I need to plan a vacation for two families including 2 couples, 3 teenage boys and a teenage girl.

a vacation spot that has:
1. White water rafting,
2. Something else for teenage boys not available in Texas.
3. Hiking
4. Views
5. Girls spots (think spa) for ladies and teenagers girl.
6. Need to fly in and out, expect to rent cars.

Going July 17-21st.

I am down to 2 spots (I Think). North Yellowstone, and Glacier area.

I Right now I am planning on go to Big Sky using my Aunts Recommendation (lives in big folk), my past trip to Jackson hole and the internet. Is there another place to look? (Like glacier area?)

Please point me in some place to look at. TIA.

Glacier area

Going to the Sun Road. Make sure the teens put the phones away during the drive and just see everything. Probably one of the best drives in America.

Go to Whitefish - fly into Kalispel - stay at Whitefish lodge. 20 minutes to Glacier. There is also alpine slides and other activities on the mountain in Whitefish. Downtown area has cute bars, restaurants and boutiques.

Glacier has gone to a permit system to drive the Going to the Sun Road. Check what you can actually access before you book anything. https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/vehicle-reservations.htm

I just looked they are sold out during the time he is there

sad but understandable

They do put more tickets on first come first serve 24 hours prior

Glacier would be good but the Yellowstone area would also be great. I would actually recommend Paradise Valley (closer to the north entrance of Yellowstone) over Big Sky but either would be good.

1. White water rafting,

You can raft the Yellowstone at Gardiner at the north entrance to the park. It is not high octane whitewater, but a really pretty area with a few rapids. Flying Pig is the main outfitter in Gardiner.

2. Something else for teenage boys not available in Texas.

Fly fishing is the first thing that comes to mind. The area in and around Yellowstone is some of the best trout water in America.

3. Hiking

Anywhere you go in the mountains in Montana you'll have plenty of hiking available.

4. Views

Along with Going to the Sun at Glacier, the Beartooth Highway to the northeast of Yellowstone is one of the most scenic drives in the country.

5. Girls spots (think spa) for ladies and teenagers girl.

Sage Lodge in Paradise Valley is expensive but really swanky in an upscale outdoorsy Montana kind of way. They have a high end spa.

6. Need to fly in and out, expect to rent cars.

Lots of nonstops into Bozeman.

The Resort at Paws Up is pretty awesome. And it doesn't get much prettier than fishing the Blackfoot.

if you plan to be in big sky, then yellowstone is where you want to be....not sure about spas and shopping but between big sky and bozeman im sure there are some spas and shopping for the ladies to enjoy and plenty of fishing, hiking and mountain biking for the guys.... plenty to do in your 4-5-day trip.

as others have mentioned the Beartooth highway is a very scenic drive and as a side trip to west yellowstone you can visit the very popular wolf and grizzly discovery center.

Glacier > Yellowstone. (Long time resident)
Fly fishing better in Bozeman Area( Ennis).

Whitewater rafting won't be crazy in July.

To me Glacier is on a level of its own. Yellowstone is nice but doesn't compare to Glacier.

If you golf highly recommend Wilderness Club and Indian Springs in Eureka.

Your welcome! Here's the itinerary for my family of 6 including teenagers. This requires Passports as we went to Banff first but you can go straight to MT to do Glacier National Park


Glacier National Park, MT / Banff Trip
Day 1 July 9 Sunday Arrive, Banff Town, Moraine Lake, Lake Louise
Fly out of IAH - 9:00 am flight UA-2393 arrive Calgary at 12:20 Enterprise Rental Car - Booking Reference Number: - Dodge Caravan +7 - - Drive to Banff 90 minutes. Arrive in Banff at 3pm - Banff Info Center
Go to Grassi Lakes Trailhead Better weather today so skipped this…went on to Moraine Lake and hiked up the logs. Best picture opportunity so go when there's blue skies.
Drive 45 minutes Lake Louise. Dinner at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise 403-522-3511 amazing outdoor Dinner!
Drive 5 minutes to Lake Louise Inn - 210 Village Road, Lake Louise, AB 403-522-3791- Confirmation #

Day 2 July 10 Monday Lake Annette
Drive 10 minutes to Lake Annette Park -Paradise Valley Lot stayed 90 minutes and 2 hours back. Peaceful and private.
Dinner at Mountain Restaurant - 403-522-3573 or Bill Peyto's across the street.
Night 2 - Drive 5 minutes back to Lake Louise Inn

Day 3 July 11 Tuesday Lake Minnewanka then drive 7 hours to Glacier National Park, MT
Check out of Hotel. Drive 25 minutes south to Stanley Glacier -5-mile hike Roundtrip. Eat lunch at the waterfall. We skipped this and tried to drive to Peyto Lake but it was too cold so we went to Lake Minnewanka for an hour.
Drive 7 hours take Hwy 1 towards Calgary visit Frank Slide, then HWY 93 S at Elko cross border at Roosville to 1130 South Nucleus Ave, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
Night 1 Columbia Falls- dinner at 3 Forks Grille 406-892-2900 res at 7:30. Kyle Quintia VRBO - 406-890-3505

Day 4 July 12 Wednesday North Fork / Polebridge area, Whitefish Lake / Mountain
Leave 8:00. Drive 90 minutes north on Hwy 486 and visit the town of Polebridge. Get directions to both Kintla Lake and Bowman Lake. There are 2 sets of dirt roads.
Drive 90 minutes to Whitefish Mountain Resort 406-862-2900. Base Lodge Alpine Slide, Aerial Adventure, Gondola. Enjoyed hiking at the top of the mountain and also the Information Ranger station at the top fun!
Eat Dinner reservations at 7pm Valet Park. Whitefish Lake at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake - great! 855-714-8516 x 0
Night 2 Drive 20 minutes back to Columbia Falls. Grocery store Super 1, Smith's, Town Pump are all close

Day 5 July 13 Thursday West Side of Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass Visitor Center
Drive 30 minutes to Shuttle Bus at Apgar Arrive early (as early as 7 or 8 to avoid lines) or get advice and just drive.
Shuttle 30 minutes to Logan Pass Visitor Center. Hike Hidden Lake Overlook Trail 2.5 Mile rt hike to the lake (1 hr.)
Don't miss the Highline Trial Hike!! Hike mile or so where you hike along a ridge and there is a cable to hold onto. THE BEST!!
Then Shuttle 30 minutes back and get off at Avalanche Trail 4 mi RT OR Trail of the Cedars Hike (1/2 mile loop)
Shuttle back to Apgar and drive 20 minutes home.
Walk 5 minutes to Columbia Falls Farmers Market at the Coop. Hwy 2 @ 1st Avenue. 5-7:30 pm. Food and live music.

Night 3 Columbia Falls
Day 6 July 14 Friday Flathead Lake, Apgar Village, Lake McDonald
Drive 40 minutes south to Flathead Lake Bigfork - Wayfarers State Park check out the lake area we left at 11:30 because the water was too cold to swim in and there were no rocks to throw like in the rivers they like. Skip this.
Drove 45 minutes to Apgar Village threw rocks at Fish Creek Village/Picnic Area then to Lake McDonald Best Pictures!! Ice Cream and hang out at the Village a bit.
Drive 20 minutes back to Columbia Falls. Dinner at Blackslope Brewery 406-897-2850, but we grilled steaks at home.

Night 4 Columbia Falls
Day 7 July 15 Saturday Drive to East Glacier, Two Medicine area
Drive 35 minutes on Hwy 2 East towards East Glacier. Stop at a few scenic pull-offs on the way including the town of Essex and Scalplock Mountain (Didn't see this) then drive 5 minutes for a brief hike to Goat Lick Overlook (no goats for us to see)
Went straight to Two Medicine Lake. Paradise Point this was great! Stayed 2 hours while the kids dug in the sand/rocks.
Check out short hike Running Eagle Falls - .6 miles very nice.
Drive 30 minutes to VRBO... Arrive by 4pm. 406 Lindhe Avenue, East Glacier Park, MT Jason Robertson - 406 890 8142
Dinner walk to Serrano's 3 blocks away crowded so maybe find another spot as it was crowded and hot. 406-226-9392
Night 1 East Glacier would not recommend this place due to dogs barking at night.

Day 8 July 16 Sunday Saint Mary's Lake area
Drive 1-hour to St Mary's Visitor Center and take the shuttle to St. Mary Falls. Get advice and skip shuttle? Long lines..
Hike to Virginia Falls 3.6 miles round trip. Then Shuttle Back to the Visitor Center. Then drive your car back in.
Sun Point Nature Trail. Then Sunrift Gorge area to get the Perfect St. Mary's Photo you will know it when you see it.
Drive 45 minutes to Babb Bar Cattle Baron Supper Club. 406-732-4033. Res. at 6pm. 5-10 pm. Park Caf is also good.
Then drive 50 minutes back home. Night 2 East Glacier

Day 9 July 17 Monday Many Glacier, then Waterton Lakes National Park
Drive 80 minutes to Many Glacier Hotel. Call a day or two ahead and get tickets to cross Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine to save 5 miles on the Grinnel Lake Hike and Hidden Falls Hike Get the 11 am shuttle back by 2:30 or so.
Lunch at Two Sisters Caf 11 am -10pm. Then drive 1 hour to Chief Mountain Lodge 30 South Webster Ave. Mountain View, AB T0K 1N0 Call Josh Creason - 1 888 717 7770. House will be ready by 2pm. This place was the BEST place we stayed at so great! 10 minutes from Waterton NP, great views, great hospitality, great house/bed/sheets, etc.
Drive 25 minutes to the Town of Waterton. Hike Bears Hump short hike but steep and strenuous, but we skipped.
Drive down the road and see Cameron Falls then continue down past Cameron Falls until the road ends at the lake. Park and throw rocks in the side river near the bridge. Watch field of ground squirrels. Lake photos great view! Rest….
Check out Prince of Wales Hotel Park at the hotel, walk through but mostly see their amazing views! Don't miss.
Bertha Lake Hike including Lower Bertha Falls. No time for this but check out 10 Mile RT Crypt Lake best in Waterton!
Dinner at Bayshore Inn Lakeside Chophouse 403-859-2211 ext.305. Pricey but great outdoor seating.
Drive 20 minutes. Night 1 Waterton VRBO

Day 10 July 18 Tuesday Waterton Lakes NP also mywaterton.ca HIKING GUIDE HERE
Drive 15 minutes Hwy 5 West to Maskinonge Overlook for bird viewing. Drive 1 minute further Bison Paddock Loop. Both of these drives are seconds from the turn into Waterton Park quick hits with really nice views.
Drive 20 minutes Hwy 5 West/South to Red Rock Parkway West (Range Road 300A) to Red Rock Canyon Loop. Bring Swimsuit and sandals and hike up the river after you park. Lots of kids playing in the water at Red Rock Canyon.
Hike to Blakiston Falls about a -mile hike. No time for this but wow Tamarack Trail is 15 miles and looks amazing.
Drive 50 minutes to Cameron Lake - We rented kayak/canoe/paddle boat for an hour great views/pictures. DO IT!!
Dinner at Vimy's Lounge and Grill 1-888-985-6343 Reservation- 7 pm. Then drive back for Night 2 Waterton VRBO

Day 11 July 19 Wednesday Calgary, Fly home
Leave Waterton by 10:00
o Drive 60 minutes north to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump stopped in but costs time and $ to get in for museum.
o Leave by 2:00 drive 45 mins to Calgary Airport. Return Rental Car Enterprise.
o Flight at 5:41 Calgary Flight UA 1607 to Houston - arrives at 10:20 pm home by 11:30 pm.

Don't forget Bear Spray, Throat lozenges, mosquito spray, sunscreen, melatonin, walkie talkies.

Glacier is one of the best places on the planet.

That said, you're either going to have to get lucky or you should have started planning months ago. Lodging, park reservations, rental cars all fill up well advance.

Been going there for years (and headed back this summer) it's crazy how much the place has changed as far as crowds etc.

That's a hell of a trip! Lifetime memories.

East side of Glacier>West Side. Many Glacier and Two Med are incredible. Good call on Two Sister's cafe.


Make sure you hit up the Bulldog in Whitefish for the best burgers and restrooms around You can also order a BFP. 128oz pitcher of beer. I'm sure you can figure out the name.

Highly recommend the Buffalo Cafe for breakfast.

If you have time, Fairmont Hot Springs in Fairmont BC for a soak.