Flathead Valley Deserts to Die For!

What’s for desert?  It’s a question your kid might ask you before he/she agrees to eat broccoli.  You might be looking for a desert to top off your dinner out, or perhaps, you ate early and want to satisfy your sweet tooth before bed.  Whatever provokes your desire; there are several unique and tasty options in the Flathead Valley that you must try!

Yay Huckleberries!  As you drive from Kalispell to West Glacier, you cannot help but notice the plethora of signs advertising huckleberry-.....-everything.  You name it; they've put huckleberries in it.  These extremely flavorful smaller cousins of the blueberry are good in many deserts, but are especially tasty in shakes and pies.  The town of Hungry Horse is pretty much the capital of the huckleberry world (in Montana at least) and there are a couple great places to eat shakes and pies there.  The Huckleberry Patch is my favorite.  It has great shakes, is open year round and sends pies all over US.  If you can’t make it u

p to Hungry Horse, Frugals, the drive-through restaurant just south of the court house in Kalispell, actually makes pretty tasty huckleberry shakes and they are cheap!

Ice Cream You Won’t Find Anywhere Else! If you’re looking for the local ice cream spot, look no further than Sweet Peaks.  It has a variety of original flavors which are delicious!  They also have a few that are a little weird (ex: ranch flavored ice cream).  In the summer you can sit on their deck one story above Main Street in their Kalispell location and they also have a location in downtown Bigfork. 

Frozen Yogurt with a Classy Twist:  The Red Caboose in Whitefish has taken everything you thought you knew about frozen yogurt and turned it upside-down!  Well, not everything, you still go through buffet style; yogurt first then toppings. But everything else is different.  The shop is located in a fully renovated red train car.  Rustic wooden floors, a fire place and comfortable couches make it an experience and a place to enjoy good frozen yogurt and conversation.  Oh, did I mention they have coffee too?  So if someone in your party wants a latte and someone wants real desert….. no problem!

Tempting Treats Delivered with a Smile! Ceres’ Bakery is a pretty popular place in Kalispell.  Their baked goods are even sold at several other places downtown!  Is it because their croissants melt in your mouth?  Or maybe because they bake a huge variety of cookies? Or possibly because they’re super friendly?  Hmmmm….you’ll have to find out for yourself!

An Ice Cream Cookie that Will Blow Your Mind!  I promise I am not a paid spokesman for the Tamarack, even though I recommend it constantly to guests. Its’ just that their entrees, beer and ICE CREAM COOKIES are so unbelievably good!  Here’s why their cookies are amazing: a huge chocolate chip cookie is baked in a cast iron pan (probably 8” across) and then, while it is still gooey, they bring it out to you with vanilla ice cream on the side and spoons.  The taste is….well….out of this world!

3 Restaurants You Must Eat at While You're in Kalispell

If you had 3 nights.....

If you were going to eat out three nights in the Flathead Valley/Kalispell area, where would you go?  If you do not know the area, it can be hard to choose a good restaurant every night.  When you look at online reviews, you might have to read 20 reviews to get a general feel for a restaurant.  Our staff talks to many guests each night about where they went out to eat; both restaurants we recommend and restaurants the guests choose on their own.  We ask questions and get more feedback than an online review site.  Here is where we would go if we only had three nights:

1. The Tamarack Brewery (Lakeside)- If you have one night in the Flathead, come here for dinner!  Fantastic American food!  Delicious burgers and sandwiches, prime rib, mouth-watering appetizers and outstanding fish tacos.  As the name implies, it is also a brewery and makes a wide variety of fantastic beers!  It is still a very family friendly environment so if you are not into beer, do not worry, you will still be awed by their food!

2. Show Thyme (Bigfork)- If you want a little fancier option for one of your nights out, this is your best option.  California cuisine and American-style fine dining at a reasonable price!  Reservations are recommended!  One of those restaurants that will impress your wife or business client, fill your stomach with mouth watering food, but still not break the bank!

3. Winchester Steak House- You cannot leave Kalispell without trying some authentic juicy Montana steak!  Steak is what Montana is known for and the Winchester does it well (but not well done unless you want it that way). Simply mouth-watering!

If you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask us!  We love telling you about the place we live in and we'll still answer even if you are staying with the other guys!

Written by Matt Harrington

Marketing and Front Desk

Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn and Suites

4824 Highway 93 South

Kalispell, MT 59901

Looking for a place to stay near Flathead Lake?  Check out: http://www.bestwesternflatheadlake.com/  we also have comprehensive lists of things to do and places to eat!

  

Talent that Blesses Others

We have an amazing multi-talented staff here at our the Best Western Flathead Lake Inn and Suites!  One of them is Joshua VunKannon who. in addition to being a great front desk agent, is also a fabulous classical pianist!  He is playing at the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp to help raise money for kids going to camp!  Check this performance out if you are able!  You will not regret it!

Flathead Lake Monster: Myth or Legend?

I sprang off the dock into the murky black water of Loch Ness.  It was a cold rainy day, but I felt my visit to Scotland would not be complete without a plunge into the famous body of water, allegedly inhabited by an extremely large freshwater fish.  The water was cold and I quickly swam back to shore, partially because it was cold, partially because we may have jumped off private land and partially because deep inside, I wonder if there is a Loch Ness Monster.

I have never had this fear in Flathead Lake, but many people claim to have seen a fish, very similar to the Loch Ness Monster in Flathead Lake.  Since the legend began in 1889 there have been 97 sightings of either extremely large fish (6'+ in length) or the Flathead Lake Monster explicitly.  Many reports describe a fish similar to the Sturgeon, one of the oldest families of bony fish in existence, only much larger.  70% of the sightings describe its appearance as that of an eel, with lengths of 20' - 40'.  Sightings describe it as brownish, or blue/black in color with grey or black eyes.  

What lends credibility to these reports, at least for me, are the following details about the sightings: 

1. 80% were made while there was more than one person present.

2. Sightings were made by people who were reportedly not drinking or on drugs.

3. Lawyers, doctors, engineers and policemen all have described sightings and are included in the 97 official sightings count.

4. Sightings have been recorded from long time residents of the area as well as first time visitors.

Here is a map of the 79 sightings as of 1994.  

There is substantial room for skepticism and criticism of these reports, but they are hard to dismiss completely.  Most other evidence on the subject and its verifiable nature can be interpreted either way.  While it is extremely difficult to prove the existence of the Flathead Lake Monster, given these reports and sightings, it is also relatively difficult to prove it does not exist.  Since the legend began, millions and millions of people have been out on the Flathead Lake and only a tiny fraction of a percent claim to have seen it.  So the chances of you seeing it are about as good as being pushed off a cliff by your new wife in Glacier, being pulled out of your tent by a black bear or seeing Micheal Jordan at the Tamarack.....possible but not likely.  

Written by Matt Harrington

Marketing and Front Desk

Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn and Suites

4824 Highway 93 South

Kalispell, MT 59901

Looking for a place to stay near Flathead Lake?  Check out: http://www.bestwesternflatheadlake.com/  we also have comprehensive lists of things to do and places to eat!