Kalispell

Kalispell is a formerly charming little town which has sold out like a cheap whore to real estate developers; the result of this is that Kalispell conforms in every way to every other medium to large city in the United States. The City Elders haven't managed to completely wipe out all traces of the old-time charm, but they are trying pretty hard and will probably succeed within a few years.

In place of nice businesses run by local owners who care about their customers and restaurants with good service and food, there are miles of chain mega-stores, franchise fast-food joints, and traffic jams to contend with. If you keep your eyes open, you can find gems in this rough.

All of this means that if you think you need a Wal-Mart, you can find one. You can also get a pasty puck between spongy buns smeared with red food coloring from a hamburger chain if you want it. If you do this, I hope you enjoy your vacation, which will look, feel, smell, and taste exactly like wherever you came from.

Kalispell is north of Flathead Lake. On the way to Glacier, I took route 93 on the west side of the lake; on the way back, I took route 35 on the east side of the lake. I recommend the eastern route; it is less congested and you will make better time despite there being fewer passing zones. The western route does have better views of the lake, however; if this is important to you, take the western route northbound rather than southbound.

We stayed in Kalispell as a staging area for my wife's arrival and departure from Montana. Due to vacation time constraints, I drove, and my wife flew.

We stayed at the Westcoast Kalispell Center Hotel on the way to the park. This hotel is adjacent and connected to a small shopping mall. The food from room service is decent. On the way from the park we stayed at the Westcoast Outlaw Hotel. Both hotels were passable, somewhat more expensive than I thought they should be, and the rooms were fairly spartan. Both rooms were scrupulously clean, however.

Route 35, in Kalispell, east of Rt. 93, is where you will find several grocery stores (and the Wal-Mart).