Welcome to another vibrant year in Western Montana! As we usher in new beginnings, our region is also welcoming a host of new establishments and experiences. From quaint shops and local eateries to thrilling outdoor adventures, there’s much to explore and enjoy in Glacier Country. Here’s a look at what’s new and noteworthy for your next visit.

Stop by Thirty Eight this summer in Whitefish for live music, good drinks and a good time. Photo: Noah Couser

MISSOULA

Dining:

  • Elote Mexican Bar & Grille and Plaza Azteca spice up Missoula’s dining scene with delicious Mexican flavors and vibrant atmospheres.
  • Grist, a new bakery in Missoula, specializes in breads and pastries made from organic Montana grain, freshly milled on-site.
  • Kampfire Steakhouse in Evaro (15 minutes from downtown) offers hearty meals perfect for the meat lover, while The Stables pairs more than 100 wine options with classic cuisine in downtown Missoula.
  • Converted from food trucks to brick-and-mortar, Stuffed 406 and Mexican Moose now serve their popular dishes in permanent locations.
  • Catalyst2GO offers delicious grab-and-go meals, from heated and ready-to-eat to frozen take and bake; the selection changes daily.   
  • Funk It blends a thrift store with a coffee shop where you can enjoy a selection of quirky secondhand treasures, flavorful bites and astrological finds.

Shopping:

Visit Missoula Makers to shop for products from over 80 local craftspeople. Photo: Images by Adrianna

Accommodations:

  • LOGE Missoula caters to outdoor enthusiasts with fun accommodations that include access to the gear room for guest checkout (or rentals for those staying elsewhere).
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton and LivAway Suites offer welcoming, comfortable options including kitchenettes and pet-friendly rooms perfect for a longer stay.

Experiences:

  • Experience the aromatic bliss of Forsythe Farms, a U-Pick lavender farm in Frenchtown.
  • Local Missoula Walking Tours provide two-hour history, art, shopping and culture walking tours for an immersive local experience.
  • Schedule a visit to Drybar for a quick, stylish blowout.

Future Developments:

  • Look forward to the opening of the new terminal at the Missoula Montana Airport in spring 2025, set to enhance visitor arrivals and departures.

WHITEFISH

Dining:

  • Clydesdale Creamery offers over-the-top milkshakes, specialty lattes, ice cream and more.
  • Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired dishes at Beldi Restaurant and sip cocktails at The Belvedere, a stylish new rooftop bar.
  • Thirty Eight, a vibrant community space in Whitefish, celebrated a successful inaugural summer with local food trucks, talented musicians, local vendors and refreshing drinks.
Because there’s always room for dessert at Clydesdale Creamery. Photo: Clydesdale Creamery

Experiences:

  • EFOIL Xperiences provides a Fliteboard watersports adventure on Montana’s waters.

Future Developments:

  • Opening in the summer of 2025, The Larch House, delivers luxury boutique accommodations with 39 guest rooms, private dining and a rooftop spa pool.

New Events:

KALISPELL

Shopping:

  • Forever French specializes in high-quality, soft and stretchy clothing and pajamas for children and parents alike.
  • Good Girls Bookshop offers a curated selection of romance books of all genres, and a cozy nook for literary enthusiasts to discover new stories.
Find your ideal romance at Good Girls Bookshop in Kalispell. Photo: Good Girls Bookshop

Accommodations:

Future Developments:

  • Glacier Park International Airport continues to undergo a significant expansion. 2024 updates brought new jet bridges and gates and expanded waiting and dining areas. The 2025 phase will enhance the ticket area, car rental facilities and central lobby, with the entire project aiming for completion in 2026.

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK + SURROUNDING AREA

Dining and Shopping at Apgar Village:

  • Eddie’s Cafe and Mercantile, now owned by Pursuit, offers dining from May through September. The mercantile is open on the weekend until May when it transitions to being open daily.
  • Park Provisions in Coram provides essential trip supplies and ready-to-go meals year-round.

Accommodations:

  • Lookout Suites at Apgar Village Lodge offers six luxurious suites, available year-round, featuring high-end one- and two-bedroom configurations with full kitchens, ideal for an upscale stay in Glacier National Park.
  • LOGE Glacier in Essex offers a new adventure-based lodging experience with on-site free rentals of outdoor equipment, perfect for the Glacier National Park active traveler.
Adventurers can find their dream escape at LOGE Glacier. Photo: LOGE Glacier

Experiences:

  • In Columbia Falls, visit The Rendezvous for some evening entertainment. Find live music, local craft beers, boozy slushies and a full bar.

WHAT’S NEW AROUND WESTERN MONTANA

Bitterroot Corridor:

  • The Farm Rentals in Hamilton offers unique vacation rentals.
  • Hidalgo Trail Rides in Lolo provides one- to four-hour horseback riding adventures with a lunch or dinner option.
  • In Hamilton, Ember delivers a premier fine dining experience featuring locally sourced ingredients prepared over wood and charcoal fires.
  • Also in Hamilton, Grano offers a farm-to-table experience with wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas, artisanal pastas and seasonal dishes, all served in a casual setting alongside a selection of beer and wine.

Clark Fork Corridor:

  • Hightail Ranch in Hot Springs offers a unique guest ranch experience with eco-friendly accommodations on a working bison ranch. Enjoy a variety of activities, including horseback riding, cooking classes and hiking, complemented by on-site fine dining.
  • Hand Me Down Coffee, located in the former Dixon Mercantile in Dixon, offers coffee, tasty food and unique finds in an attached thrift store.
Hightail Ranch serves hearty family-style meals to guests after a day at the working bison ranch. Photo: Kirsten Maxwell

East Glacier Corridor:

  • Marketplace on Main in Cut Bank combines event and meeting areas with an art and coffee space as well as a market filled with locally-crafted pieces and Made in Montana products.

Flathead Corridor:

  • Flathead Lake Luxury Lodging in Lakeside offers luxury accommodations at its 8-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom estate, an ideal base for an unforgettable vacation in Lakeside, Montana.
  • The Cabins at Blacktail, also in Lakeside, offers tiny cabins with a vintage Montana vibe, each featuring a private hot tub and fire pit.
  • MyExhale Montana in Polson provides charming, modern duplex vacation rentals within walking distance of Flathead Lake.
The Cabins at Blacktail makes a perfect basecamp for adventure. Photo: @Sweetgrass

 I-90 Corridor:

  • Alpine Falls Ranch in Superior offers luxury ranch accommodations with several activities, like fly-fishing, clay shooting, horseback riding, winter sports, river rafting and glamping.
  • Big Mountain Farm Stand in St. Regis sells freshly baked goods and artisan bread. Stop by for local treats and farm-fresh produce.

Seeley Swan Corridor: 

  • Bigfork Stagecoach offers a unique way to explore Bigfork’s past aboard a traditional stagecoach.
  • Sonder Montana Co in Bigfork offers a coffee shop atmosphere paired with a boutique charm. Order your favorite drink before browsing a curated selection of U.S.-made goods.

Please note: We ask that all our visitors and residents recreate responsibly by being mindful of the following: know before you go; plan ahead; play it safe; leave no trace; tread lightly; and help build an inclusive outdoors.

January 13, 2025

Related: Arts and Culture, Bigfork, Bitterroot Valley, City Tours, Clark Fork Corridor, Columbia Falls, Coram, Cut Bank, Dining, Dixon, East Glacier Corridor, Essex, Family Fun, Flathead Corridor, Food, Galleries, GNP Surrounding Area, Guest Ranch, Hamilton, Horseback Riding, Hot Springs, I-90 Corridor, Indoor Fun, Kalispell, Lakeside, Lolo, Missoula, Montana, Outdoor Fun, Polson, Seeley-Swan Corridor, St. Regis, Superior, Vacation, Whitefish

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