February 20, 2012—Glacier Country, MT—Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission is stoked to announce its Great Glacier Giveaway, a new promotion that has the tourism bureau giving away a trip for two to Western Montana.
The Great Glacier Giveaway will award the winner a five-day, four-night trip for two to the heart of Western Montana with destinations that include Whitefish and Glacier National Park.
“Montana is a beautiful place,” said Racene Friede, Executive Director of Glacier Country Tourism. “And while we can describe it with words and stories, the best way to experience what makes this region so special is by visiting it and experiencing it for yourself.”
The giveaway includes airfare, a rental car and gas card, as well as lodging at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish and Belton Chalet in West Glacier. The prize package also comes with a variety of activity options in the area, including a red bus tour with Glacier Park, Inc. in Glacier National Park, trail ride with Swan Mountain Outfitters, zip line adventure at Whitefish Mountain Resort, raft trip from Glacier Raft Company, a guided hike with Glacier Guides in Glacier National Park and a whiskey tasting at Glacier Distilling Company.
To enter the giveaway, like Western Montana’s Glacier Country on facebook at www.facebook.com/glaciermt. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents, with a winner being selected by May 1, 2012.
For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit www.glaciermt.com.
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November 3, 2011—Glacier Country, MT—In Western Montana’s Glacier Country, winter is serious business. And rightly so. With six ski areas boasting more than 6,940 acres of skiable terrain and mountains that annually garner 300+ inches of snow, the region has earned its reputation as a winter hot spot.
“Western Montana is really the ultimate winter playground,” said Racene Friede, Executive Director of Glacier Country Tourism. “We have a sampling of winter activities that are bound to satisfy each visitor, whether it’s shredding the 3,000 acres at Whitefish Mountain Resort, snowshoeing to a backcountry hot spring in the Bitterroot Valley or riding the thousands of miles of snowmobiling trails throughout the region.”
Whitefish Mountain Resort—located on Big Mountain and the most notable resort in the region—provides 98 marked trails, as well as terrain parks and views from the summit into Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley.
The resort also offers on-mountain dining, lodging, shopping and entertainment. But just because it’s a world-class resort, doesn’t mean it will break the bank. Whitefish Mountain Resort offers affordable vacation packages, with an “Eat, Ski, Sleep, Repeat” package (including lift tickets, lodging and breakfast) starting at $79 per person.
Visitors looking for a more serene setting will find it in Glacier National Park. Open year-round, the park provides a different experience during the winter season. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is a popular destination for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, while guided adventures within the park’s boundaries are also available. Winter camping is also available at Apgar and St. Mary, beginning December 1.
“One of the shining stars of vacationing in Western Montana is the affordability,” said Friede. “Our lodging rates are 20 percent lower than the national average, making a visit here a great bang for your buck. Plus, with the diversity of our ski areas there are lift tickets available to fit each traveler’s budget. Combine that with incredible powder and mild temperatures and you’ve got the groundwork for a wonderful winter vacation.”
For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit www.glaciermt.com.
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September 1, 2011—Glacier Country, MT—At the end of each summer the crowds depart Glacier National Park and Montana, leaving behind beautiful September weather, plentiful wildlife viewing and abundant recreational opportunities. But this year they’re leaving a little something else behind: rocking waters and incredible fly-fishing.
With the region’s high winter snowpack and cool early season temperatures, whitewater rafting and kayaking trips are available through mid-September, while scenic floats are offered through late September on many area rivers.
“This is the best water we’ve ever had,” said Kienan Slate from 10,000 Waves Raft & Kayak in Missoula, Montana. “We’re seeing water levels into September that we typically see in early August. Our river trips will be running well into September.”
Plus, local fishing guides are reporting that this season is providing “some of the best fly-fishing we’ve ever seen.”
Whether visitors are looking to fly-fish, bass fish or spend a relaxing day trolling, there are area rivers, reservoirs and lakes that can answer the call. For fly-fishing, try the Middle Fork of the Flathead, Bitterroot and Clark Fork rivers. For bass fishing, drop a line in Noxon Rapids Reservoir or Echo Lake. For trolling, spend a relaxing day on Lake Como or Placid Lake.
For more adrenaline-pumping activities, Whitefish Mountain Resort is offering zip line and Walk in the Treetops tours through September 24 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays), while the Hiawatha Rail Trail is open daily through October 2.
Autumn is also an ideal time to experience scenic drives. Try cruising Highway 83 through the Seeley-Swan Valley en route to Bigfork—a quaint community located on Flathead Lake and home to art galleries, fine dining and small-town charm. To “get lost” in Montana, travel the St. Regis-Paradise Scenic Byway (Route 135) as it winds through the mountains alongside the Clark Fork River.
For one of the most scenic drives in North America, travel the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. To allow accelerated fall season rehabilitation on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the last day to access Logan Pass from the west side via car is Sunday, September 18, while vehicle access to the pass will be available from the east side of the park through Sunday, October 16, weather permitting.
For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit www.glaciermt.com.
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