Our Bigfork, Montana Adventure: Where We Stayed, Ate, and Played

We recently returned from a week-long adventure to Bigfork, Montana! Our main reason for visiting was that our musical theater actress daughter, Becca, was doing summer stock at Big Fork Summer Playhouse. The bonus was the fishing, hiking and adventures we would get to have while we were there!

If you’ve been following me here at ENB for a while now, you know that I think it’s critical to get on your adult children’s “turf” whenever you can! Seeing where they work, go to school, or even grocery shop is important! Stepping into their world will give you insight into their lives, offer opportunities for some meaningful conversations, and give you the chance to encourage them and interact on a more intimate level. Since all of our adult children live at least an hour away, we try to do these types of visits as often as possible.

How to Get There

AirKnit Top | AirKnit Wide Leg Pants | Brooks Sneakers | Briggs & RileyMedium Spinner Suitcase | Tory Burch Tote

To get to Bigfork, Montana, you need to either fly into the Missoula Airport (about 90 minutes from Big Fork) or Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell (about 30 minutes from Big Fork). We found direct flights from Dallas without a problem.

Plan for the Weather

Cozy Crush Crewneck Lightweight Pullover | Lightweight Woven Stretch Joggers (similar) | Sneakers (from Amazon) | LouLou Necklace | “S” Initial Pendant Necklace | Tory Burch Logo Earrings | “Rachel” Sunglasses

The weather in Montana is variable! It was unseasonably warm when we first arrived and we were in shorts, but it got cooler the longer we stayed. (Think high 50s and low 60s in the mornings!) The photos above are of the outfit that I wore home on the plane—since it was cool when we left in the morning, and I knew the plane would be freezing! ✈️🥶

Where We Stayed

Bigfork is a small town located on Flathead Lake within Montana’s Rocky Mountains. During the year, the population is only about 5000! But in the summer, this vacation destination swells to double or triple that! The good news is that many people come to Bigfork to hike, fish, or enjoy the lake, so everyone is really spread out, and it doesn’t feel too crowded.

There aren’t any big hotel chains in Bigfork, and since we had our son, daughter-in-law, and 18-month-old granddaughter with us, we chose to book a 2 bedroom/2 bath condo near Flathead Lake via VRBO. We loved having a kitchen and space for everyone, but did have a few issues with the unit while we were there (including an a/c unit that tripped a breaker every time it turned on!) that the management company was slow to fix or did not fix at all 🙄. Still, we determined that for a family, booking a home or condo via VRBO or Airbnb is probably the best way to go.

If you’re just passing through or you’re traveling with just one other person, I’d recommend staying somewhere near the cute downtown, like the quirky Swan River Inn (where I’m staying when I go back later this month), The Inn on Big Fork Bay, or Bridge Street Cottages.

Where We Ate

Since I’m somewhat limited in what I can eat, finding restaurants that offer gluten-free options is always our priority. Thankfully, our daughter, who is also gluten-free, had scoped out the options beforehand and had a great list of suggested spots for us! In general, we were surprised that restaurants got busy early (think 4:30-5 pm), although when we were there, the sun didn’t set until around 9 pm!

Here’s what I recommend:

• Flathead Lake Brewing Co.: Either go at 4:30 pm or after 7 pm and be sure to sit on the patio for a stunning lake view! I loved their burger (GF bun!) and Bob loved the pizza.
• Great Northern Gourmet: We ate here twice! Great food and we loved sitting on the patio! It was perfect before the theater.
• Echo Lake Cafe: They serve breakfast and lunch all day! 😋
• Showthyme Act II: This is THE fine dining restaurant in Bigfork, and it’s right next to Big Fork Summer Playhouse, so it’s perfect for a nice dinner before you see a show.
• Taco Loco: We loved the salsa and chips, but the meal was so-so. Next time we’ll try El Topo Cantina instead.
• Grateful Bread Cafe: Features Italian and American fare. Think pizza, pasta, and salad.
• Lake Baked is a small bakery overlooking the Swan River. The menu changes daily, but the food is delish!
• Pocketstone Cafe: Good for breakfast.
• Red Poppy Bakery: While the boys were fishing one morning, the girls hit the road for Kalispell to check out this gluten-free bakery. Once there, we loaded up on all kinds of treats and headed out to beautiful Woodland Park, where we walked, saw the ducks, Lily played on the playground, and we ate our treats, of course!
• Birch Provisions: Located at 475 Electric Ave Suite 3 (upstairs, in downtown Bigfork), this darling spot is the go-to place for coffee and delicious sandwiches. It’s a find! They don’t even have a website!

Where We Played

We were so outdoorsy and active in Montana! Let’s just say I’m glad I work out when I’m home! Here’s what we did and where we did it.

Whitefish Mountain Resort

Chiefly known for world-class skiing in the winter, there’s plenty to do here in the summer, too! (You can stay here, but it’s about 50 minutes from Bigfork, so we opted not to do that.) We took the Scenic Lift Ride (gondola or classic chairlift options) to the Summit House (Montana’s only mountaintop restaurant) and ate lunch. The food was incredible, and the views were stunning. Other activities include an alpine slide, a zipline & aerial adventure park, hiking and biking trails (we saw lots of mountain bikers), and a nature center. Check out their website HERE.

Big Fork Summer Playhouse

Ranked by Trip Advisor as the #1 thing to do in Bigfork, this summer stock theater (A theater that presents multiple shows with the same cast during the summer months.) is one of the best in the country. Featuring live musicians and a cast and crew of over 50 people, this theater is known for attracting some of the best young talent in the nation. (Becca aspired to work for them for years before beating out thousands to get cast this summer! We were just a little proud of her!🤭) While we were there, we got to see our daughter perform in Beauty and the Beast, Footloose, Legally Blonde, and Crazy for You. Check out their website HERE.

What I Wore to the Theater

I didn’t get photos of every look I wore to the theater, but these two dresses were favorites!

(On RIGHT) Kellilyn Dress (Use code SUZY15 for 15% off entire purchase) | (On LEFT) Amazon Wrinkle-Resistant Seersucker Gingham Maxi Dress (Come in 4 Colors and just $28!) | Tory Burch Miller Sandals

Flathead Lake Alpine Coaster

Enjoy stunning views as you fly through the alpine forest, reaching speeds up to 27 mph (or opt for a more relaxed ride using the brakes🙋‍♀️). It’s daily from 10 am to 7 pm. Check out their website HERE.

Glacier Ziplines

We did the 7-zipline tour in the canopy of the trees and loved the views we got of Flathead River, Great Northern Railway, Big Mountain, and Badrock Canyon. Check out their website HERE.

Swan River Nature Trail

From end to end, this 4.2-mile trail is easy to navigate and so pretty. (We did it with Lily in THIS rugged jogging stroller.) Bob and our son found several places to navigate down to the river and fly fish!

On SUZY: Amazon Long Workout Top with Built-in Bra | Amazon Skort with Flat Front (Read that: slimming) and Pleated Back | Lululemon Belt Bag (15 colors and just $38!) | Amazon Hat (Eric Javitts dupe!) | Brooks Sneakers

On BOB: Columbia PFG Bahama II Short Sleeve Shirt (in “Fossil”) | Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Convertible Hiking Pant (in “Collegiate Navy”) – These are the coolest pants that zip off into shorts! | Tilley  LTM6 Airflo Broad Brim Hat

Tubing the Swan River

Becca’s Heavy Duty Inflatable Duck Pool Float Tube

This stunning 1½-2 hour tube float was one of our favorite things! It was relaxing and the current kept us moving. We even navigated our tubes to some mini-rapids and got soaked! We went out of Ferndale Market because Becca had done it previously with her castmates from Big Fork Summer Playhouse. Tube rental was $20, and bus transportation to and from the drop-in point was just $5!

Fishing the Swan River & the Flathead River

I love to hang out with Bob while he fly fishes! It’s a such graceful sport, and I think he looks so cute in his fly fishing garb! He and our son fished together most of the time, but one (chilly) morning everyone went.

On SUZY: EcoCare High-Waisted Seamless Leggings | Zip Up Osito Fleece | Water Shoes with Thick Soles (similar)

On BOB: Redington Crosswater Waders | Rubber Sole Clearwater Wading Boots | Fly Fishing Vest (similar) | Tilley  LTM6 Airflo Broad Brim Hat

In the morning, we went with them; the ladies (and an 18-month-old) played around in the water and with the river rocks. Throwing rocks into the water and making a big splash was Lily’s favorite thing to do, but it was not terribly conducive to fabulous fishing! 🤣

Shopping in Downtown Bigfork

The cute shops downtown were fun for a girls’ afternoon! We liked Electric Avenue Gifts, Bigfork Bay Gifts & Gear, and especially Mady & Max (a beautifully curated children’s boutique).

Thanks for sharing the joy of this special family trip with us! Have you done a similar multigenerational trip? Got any other questions about ours? Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts, okay?