When it comes to planning a family vacation, we know you have lots of options and places to choose from. And with so many interests and ages on family trips, it can be hard to keep everyone happy and entertained. If you choose Kalispell, Montana as your vacation destination, we want to make sure you have the best time possible.
To help make your next family vacation enjoyable and full of memory-making opportunities, here are 9 ideas for your kid-friendly stay in Kalispell.
1. Enjoy a Blast from the Past at Norm’s Soda Fountain. Located in the heart of downtown Kalispell, Norm’s Soda Fountain is a place where both kids and adults will instantly feel at home. Introduce the whole family to huckleberry shakes and tasty diner-style burgers inside this old-fashioned soda fountain. While you’re here, be sure to give the kids time to peruse 800+ types of candy.
2. Cruise Lake McDonald. By now, you’ve probably heard that you need a vehicle reservation for many parts of Glacier National Park. (If this is news to you, find everything you need to know – from dates to times – here.) But, if you don’t have one, one of the best ways to experience the park without a reservation is to book a guided activity in the park. A boat cruise on Lake McDonald is the perfect way to enjoy the park while being out in nature without being in the car for very long. Plan to go in early (or stay late), cruise the Going-to-the-Sun Road and learn about the history and geology of the park. Be sure to book your boat cruise tickets in advance.
Another option: skip the vehicle reservation and head to Apgar, located at the southern end of Lake McDonald. No vehicle reservation is needed to visit Apgar and its rocky beach is a great place to let kids cool off, skip rocks, snag photos or enjoy a picnic lunch – just be sure to pick up after yourself.
3. Take the Family to a Ballgame. There aren’t many more picturesque places to take in a baseball game than Montana’s Flathead Valley. Kalispell is home to the Glacier Range Riders and you can catch a game from late May through early September. See the schedule and snag tickets here.
4. Lone Pine State Park and Somers Beach State Park. Besides the sweeping views of the Flathead Valley, one of the best things about Lone Pine State Park is its 7+ miles of hiking trails. This means that you can hike as little or as long as you’d like, which is perfect for when you have a variety of ages of kids in tow. The visitor center is a great place to start your visit, with interactive displays and more. They also offer children’s activities throughout the year. The newest state park in the region, Somers Beach State Park sits on Flathead Lake. From fall through spring, it has a massive sandy beach that’s great for walking, enjoying a picnic lunch, kayaking or skipping rocks.
Good to know: Montana residents can access state parks for free when they pay the $9 state parks fee with their vehicle registration. There is a day-use entrance fee of $8 for nonresidents; if you are not a Montana resident and plan to visit many state parks, check out the nonresident entrance pass ($50/year).
5. Play at Woodland Park. In the summer, enjoy the only outdoor waterpark in Kalispell, Woodland Water Park. It’s the perfect place to take the kids on a hot summer day. They typically open for the season in June and welcome visitors with a variety of attractions, including an activity pool, two waterslides, a lazy river and a six-lane lap pool. During winter, catch a hockey game or enjoy open skating at Woodland Park Ice Center.
6. Catch Live Music at Picnic in the Park. Located in the heart of downtown Kalispell, Picnic in the Park brings two free concerts a week to Depot Park. Time your activities to catch sweet tunes on Tuesday nights and Wednesdays during lunch. Concerts take place June-August.
7. Visit a Pumpkin Patch. Each fall, Sweet Pickin’s Pumpkin Patch welcomes families with a maze, pedal cars, a massive jumping pillow and of course, a pumpkin patch.
8. Winter and Summer at Whitefish Mountain Resort. While winter brings downhill skiing and snowboarding to the slopes of Whitefish Mountain Resort, during the summer it offers a variety of family-friendly activities, including mountain biking, ziplining, a scenic life ride, alpine slide, aerial adventure park and Spider Monkey Mountain.
9. Ride Rails to Trails of Northwest Montana. Whether you pack your own bikes or rent some in Kalispell, Rails to Trails of Northwest Montana is a great place to burn off energy and take in some stunning views. Additional trails can also be found at Herron Park and the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
Find more kid-friendly vacation activities for your next trip to Kalispell here and here, as well as free things to do.
