, but unfortunately our trip got cancelled last minute. We brainstormed a bit and decided that instead of moping, we would borrow a car from Mitsubishi and head out on a scenic road trip to Montana on our own. At this point we had no solid plan, so we literally checked out a map and chose a centrally-located town that seemed like fun. Kalispell, Montana was our first pick for towns to visit, and it definitely did not disappoint.

Side note: I found out after we returned from our trip that my grandparents actually lived in Kalispell while my grandpa was in college, but at the time I had no idea that was the case. Kalispell turned out to be our kind of town, and I loved hearing my aunts excited that we had loved it as much as they had.

The accommodations

When the Hampton Inn Kalispell heard about our cancelled plans, they offered to set us up with a room in Kalispell so we could explore the town and surrounding areas. It is a beautiful property with a swimming pool, work out room, gift shop, and a free breakfast served in the mornings from 6 – 10 am.

Even though we got in late from our trek from Seattle, the hotel staff was great and got us in and out in just minutes so we could flop into bed and sleep for a bit before we started into town.And, oh boy did we crash. We’re talking epic crashing where you wake up and you’re not even sure what week it is, and somehow your entire family ended up in one bed. When we finally did wake up, we realized that we only had 45 minutes before the breakfast ended, so we headed down with hopes of grabbing a snack or muffin that could hold us over until we got into downtown.What we found instead is that the Hampton Inn Kalispell has an amazing breakfast bar that includes DIY waffles with all the toppings, a hot buffet with sausage and potatoes, toast, muffins, and bagels, and just about every single item you can imagine for creating your own continental-style breakfast to fuel you up before your adventures.

Things to do in summer with kids in Kalispell, Montana:

1.   Exploring the town of Kalispell

It was mere minutes of entering the town that my husband and I looked at each other and both agreed that we already loved it. You know that feeling where you just click with a town and know that you need to spend as much time there as possible? That was us with downtown Kalispell.

The entire town was so picturesque and had such a fun vibe, we easily could have spent a great deal of time there. From Montana-themed shops, toy and gift stores, antique markets, handmade crafts and delights, western-style shopping, outdoorsy gear of all kinds, and great places to relax and sip a drink or order an ice cream cone, there truly was something for everyone.

Some of our favorite stores and stops in downtown: Imagination Station {fun, local toy store with everything a kid could ever want}, The Toggery {awesome mix of rugged outdoorsy and chic boutique},  Montana Marie and The Montana Scene {all the coolest Montana accessories and gear}, and Western Outdoors {authentic Western gear from dungaroos to boots}. Our favorite bites and brews: Montana Coffee Traders {breakfast, lunch, and my favorite coffee ever}, Norm’s News {candy and soda fountain meets classic burger joint}, Sweet Peaks Ice Cream {locally made awesomeness}, and, for us adults, Kalispell Brewery.

2.   Visit a museum

Our kids have been studying Washington State history and have gotten really into Native American culture over the last year, so I knew that the Museum at Central School was a must-do for them. We love that the Museum at Central School has several interactive exhibits geared to kids, and even better, kids receive free admission!

The large room on the main floor with the Native American Flathead Lake history was their favorite part of the museum and they could have spent hours there. They were especially enamored with how much many of the pieces displayed look like Kaya’s items from American Girl. Even though Kaya’s collection was modeled off a different tribe {the Nez Perce tribe from further West into Montana and Idaho}, the similarities were striking, which is probably due to the close proximity of the tribes. If your kids are American Girl fans, the Museum at Central School will be a huge hit!

3.   Visit one of the many Montana State Parks

There are several parks along the shore of Flathead Lake that offer beach and lake access for day use as well as camping.  We recommend Lone Pine state park in Kalispell that includes a fun visitor center focused on kids, miles of trails and scenic vistas. Since we’ve made it a mission to hike as a family at least one time a week, Lone Pine was a must-do so we could check out the trails and add a Montana destination to our summer list.

4. Flathead Lake

The largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States, Flathead Lake is fed by glaciers in Glacier National Park. The glaciers give it its vibrant blue waters, and it is truly beautiful from any direction. Although we didn’t have a chance to actually get out on the water at Flathead Lake, we’ve definitely got plans to return and to make it happen on our next visit. There are numerous boat rentals or charters to explore the lake via kayak, tour boat, sailboat cruise, fishing charters, or trip to Wild Horse Island, so we just might have to choose a few of these to try out for ourselves.

5. Kalispell parks

We decided to end our first day at the city’s largest and oldest park, 38-acre Woodland Park. Our adventures there ended up being one of the main highlights of the entire Montana trip, and setting the tone for the rest of our stay.

While taking pictures on one of the walking paths, we came across a large goose sitting on her eggs, and we observed the goose {and the male that we assume to be the father of the eggs} protecting their young by hissing at would-be predators and keeping a watchful eye on us, especially the youngest of our bunch.

If we had a bit more time, we would have loved to explore Lawrence Park and play some disc golf course or try our hand at bouldering. Our kids have never tried bouldering, so this is a must-do for our next visit.

6.   Appreciate the architecture

While we didn’t want to plan too many museum trips in our short time in Kalispell, we couldn’t resist checking out the Conrad Mansion Museum as well. The sprawling lawns are meticulously kept and are fun to walk through as you admire the 13,000 square foot manor. The Conrad Mansion is the original home of Kalispell’s founder, Charles Conrad, and is one of the most outstanding examples of Kalispell’s railroad-glory-days architecture. The grounds and buildings feature several different special events and exhibits throughout the year, so be sure to check their events calendar.

Even if you never even make it to the mansion tour, it is worth driving around the site a bit and enjoying all the gorgeous houses surrounding the mansion and Woodland Park. We decided we would all like to live in this house, er mansion.

7. Go on a Historical Walking Tour

You can download the map here. With a printable guide that includes tons of pictures, descriptions, and their historical significance, you will learn a ton about Kalispell in the process.

8.   Go visit a VORTEX

If you have never been to a House of Mystery, this is your chance to make it right. Visit the Montana Vortex and watch people shrink and grow right before your eyes, and see what happens when gravity doesn’t behave the way you think it should. A perfect stop on your way to GNP, the Montana Vortex is something the kids will be talking about for years.

9.   A gorgeous water park.

Just a short drive from Kalispell is the Big Sky Waterpark that is perfect for summer days. The whole family will enjoy the 10 water slides, the huge whirl pool, kid’s activity pool, and even activities such as mini golf, bumper cars and much more!

10. Glacier National Park

We ended up exploring mostly around Lake McDonald, but there are so many gorgeous areas to check out. If you are looking for fun hikes, you can find several GNP trails that are appropriate for all ages here.

 

Free family fun in Kalispell, Montana

Check out this list from the Montana tourism board that includes all sorts of free ideas for making family memories:

Here’s a glimpse into our two days in Kalispell, Montana:

Kalispell, Montana