The year 2020 is remembered as the year when travel came to a screeching halt due to the global coronavirus pandemic. All of us were encouraged to spend our free time appreciating nature by participating in local hikes in nearby state parks or walks along the shore. No cultural experiences. No meeting others to learn about their customs and traditions. Many US states did not even allow crossing the border to a neighboring state. Slowly the world started to open up again for travel upon the discovery of a covid vaccine. Initially, most people began to explore different regions of their own countries.
During the Summer of 2021, I began traveling again. My yearly tradition of visiting a different US State during the Memorial Day holiday weekend or the July 4th holiday weekend, had come back to fruition!
For the long Fourth of July weekend, I decided to visit Glacier National Park in the state of Montana.
Upon arrival in the city of Kalispell, I settled into my accommodations at the historic Grand Hotel. After checking in, I headed into town to see some of the local attractions.
Historic Kalispell was home to several museums and art galleries. My first stop was the Hockaday Art Museum.
Originally built as the town library in 1903, the museum galleries now showcase the art and culture of the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park.
Next on my itinerary was a visit to the Conrad Mansion. This museum is the former residence of Charles Conrad, a shipping industry businessman and trader. In 1892, he founded the town of Kalispell. He and his wife built this home near the Montana backcountry.
The stunning, 26 room Victorian mansion gives visitors a glimpse into their life and their influence on Montana culture.
Northern Montana is home to some beautiful lakes. After my visit to the museums, I hopped into my car rental and headed to Flathead Lake.
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, within mainland United States. It is said to be one of the cleanest lakes in the world. I enjoyed the gorgeous views with the mountains backdrop.
Upon my return to Kalispell, I decided to have dinner downtown at Thai Palace. My meal was a delicious pineapple fried rice with carrots, onions, broccoli, and cashews.
I had a craving for some vegan ice cream. Sweet Peaks Ice cream on Main Street, offered a tasty, vegan strawberry flavor that evening.
The next morning, my breakfast was awaiting me at my accommodations. The previous evening, I had picked up a chia pudding from Mountain Valley Food Stop. That was my flavorful breakfast. I also purchased the local huckleberry juice which has a wonderful fruity taste.
It was time to meet my guide for a bus tour of Glacier National Park. The landscape was breath-taking! Within this popular tourist attraction, visitors will find mountains, glacial-carved formations, meadows, deep valleys, and majestic lakes. There are 700 miles of trails within the Park.
We encountered lush forests, flowing streams, and majestic mountains! St. Mary’s, Logan’s Pass, salamander Glacier, Going to the Sun Road, Many Glacier, Swift Current Lake, Heaven’s Gate, Lake McDonald, and Chief Mountain are some of the sights we viewed along our drive. We saw ground squirrels and mountain goats, as well!
At the highest elevations, the peaks were snow-capped. Our tour bus continued our ascent up the steep and winding Going-to-the-Sun Road.
A beautiful lake within the national park came into view.
Many Glacier Hotel is Glacier National Park’s largest hotel. It is located at the base of Mt. Grinnell on Swiftcurrent Lake. Opened in 1915, the hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This was the perfect spot for our tour group to take a break and wander around the nearby area to take in the glorious views. Colorful wildflowers dot the landscape.
My lunch at Many Glacier Hotel was a wild rice bowl with green peppers, corn, tomatoes, black beans, avocado, and salsa.
Our tour of the magnificent Glacier National Park had come to an end. Upon my return back to the hotel in Kalispell, I freshened up and then headed off in my auto rental. This was the Fourth of July, so I drove to the nearby town of Whitefish to watch the fireworks by the lake. None of the restaurants in town offered a vegan option that evening, so I settled for a salad at one of the pubs in the town center.
Then onward to the lake I proceeded and witnessed a spectacular sunset, prior to the firework display. After spending a couple of hours in town, I headed back to my accommodations in Kalispell for a good night’s sleep.
The last day of my Montana long weekend vacation had arrived. I opted to dine at Bonjour Bakery & Bistro for breakfast. My meal consisted of a yummy veggie sandwich on sourdough, a cup of hot green tea, and a vegan chocolate cupcake for dessert.
I spent the day perusing shops, boutiques, art galleries, and appreciating the colorful murals around town. My first stop was the Museum at Central School. Some of the museum exhibits include northern Montana history, local indigenous culture, and the timber industry.
Next, I strolled around town visiting several art galleries and boutiques filled with locally made crafts.
Since my flight was mid-day, I chose to eat lunch at the airport. A house salad and raspberry cran-apple juice was the best vegan option there.
I enjoyed my July 4th holiday weekend visiting the beautiful state of Montana and the spectacular Glacier National Park!! The stunning scenery, the fascinating arts & culture, and the tasty vegan meals made this a wonderful three day vacation!