Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [170]
This may be the spot to satisfy your sweet tooth; a baker is on hand, so the pies are well worth the stop, and the cinnamon rolls are giant. The Highland Burger is, by any standard, a great hunk of beef, and fresh trout is a dinner specialty.
IN WHITEFISH
Tupelo Grille
17 Central Ave. ☎ 406/862-6136. Reservations recommended for large parties. Main courses $14–$24. AE, MC, V. Daily 5:30–9:30pm. CAJUN/CONTINENTAL.
The Tupelo is the best restaurant in downtown Whitefish, especially for those with a taste for New Orleans–style food. Creole chicken and dumplings in rosemary-tomato cream sauce and a Cajun Creole combo (a platter of shrimp Creole, crawfish étouffée, and chicken and sausage jambalaya) are specialties. The rack of lamb is also tough to beat.
Truby's
115 Central Ave. ☎ 406/862-4979. Lunch items $5–$10; dinner main courses $7–$16. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mon–Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 4–10pm. PIZZA/BURGERS.
Even if you're not crazy about pizza, you'll likely appreciate this restaurant's eclectic approach to the popular dish. Truby's serves wood-fired, Thai-style, Athenian, veggie, or design-your-own pizza. The crusts are thin and crispy, and toppings range from Cajun andouille sausage and Jamaican jerked chicken to feta cheese and mandarin oranges. Pastas, steaks, baby-back ribs, and half-beef, half-buffalo burgers on focaccia bread round out the menu. Truby's has a happening atmosphere and a strong local following.
Picnic & Camping Supplies
East Glacier. In East Glacier are a gas station, a post office, several gift shops, and a small market with a limited supply of fresh meats and produce as well as beer, wine, and a modest supply of fishing and camping accessories.
West Glacier. A gas station, general store, Laundromat, photo shop, rafting companies, post office, and gift shop are in West Glacier, as are a bar and restaurant.
St. Mary. The Country Market (☎ 406/ 732-4431) at the Resort at Glacier will never be confused with a metropolitan-area supermarket, but it's the closest thing you will find in any of the park gateway cities other than Kalispell (80 miles away). Here you'll find fresh produce, canned goods, and beverages, including beer and wine, but you can expect to pay tourist-town prices. There's also a post office.
A Side Trip to Waterton Lakes National Park
It's worth finding the time to explore the upper regions of this area. From St. Mary, head north to visit Waterton Lakes National Park, Glacier's Canadian counterpart. You'll be rewarded with different yet equally beautiful scenery and a touch of European culture.
Located in Alberta, Canada, Waterton is the place where the Canadian mountains meet the rolling prairie, which means it has an incredible variety of flowers and animals. As you travel along the high ridge, you'll see meadows and boggy areas that are an ideal habitat for moose; later, you'll find lakes all around, and the Canadian Rockies filling the horizon. The area is also a haven for elk, mule deer, and bighorn sheep, and both grizzly and black bears are found in the park.
JUST THE FACTS
Getting There. From the eastern entrance of Glacier National Park at St. Mary, drive north through Babb, which is barely a whistle-stop, until you reach the intersection of Mont. 17—it's very well marked. Head northwest to the Canadian border, where Mont. 17 becomes Alberta Hwy. 6. Remember: You need proof of citizenship to cross the border—a passport or a copy of your birth certificate will do. Head down into the valley until you reach the park entrance on your left.
Visitor Information. The park's Visitor Reception Centre (☎ 403/859-5133; www.parkscanada.gc.ca/waterton) is just inside the park, on the same road you used coming in.
Fees & Permits. Park entrance costs C$6 (about US$5) per person, with a maximum of C$15 (US$13) per vehicle. Day hiking does not require a permit, but backcountry overnight