As I write this post it is hard to believe that it has been almost a year since I visited the wonderful little town of Kalispell, Montana. It was back when the National Parks and specifically, Glacier National Park, was closed for the day. Glacier National Park is definitely one of the big deals in the Kalispell area, but alas, there is much more to do as well as I soon found out.
Regarding the National Park, I did have the chance to do some river rafting right up to the bank of the closed park, I could look on, but not enter. No problem, though, as the rafting was good enough and done with an outfitter at the Great Northern Whitewater Resort. A lovely place to stay complete with tales of bears, but it's the activities they offer, a la the "scenic river float" that I enjoyed the most. That and the food that was cooked up on a stove in the wilderness during a stop along the river, the best meal, for outdoor cooking my taste buds couldn't believe it.
That said, there was still plenty to do other than the National Park, so as the summer is winding down up in Kalispell there is still time to head north and enjoy Montana's "best town," well that is my opinion, and as the fall approaches it is even a better time to visit.
On your visit to Kalispell remember you will need to drive something tough, so how about the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado?
Here's why, other than the fact that if you need to tow up to 11,400 pounds you can and the cost for the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Double Cab 2WD is only $37,620.
The main thing to remember about the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is that there are lots of choices. There is a diverse range of body styles to choose from and the engine is pretty fuel efficient for such a large vehicle as well. Since the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado was completely redesigned this year, there have also been some nice tweaks for saving money on gas to a smaller engine.
Competition for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 includes the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra and the Ram 1500.
This Chevrolet is a full-size pickup truck, but in regard to the cab and cargo-bed you can opt for either a two- or four-wheel drive. The body comes as a regular cab that is either a 6.5 or eight foot bed, extended cab, a double with a 6.5-foot bed or the high-end crew cab with a 5.75- or 6.5-foot bed.
One thing Chevrolet did for the redesign was make the interior of the lower trims more aesthetically pleasing using better materials overall. There are lots of storage bins available inside and USB ports to spare on several trims.
You can choose between a bench or bucket seat and for long trips these seats are comfortable for the long haul. As for driving, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado has plenty of power even with the V6 so you never worry about a stiff ride and you always have enough acceleration to get ahead of the pack.
Get ahead of the pack on your travel plans up Kalispell way too and plan to attend the Montana Dragon Boat Festival from September 13 to 14, 2014 this year. According to legend, Dragon Boat racing originated in China more than 2,300 years ago. It is said that the traditional dotting of the Dragon's eye before dragon boat racing begins awakens the dragon and unleashes its fire, giving boats and their crews the strength of the dragon.
The third annual Montana Dragon Boat Festival will take place at Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork and admission is free so don't miss it.
While you are in Kalispell there is much to see and do right in town. From the highlights such as the Hockaday Museum of Art and the Museum at Central School there is also a historic walking tour that should be enjoyed the first day you arrive to get properly acclimated.
Also on the agenda enjoy the Red Bus Tour departing from Lake McDonald Lodge. It is said that "the Reds" are as much a part of Glacier National Park as the Going-to-the-Sun Road. While on a tour of the Park, you can enjoy views from Logan Pass -- 6,646 feet high on the Continental Divide -- the highest point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. There are half-day and full-day tours available.
The Kalispell Farmer's Market is in full swing every Saturday through October 11 this year and is "all local all the time," a chance to experience good food and more from the local artisans. That includes bringing your wallet though for art, jewelry and even homemade soaps to take home.
Whether it's hiking, sailing, fly fishing, or even good food you are looking for, Kalispell is all about making visitors happy no matter the season.
Kalispell was actually founded in 1891 by a railroader and the area was the home to the Salish and Kootenai Tribes at the time. It didn't take long for the little town to boom big with the regions cattle and timber hub and it is still booming big with happy people and satisfied visitors.
Kalispell is nestled into some of the best places to visit in the country after all, to the east is Glacier National Park; to the south is Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi and to the north is Whitefish Mountain for skiing and mountain biking.
Don't miss the upcoming Montana Pond Hockey Classic, which is held in February each year and offers three days of competition under the Montana "big sky."
For more information visit www.discoverkalispell.com.