Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
hotel built by the Great Northern Railway and dates to 1910. It was fully restored in 2000
and is a National Historic Landmark. Guests can experience a piece of history while en-
joying modern amenities. All 25 guest rooms come with a queen bed and are beautifully
furnished with antiques. The two cabins on the grounds each have three bedrooms to ac-
commodate up to six people in cozy comfort. Although the lodge is mostly closed dur-
ing the winter season, the cabins are available to rent throughout the year. The hotel does
not provide TVs, phones, or air-conditioning, as they can detract from the natural setting.
The lodge is immediately adjacent to both the highway and the train tracks, so silence is
not possible. There is a spa on-site, a fabulous restaurant offering innovative and satisfy-
ing meals, and a fully stocked taproom that specializes in Montana brews. You can enjoy
a good book in the lobby's reading area, or curl up by the large stone fireplace. The in-
credibly friendly staff even offer wake-up calls for northern lights and bear sightings. For
an elegant-beyond-compare vacation rental—complete with full kitchen, Wi-Fi, and flat-
screen TV—the Belton's beautifully restored Adobe House is available off-site ($250-395
nightly with minimum stays required in high season and four-wheel drive necessary in low
season).
SPONTANEOUS GLACIER: HOW TO PLAN A LAST-MINUTE TRIP
Rooms in Glacier's historic lodges and chalets can already be full up to a year ahead,
but spontaneous travelers are not necessarily out of luck. Last-minute cancellations
and room openings are possible and well worth a couple of phone calls.
Glacier
Park Inc.
(406/892-2525,
www.glacierparkinc.com
)
is the park's concessionaire and
booking service for the Village Inn Motel, Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun Mo-
tor Inn, St. Mary Lodge, Glacier Park Lodge, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Many Glacier
Hotel, and the Prince of Wales Hotel. Call and ask specifically for cancellations. You
may have better luck if you are open to whatever they have to offer, but you just may
luck out and get the property you were hoping for. Being flexible with your dates
helps.
The
Apgar Village Lodge
(406/888-5484,
www.westglacier.com
)
near Lake
McDonald is another possibility. For visitors willing to hike in to their accommod-
ations, the rustic
Sperry Chalet
(888/345-2649,
www.sperrychalet.com
,
from $202
pp) and
Granite Park Chalet
(888/345-2649,
www.graniteparkchalet.com
, $98 s,
