Whitefish
For skiing and outdoors enthusiasts, a honeymoon stay in Whitefish offers adventure, natural beauty, and luxury in one cozy package. The small mountain community is routinely listed among the top ski towns in the world, and has plenty to see and do in all seasons. It’s a comfortable gateway to Glacier National Park, and a charming, lively town in its own right with music, cultural events and shopping.
The surrounding mountain landscape is the product of glacial activity, which carved out the U-shaped valleys amid rugged peaks. Hiking trails take you to one breathtaking vista after another – old-growth forest, alpine meadows, glacier lakes reflecting intense blue skies and distant waterfalls that drop hundreds of feet to the cascades below. You can explore this world on foot, mountain bikes, and horseback, or go fly fishing, boating or whitewater rafting. Any time of the year is a good time for a Whitefish honeymoon trip.
The nearby Big Mountain ski area offer fresh powder snow, perfect for skiing and snowboarding. Downtown Whitefish has upscale dining and shopping as well as several theatre companies in a sophisticated urban setting. After a long and tiring day outdoors, you want to come back to comfortable lodgings, and there are plenty of choices available, to suit every budget.
About Whitefish
At a Glance
- Whitefish ski areas offer near-perfect conditions for skiing and snowboarding. There are plenty to choose from: Turner Mountain, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Blacktail Mountain, Teton Pass, Bear Paw Ski Bowl, and Lookout Pass, to name just a few.
- Whitefish is located right at the edge of Glacier National Park, in the northern part of the Rocky Mountains in Montana. It makes a good base to explore the one million acres of wilderness with glaciers, valleys, waterfalls, lakes and forests.
- You’ll need coffee and food to keep you on the go. You’ll find everything from fresh-roasted, ethically-sourced coffee to start your day to the finest steak or a real western BBQ in the downtown area. There are a number of gourmet restaurants, with locally sourced ingredients and expert chefs, to go with the sophisticated city feel of downtown Whitefish.
- Check out the local brews and wines. Huckleberries are the state fruit of Montana and make an appearance in local beers and wines, as well as all kinds of foods, ice cream and preserves.
- You’ll find a wide range of accommodations, from campsites and friendly farm and ranch stays to cozy log cabins and luxury lodges. You can choose lodgings located downtown, lake- or mountain-side, or in rural settings.
- Check out the music and nightlife, and catch performances by the Whitefish Theatre Company when the season starts in September, and the Glacier Symphony and Chorale all year.
Honeymoon Hints
- Find a romantic retreat in a log cabin in the woods, or one of the luxury dude ranches for which Montana is famous. At the end of a busy day, cozy up in front of a roaring campfire or relax in an outdoor hot tub with a glass of wine.
- Live out your own Western romance by taking part in a real cattle drive. Many of the dude ranches are also real working ranches, with cowboys and cattle round-ups.
- Spend an evening in downtown Whitefish with boutique shopping, and finish your evening with a romantic dinner for two.
- If you’re in Montana between September and April, you might see the aurora borealis. The Northern Lights are a product of solar activity, and you can check forecasts for when the display will light up the skies with shifting patterns of blue, green and yellow ribbons of light.
Travel Tips
- Whitefish is just 15 minutes away from Glacier Park International Airport, which has connecting flights to all major US cities.
- Amtrak’s Empire Builder has twice daily service to Whitefish, connecting to Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle and Portland.
- Locally, you can take shuttle bus services to Glacier National Park and Whitefish Ski Resort. Car rentals are available and it’s easier to get around if you have a car. In winter, keep in mind that you will be dealing with ice and snow on the roads.
- When traveling in the mountains, always check the weather forecast before heading out, in any season. Especially at higher elevations, the weather can change rapidly.