Things to do in the Flathead Heat

By Kate Downen, 7-21-06

Put on your SPF 5 million this weekend and take part in the Flathead fun. Here's a list of things you should be doing, if you're not doing them already:

1. Go to Kalispell's annual Arts in the Park. Presented by the Hockaday Museum, this festival is outdoor at Depot Park Square. It features the works of local, regional and national artists, dance performances, musicians, and tasty bites to eat. This is a family affair, so bring the kids for face painting and hands-on art activities. Admission is $3 a day and that includes admission to the nearby Hockaday Museum. Kids under 12 are admitted free. For information on participating artists, musicians and everything else, click here.

2. Do the Bull Thing at the Tobacco Valley Rodeo in Eureka. Rodeo dates are July 21 and 22, so suck in, paste on your Wranglers and get out there. For more info. on tickets and rodeo events, click here.

3. Do a wine and cheese float on the Northfork. Just don't bring too many people or you may do more pushing than floating. Before your day on the river, stop at the Polebridge Merc and grab some of their amazingly amazing baked goodies. After a day on the river, eat dinner in Polebridge at the Northern Lights Saloon. Have fun. Don't litter. Bring a hat and your Chacos.

4. Swim in Flathead Lake. Swim in Whitefish Lake. If you're going to Flathead, try Somers or Lakeside as your swim spot, or go to the Raven in Woods Bay (just south of Bigfork), have a margarita or two, and jump in. If you're in Whitefish, try City Beach or my favorite, Les Mason. Locals have all the directions, so don't be afraid to pop into a store or restaurant to ask.

5. Check out Summit Fridays at Big Mountain in Whitefish. Get a free ride from the base to the Summit House and hear some tunes by local favorite, John Dunnigan. From 4-8 every Friday until September. Everything's free, until you get to the Summit and buy a beer. Call 862.2900 for more information.

6. Play Mountain Crossroads Par 3 Golf Course. It's too hot for any more golf than that. You can play this 9-hole course in a little over an hour. I always bring a water and a beer. This time of year you might want to bring two waters and a beer.

7. Talk a walk through the beautiful Bibler Gardens. Flathead Valley Community College presents its annual tour of the privately-owned gardens overlooking the Flathead Valley and the Swan Mountains. Tours will be each evening from July 24 through July 28, and you're required to buy tickets in advance. Find out more here.

8. Buy the locally-grown and -made wares of Flathead Valleyans at the Whitefish, Kalispell or Lakeside Farmers Markets. Whitefish's downtown market (my favorite) is Tuesdays from 5-7:30 P.M. on Central Avenue in Whitefish. On Thursdays Whitefish holds another market in the parking lot of the Pin & Cue on Highway 93 from 4-6:30. Kalispell holds its market on saturday mornings in the parking lot of the Red Lion Hotel. The Lakeside market is Friday evenings from 4-7 on the lawn of Lakeside Community Chapel.

9. Just too hot? Go inside for some evening entertainment. Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish is now presenting Camelot, the legendary King Arthur/Guinevere musical until August 6. [End of article]