A Local's Guide to Whitefish, Montana

Summer Activities

• Under the Big Sky Music Festival: Whitefish's busiest weekend! A three-day country music festival located on a 350-acre ranch just outside of town. Don't miss the after parties with more intimate performances at the live music venues downtown. Local tip: If you are planning on traveling to Whitefish for this festival, reserve your stay far in advance as things book up quickly.

• Glacier National Park: Go for the day and drive the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road or take a few days to explore the more secluded hiking trails and stunning blue lakes. Local tip: Vehicle reservations are required. Visit nps.gov for the latest information on the vehicle reservation system and park hours.

• Whitefish Mountain Resort: The mountain offers a variety of summer activities, including more than 25 miles of lift-accessed and cross-country mountain bike trails, hiking the popular Danny On trail, an alpine slide, zip-line and aerial adventure park, huckleberry picking and a scenic gondola or chair lift ride.

• Golf at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club: Two 18-hole courses are available to play on and less than a three-minute drive from downtown Whitefish, with views of the mountains and lake! After your game, stay for a drink at their outdoor patio.

• Water Activities: Rent a paddleboard, kayak, motorized boat or WaveRunner and spend the afternoon at the lake. Rentals are available at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake Marina or 406 Watersports. If you're feeling more adventurous, book a white water rafting trip with Glacier Raft Co.

• Mini Golfing: Stop by Camp Scout & Gather, play a round of Mini Golf, enjoy sips and snacks at their Grill and shop for unique gifts and home goods at the Mercantile.

• Fishing: There are tons of lakes and rivers around for fly fishing. I recommend booking a guide, like Bigfork Anglers, to guarantee you'll be taken to the best spots.

• Horseback Riding: Take a short drive north to see the amazing Clydesdale horses at Clydesdale Outpost. 30-45-minute horseback rides can be scheduled. At Bar W Guest Ranch, two-hour trail rides can be booked.

• Live Music: Plenty of live music can be found right in downtown Whitefish, but if you're looking for a bigger venue, drive an hour north to the Abayance Bay Marina for their summer concert series.

Winter Activities

• Ski Whitefish Mountain: 3,000 acres of terrain, including groomed trails, powdery glades and steep bowls span. Take lessons or explore the mountain on your own. Lunch or drinks at Hellroaring Saloon are a must! Grab an après drink at The Bierstube.

• Cross Country Skiing: In the winter, the Whitefish Lake Golf Course gets transformed into the Glacier Nordic Center, with groomed trails and classic or skate gear available to rent.

• Snowmobiling: Northwest Montana Adventure offers snowmobile rentals, and half or full-day guided tours, with options to stop at their yurt for cider, hot chocolate and snacks.

• Winter Activities at Clydesdale Outpost: Hop on a sleigh ride, go snowshoeing and roast s'mores! During Christmas, VIP igloos are available to rent.

• Dog Sledding: Dog Sled Adventures has nearly 130 Alaskan huskies to pull their safe, comfy sleds and can handle families or groups of any size.

• Ice Fishing: Whitefish Lake Charters offers five-hour charters on Whitefish Lake for up to eight people, with larger groups available upon request.

• Cooking Classes: Trovare, a gourmet cooking store in downtown Whitefish, offers regular group cooking classes. Buy tickets in advance as they do book up!

• Hanks Hatchet's Axe Throwing: Indoor axe throwing range. Great for groups!

Shopping

• The Togglery: A great selection of men's and women's clothing and shoes from top outdoor and fashion brands.

• Montana Shirt Co.: Excellent quality Montana themed shirts, sweatshirts, etc.

• S.M. Bradford Co.: Premium women's western wear.

• Harlow: Women's fashion boutique with unique pieces from well-known brands.

• Imagination Station Toys: Old-school toy shop that any kid will love.

• Dispensaries: Go no further than downtown for your medicinal needs at Power Plant, located inside of the Remington Bar. For more of an experience, check out Haskill Creek Farm, which also hosts live music, food trucks and a bar cart in the summer!

• Art Galleries: Check out Whitefish Gallery Nights on the first Thursdays of the month throughout the summer and fall.

Health & Wellness

• PEAK Fit: Functional HIIT studio offering multiple fun, high-energy group classes every day. Visit Peak Wellness next door for a sauna or cold plunge session.

• LOVE Yoga: Heated studio offering yoga, barre and sculpt classes. Check the schedule for heat levels for each class.

Day Trips:

• Glacier Park... And if you have time, make a stop at Polebridge Mercantile!

• Visit the town of Bigfork near Flathead Lake

• Quinn's Hot Springs.

• If you're here for a while, bring your passport and take a drive up to Canada! Fernie is another cute mountain town two hours away. If you're feeling adventurous, stop at Lussier Hot Springs, which has four naturally constructed pools right on the river.

Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch Options

• Loula's Cafe: A Whitefish staple for breakfast, lunch and a large variety of home-baked pies. Local tip: Check the Yelp waitlist for wait times and put your name on the list in advance.

• Swift Creek Café: A cozy cafe with a crafty seasonally rotating menu of breakfast and lunch options.

• Buffalo Café: A bustling old school café with a large menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

• Central Ave Baker & Deli: Great sandwiches, wraps and baked goods.

• Jersey Boys Pizzeria: Large selection of fresh pizza, salads and sandwiches to eat in or to-go.

Downtown Dinner Options

• Abruzzo Italian Kitchen: High-quality Italian food, including fresh pastas, wood-fired pizzas and great cocktails.

• Tupelo Grille: Casual spot for southern-inspired food and cocktails and a lounge with weekly live music performances.

• Herb & Omni: Upscale dining experience with a cabaret on their second floor.

• Beldi: Fresh, seasonal Mediterranean dishes meant for sharing.

• Latitude 48 Bistro: Enjoy a thoughtful menu and creative cocktails in their casual dining area or relaxed downstairs lounge.

• Indah Sushi: Fun atmosphere with a menu of Asian fusion dishes, fresh seafood and sushi.

Additional Dinner Options (Five-Minute Drive or Less from Downtown)

• The Whitefish Lake Restaurant: The restaurant at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course with a dining room for fine dining, a lounge for more casual dining and an outdoor patio for summer dining and drinks.

• Boat Club Dining Room: The restaurant at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake with an option for fine dining in their dining room, more casual dining at their bar and lounge, or their outdoor deck in the summer. All with unobstructed lake views.

• Jalisco Cantina: Trendy spot for Mexican-inspired cuisine. Local tip: During the winter season, they have Taco Tuesday deals on tacos and margaritas!

Bars

• Great Northern Bar & Grill: A necessary stop on your Whitefish trip, with live music Thursday-Saturday, pool, shuffleboard, ping-pong and an outdoor deck.

• Remington Bar & Casino: Another popular live music venue with a stage and games, including a poker table.

• Craggy Range Bar & Grill: A lively sports bar and restaurant with a lot of TVs and an outdoor seating area with live music during the summer.

• The Bulldog Saloon: Dive bar and local's favorite spot for watching the game.

• Palace Bar: No-frills dive bar with a younger, more local crowd.

• Tiki Bar & Grill: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake's outdoor waterfront bar is the spot to kick off your summer evenings or grab a drink before taking the paddleboards out for a spin.

Breweries & Distilleries

• Blackstar: Come for the large beer selection and comfort food. Stay for the rooftop with mountain views!

• Bonsai Brewing Project: Large outdoor seating area and delicious food options.

• Montana Tap House: Local's favorite for après ski. Indoor and outdoor seating and pet-friendly.

• Spotted Bear Distillery: A seasonally rotating menu of unique craft cocktails. Buy a bottle of their homegrown spirits to bring back with you!

Coffee, Cafés & Confections

• Wild Coffee: Great vibes, great coffee. WiFi and large seating areas make it the perfect place to check emails or get some work done.

• Montana Coffee Traders: Another great spot to grab a cup of coffee before taking on the day.

• Fleur Bake Shop: Best homemade pastries and bread in town.

• Sweet Peaks Ice Cream: Delicious classic and specialty ice cream flavors. Don't leave without trying a scoop of their Huckleberry ice cream!

• Boudoir Bar Café: Colorful café with coffee, pastries and Gelato.

Markets & Quick Bites

• Whitefish Westside Market: Don't let the gas station exterior fool you. This newly renovated market has great food options, including breakfast burritos, fresh donuts, fried chicken sandwiches and garage pies. The place to stop on your way to golf, to the lake, or to the mountain.

• Third Street Market: Natural food store offering locally-sourced and organic food choices as well as a large health and wellness section

• Markus Foods: Stop here for produce, a large deli and a handful of sandwich and salad selections.

• Alpine Village Market: Family-owned grocery store with a deli and large wine section.