Located in the northwest corner of Montana and spilling over into Canada, Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park is more than a million acres of spectacular scenery, Class One air quality, and a stunning array of wildlife. There are thirty-seven glaciers in the park, all but one of which are expected to disappear by the year 2030. The list of family-friendly activities and attractions in Glacier is endless. Even after a full week's vacation, we couldn't cover them all. There are, however, three attractions in Glacier National Park that every visitor should experience:

# 1 - Going-to-the-Sun Road
Completed in the 1930's and built at the cost of three million dollars, this fifty-two mile stretch of road took twenty years to construct and is considered one of the top five most beautiful drives in the U.S. An engineering and scenic marvel, I found it to be one of the easiest mountain roads to drive, affording awesome views as it cuts across the park and over the Continental Divide. The drive takes about two hours non-stop but drivers should allow an extra hour or two for photo stops and snowball fights in the sunshine. Midway through the ride is Logan Pass, sitting astride the Continental Divide. There you will find a visitors center with bathroom facilities but no food concession so bring water and a picnic lunch if you plan to linger along the road. Be aware that the weather changes on the other side of the Divide. Dress in layers and come prepared with raingear and sweaters.

#2 - Hike to the Grinnell Glacier
This day trip, via vintage wooden boat and on foot, offers an up-close look at Grinnell Glacier. Hikers will see crevasses, fissures, snow bridges, and ice caves. The day we hiked was full of sunshine and the alpine meadows were bursting with wildflowers. Many hikers, including families with young children, stopped to cool off in the numerous waterfalls lining the trail. The full day hike takes about four or five hours. Bring along a picnic lunch and ample water. The first half hour of the hike is the most difficult, as you ascend the mountain face via a series of switchbacks. After that the trail levels off. A ranger naturalist guide leads the hike every morning starting at 8:30am at the Swiftcurrent Lake boat dock of the Many Glacier Hotel. Arrive early to get a seat on the boat. Better yet, reserve it the day before. We enjoyed the hike so much we did it a second time during our week's vacation at the park.

#3 - Imbibe in a Huckleberry Daiquiri
This delightful concoction will slither down your throat after a hard day's hike. And for the kids, there is the Huckleberry Shake. The huckleberries turn up everywhere - on your pancakes, in your desserts, and even on top of an after-dinner brandy. You can even buy huckleberry hand lotion.

Time permitting; there are several other activities I recommend during your visit:

Hike the Logan Pass area.
Behind the Visitors Center is a boardwalk spanning alpine meadows. When we hiked it, the boardwalk was covered with snow, which made it quite interesting. It is about an hour's hike to the top, where you will find a viewpoint and a resident family of mountain goats. Great photo opportunity! We got a little too close to the goats and the Daddy goat let me know that with a lot of huffing and puffing, in addition to a steely gaze in his eyes. This is the most popular hike in the park, so expect some crowds.

Hang Around the Lake McDonald Area
This beautiful large lake offers many activities, lovely scenery, lots of shops, and historical lodges.

Check Out The Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
Located on the east side of the park, the area offers some restaurants and shops. Festivals are sometimes held in the summer. Further south is Two Medicine Valley, an area used for vision quests by the Blackfeet. We were told it was a great hiking area but the roads were inaccessible at the time due to a forest fire.

Waterton National Park
On the Canadian side is a pretty park with a quaint town and lakeside hikes. We did not spend much time there since we preferred the mountain hikes at Glacier.

There are many types of accommodations in Glacier National Park including about a half dozen historic hotels. We stayed at the Many Glacier Hotel, which is in a remote scenic location on the east side of the park. The hotel was charming, with a warm and inviting lobby. In keeping with the historic atmosphere there is no air-conditioning, TV or elevators. Our room was on the 4th floor so we got our aerobic exercise several times each day. We were happy with our choice. There is one drawback: The hotel has only one restaurant and a small café for sandwiches and salads adjoining the bar so there is no place for really "cheap eats." Many Glacier does have other advantages. It is a safe place for your children to roam. It is easy to make friends at the lodge, the gift shop offers a wide selection of items, and there are lots of boating and hiking activities from morning to night. Be prepared for mosquitoes. They can be ferocious at this lakeside location.

For information on Glacier National Park and hotel accommodations within the park visit www.glacierparkinc.com or call 406-892-2525. Hurry up and get there before the glaciers disappear!

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