Every now and then, it is enjoyable to go above your expectations and splurge a little. That is precisely how I would describe The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Do you need a real fancy, yet rustic hotel? A great view? Top notch food and drink options? For me, it’s a no– but I do like to indulge from time to time.

Upon driving up to the lodge, you’ll see a walking bridge over the road– that is your sign to turn. First impression when pulling up to the main entrance is more or less– wow. The size and the beauty alone reassures you that you made a wise choice booking a room here. Valet parking is available, by the lifted 2002 Impreza wagon that I was driving in has way too much power for most people to handle, so I parked it myself (insert sarcasm here).

As you walk towards the massive wooden doors, you are greeted by a very Montana entrance. There were also a few people sitting outside around a fire pit in their snowboarding gear when we arrived.

The lobby is a grand spectacle with plenty of seating to relax and a bear to take selfies with– don’t be ashamed. Being that it was January, festive decorations still took over the place. I wasn’t mad about that. They could honestly leave them up year around and they wouldn’t look out of place here.

Make your way down the stairs and you’ll find even more room to lounge around, as well as the entrance to the spa if you feel like you need more of a refreshment than what the mountains and trees provide. There was a wedding going on at the time, so I moved quickly throughout to make sure I was out of the way of everyone. Incase you were wondering, the wedding dress was pretty spot on.

As you make your way outside, you are greeted by a phenomenal view of Whitefish Lake, as well as their pool and hot tub area. At this time, the pool was closed due to temperatures. As you can see, the snow wasn’t moving very quickly.

I had stayed at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake before, and the evening was spent in the hot tub and swimming in the pool as the sun set and rain misted down over us. Sounds romantic, but it was more like bromantic since I was with my best bud.

Other than the hotel, there are also a decent amount of condos that can be rented out. You can see those to the left of the lodge.

The patio area is quite large, with seating in the warmer months. Perfect place to enjoy a drink and take in the view.

Big Mountain Ski Resort (Whitefish Mountain now) is only a short drive from The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. We cruised up there later in the evening to just scope it out. It is seriously a mini-city up there– you’ll be surprised.

After a little bit of exploration, we finally decided to go scope out our room. It was huge! Seriously, so much room for activities.

With a large king size bed, and a pretty stellar view, it was hard to even leave the room to take on the town.

The bathroom alone makes it hard to go back to a standard hotel, or even back home for that matter. Huge walk in shower..

..and the bathtub is guaranteed to contain you until you’re a prune.

To get back to the main section of the hotel, we had to cross that foot bridge that I mentioned earlier. You may have to walk up it, but on the way back to the room the angle would be perfect for a saucer sled– just saying ( hint, hint management).

We decided to go check out the lounge for some drinks, since we had already mowed down an entire large pizza from MacKenzie River Pizza Co. earlier that night.

However– we didn’t make reservations, and their was a wedding party and plenty of skiers there, we were put on a wait list. No worries, I’ve had to wait in much worse lobbies than this in my travels.

After about 15 minutes, we found ourselves seated in the Boat Club– the lounge portion of the Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

Live music from a local serenaded our ears, as their signature cocktails entertained our tastebuds. From originals to his spin on covers, it was highly entertaining and worth some laughs.

The drinks were priced as expected for a tourist town resort, as well as quality. I’ve payed far more for the same items in large cities. Drinks didn’t stop there, but I deemed photos to no longer be necessary at this point. With the music flowing, it was time to sit back and relax.

Being that we had to be up very early to catch the train in the morning– we retired at a respectable time. Being on the road by 7am, however, allowed me to take the long way home to get in an early morning dosage of nature. Stay tuned for more of those photos of my trek down the Swan Valley.

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake provides a phenomenal stay. Whether you are looking to take on the mountain or just looking for a relaxing place to crash for the night– this is worth it. The summer provides you a great lake for recreation, with plenty of hiking trails and Glacier National Park nearby. The winter provides nearby skiing, and a frozen lake to take that long walk on– no beach required.

Depending on when you decide to stay, room rates will vary. I’ve stayed in a massive room that had a lake view deck and a full kitchen for a little over $300 before, and their basic room this time around cost just under $140 when it was all said and done. As you can see though– a basic room isn’t basic at all.

In an ode to the grand lodges of yesteryear, the Lodge at Whitefish Lake has captured that essence and mixed it in with modern amenities for a truly endearing experience.

•Free valet parking

•Lakefront location

•Wi-Fi in every room

•A walking path 1 mile into downtown

•Indoor & Outdoor Pools & Hot Tubs

•Fitness Center

•Spa

•Great food & drinks

•Equally great view

•Free shuttle to Big Mountain to ski

•Summer access to private beach & marina use

•99 rooms / 23 condos

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

1380 Wisconsin Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937

(406) 863-4000

lodgeatwhitefishlake.com

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