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We arrived in Columbia Falls, Montana and drove to the Meadow Lake Golf Resort to check in. It was a two bedroom condo, able to sleep eight, very spacious and more than enough room for Brian,
Coley and myself.
We playing several rounds of golf at the resort finding it
was cheaper after 2:00 p.m., which worked out perfectly to allow all of us to play more often and to have mornings free for
other activities. Usually we only managed to play the first 9-holes. The resort was so beautiful and our condo directly
overlooked the 10th hole.
Brian and I had the mastesr bedroom with a kingsize
bed with a master bath including a whirlpool tub/shower. I also appreciated the skylight in the bathroom providing
sunlight and an open feel to the space. Next to our upstairs master bedroom was an additional loft that would
have been used if we had extra guests. The Loft with the sofa/sleeper and the table & chairs could easily have become
an additonal guest room for someone if needed. The skylight and side window provided extra light mixed with
the openness of the loft to create a feeling of comfort for additional guests.
Downstairs the guest room was perfect for Coley.
We had plenty of space enjoying the modern living room with fireplace, tv, sterio/cd player. The kitchen was totally
and completely supplied with everything anyone would possibly need. The built in dishwasher minimized kitchen
clean up. The balcony just off the dining room was where we spent most of our time enjoying the direct view of the golf
course looking out onto the tenth hole. The barbecue came in handy for most of our meals while maintaining our
goal to stay outside as much as possible.
It was not cold enough to use the fireplace but
it would make the condo nice to stay in if visiting in the winter for skiing. It also added beauty and charm.
The decor of the condo was also very well done.
Saturday afternoon when
we arrived and checked in at our resort, the concierge staff helped us book our activities for the week. We decided
on whitewater rafting and horseback riding.
We found our way through the
resort to our condo. I have this thing about taking pictures while it is all freshly cleaned for us so I have
to video tape the entire condo before Brian is allowed to bring in any luggage or unload anything because you know the
place will never look as clean again while we were staying there. Pictures had to be taken right away. We
were tired and after getting all our stuff unloaded and actually put away in the closests and drawers, we decided it was time
to go shopping for grocerys. Since certain stores would be closed the next day on Sunday and the following Monday, Memorial
Day, we rushed out to grab up some essentials at the local grocery store. After planning our actual meals for the week,
we managed to do more grocery shopping later on stock piling our kitchen.
Sunday, Brian and I spent
some time on the driving range and then attempted to play 9 holes of golf. We later decided to take in a little
hot tubbing and checking out the recreation center.
Monday, Memorial Day,
we drove around exploring Columbia Falls, Whitefish and found ourselves shopping downtown Whitefish. We went into a handmade pottery shop, Whitefish Pottery, as one of our first shopping experiences. Brian and
I were told by the clerk that we could actually drive out and visit the gallery
where they were unloading new designs of pottery just out of the kiln.. We went and met several of the visiting artists
including the owner, Tom Gilfillan, who let us purchase an original piece of pottery before it was put on sale in the store.
We knew we had found our trip souvenier. (Check out www.whitefishpottery.com)
That evening we met in the lobby of
the resort for a "welcome party" to meet neighbors and other exchange guests in the Fireside Room between 5-6 p.m. Food and alcohol was freely available. I enjoyed myself a little too much and
suffered the next day. Some of the people we had met in the hot tub earlier were there, the four girls from Saskatchewan
and Jim & CJ from California. We also met Barbara and Carl Gehring
from California, in which we made plans to meet Tuesday night for dinner with
them at Tupelo Grill in Whitefish. Of course our entire vacation was centered around the Flames games hoping they would win the Stanley Cup so we
all watched the game from the bar.
Tuesday - I did not feel very well and
didn't get much sleep the night before. We got up early and drove into Whitefish to pick Coley up at the Amtrak
station. We brought him back to the resort with us and since we were all tired, we barely did anything
the rest of the day.
Wednesday, June
2nd, Coley, Brian and I met in the lobby of the Meadow Lake Golf Resort. We
were picked up by someone from the Montana Raft Company and were taken on a long drive.
When we reached the raft locations we left our stuff in the van and suited up into wet suits because the water was
so cold! I was determined to stay as dry as possible so I tried my best. I knew it would be impossible and sure
enough the first time a wave of icy water hit me, I almost fell off the raft. I screamed and hollered so loud, geez,
even in a wet suit I could feel the cold. Thankfully it was a very nice, warm day with plenty of sunshine.
The
Montana Raft Company has been guiding rafting trips since 1987, so they were very experienced and made us all feel
very safe. It was an enjoyable three hour long trip on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River along the
southwestern boundary of Glacier National Park. We went through John Stevens Canyon where the rapids are rated class
II and III, which made it a fun and splashy adventure, mostly considered a III. Following the simple commands of the guide,
we actually became part of the crew maneuvering the raft. The photo at the top is going through an area they
sweetly call Bonecrusher. Our guide made sure she told us all the different scary names as we roder through each of
the rapids. We did have the majority of the trip to float along and enjoy the beauty of the mountains around us.
It was very peaceful and the rapids were exhilerating.
Saturday we packed up
and checked out of the resort. We drove to the place we were going to check into tonight called North Forty Resort. They let us leave our luggage there so we would have more room in the car then we drove out past the town
of Hungry Horse to the Rawhide Trading Post and Gift Shop where all three of us went on a two-hour horseback ride through
the Flathead National Forest. I was so sore afterward that I knew I would be walking funny tomorrow.
How did those cowboys do it. Be sure to check out the funny picture of Brian and I after riding the horses.
Then we drove back into town and stopped
by ended up watching the Flames game at the Bulldog Saloon near the Amtrak station. The Bulldog was packed with Flames
fans some from Calgary, Lethbridge, Edmonton Alberta and some from Saskatchen. Of course the local Montanians were
fans too. In the middle of the game we had to leave to run Coley to the train and see him off. We went
back to finish watching the game but Calgary lost.
We stayed Saturday night in a log cabin.
We stayed in lucky cabin #13 at The North Forty Resort near Whitefish
Montana. The one bedroom log cabin we st ayed in had a full kitchen, complete with cooking utensils and chinaware,
dining areas, and private bathroom. The cable TV provided all the comforts of home inside the rustic cabin.
I especially like the duvet on the bed. It was extremely comfortable. Each cabin has a covered porch, barbecue,
and a picnic table on the front porch.
Most of the meals we made at our condo because it was cheaper but also because the food was crappy in Columbia Falls.
I think I figured it out toward the end, the locals do not mind eating at Burger King or the local crappy cafe, but the visitors
who brought vacation spending money with them are the ones who have created a demand for good food. So the following
restaurants are recommended.
Tupelo @ Whitefish
Whitefish Golf Restaurant @ Whitefish
The Back Room @ Columbia Falls
Do not eat at the following if you want to enjoy your meals....actually don't eat anywhere they also allow you to gamble,
if you do, then you are gambling that the food will actually taste good and I'll bet you it won't.
The Blue Moon Cafe/Casino - Columbia Falls
The Night Owl Restaurant /Casino - Columbia Falls
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