Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [168]
West Glacier Motel
200 Going-to-the-Sun Rd., West Glacier, MT 59936. ☎ 406/888-5662. www.westglacier.com. 32 units. Motel $88 double, cabin $125–$156. AE, DISC, MC, V.
Formerly the River Bend Motel, this property has two locations. Half of the units are in West Glacier on Going-to-the-Sun Road, about 1 mile from the park entrance, and a second set of units is 1 mile away on forested grounds with panoramic views of the park. This 1950s-style motel has TV sets but virtually no reception. However, the prices can't be beat during peak season, and rates drop dramatically in mid-September. The Western-style cabins are better suited for families; they come with two or three queen beds and fully equipped kitchens.
IN WHITEFISH
Duck Inn
1305 Columbia Ave., Whitefish, MT 59937. ☎ 800/344-2377 or 406/862-3825. www.duckinn.com. 10 units. A/C TV TEL. $69–$109 double. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DISC, MC, V.
This is the best value in the Whitefish area. The building is right off the U.S. 93 strip, overlooking the Whitefish River. The rooms are very large, every one with a fireplace and a private bathroom with a deep soaking tub. The lobby area is lovely, and the hot tub is in a broad-windowed room with a view of the river.
Garden Wall Inn
504 Spokane Ave., Whitefish, MT 59937. ☎ 888/530-1700 or 406/862-3440. www.gardenwallinn.com. 4 units. $125–$145 double; $215 suite. Rates include full breakfast and afternoon refreshments. AE, MC, V.
The Garden Wall Inn is right on the main Whitefish drag but in a world of its own. Owners Rhonda Fitzgerald and Chris Schustrom clearly take pride in providing all of the little luxurious extras. The inn is full of country charm—it was built in 1923, and all of the furnishings are period antiques, including claw-footed tubs and Art Deco dressers, depending on your room. Every detail is just about perfect, right down to the towels, which are large and fluffy enough to dry two adults. Rhonda and Chris are both trained chefs, so breakfast is a gourmet event.
Where to Dine
INSIDE THE PARK
Food options inside the park are primarily dining rooms operated by GPI. They're convenient, and you're almost always assured of friendly service from a staff of 20-something college students from around the country. Credit cards accepted at all GPI properties include American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. Breakfasts range from $4.50 to $9, lunch entrees are $6 to $12, and most dinner entrees cost $10 to $25.
You'll find above-average food served at above-average prices in the dining rooms at the major properties. Glacier Park Lodge has the Great Northern Steak & Rib House, which has Western decor and a menu of beef, barbecued ribs, fish, and chicken, plus a full breakfast buffet; and the Sunset Lounge, which offers a bar menu of sandwiches and appetizers. At Lake McDonald Lodge you'll find Russell's Fireside Dining Room, which has a hunting-lodge atmosphere with rough-hewn beams and hunting trophies; it specializes in American standards, including beef tenderloin, roast duckling, seared mountain trout, roast turkey, Alaskan salmon, and steaks. There's also a full breakfast buffet. Also at Lake McDonald Lodge is the Stockade Lounge, which serves a bar menu, and Jammer Joe's, a pizzeria and family restaurant. Many Glacier Hotel has the Ptarmigan Dining Room, which has Swiss decor in keeping with the lodge, enjoys spectacular mountain views, and serves Continental and Swiss cuisine plus a breakfast buffet. Many Glacier also has the Swiss Room and Interlaken Lounge, with a bar menu, and Heidi's, a fast-food counter known for its huckleberry frozen yogurt. The dining rooms open with the park and close sometime in September, depending on the facility. At each dining room, breakfast is served from 6:30 to 9:30am, lunch from 11:30am to