Going to Glacier National Park late August this year.

[we can do it]

Flying into Kallispell. We will be staying at Village Inn at Apgar first 2 nights, then Rising Sun one night, then 3 nights at Swiftcurrent motor inn. Staying somewhere near airport night before we come home, not sure which one yet. Any tips on food, hikes (want to do Highline trail, but have some issues with heights), anything you might want to share.

[Major Nikon]

1. It's been a few years since I've been there

We took a guided boat trip to the other side of Lake McDonald and thought that was well worth it. The hiking is awesome on all the trails we trekked although I don't remember which ones they were. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a bad one. The whole area is amazing. Canoeing and kayaking are also awesome in the smaller lakes, but it's probably too cold for that right now. I don't remember much about the food in Kalispell. We mainly just ate breakfast at some random cafe and packed food for the rest of the day. Our trip wasn't well planned. A buddy of mine called me up one day and offered to pay for the fuel if I'd fly him to Polson, so I took my daughter and we visited the park for a few days. It probably would have been better had I planned more, but we pretty much just showed up and it still was a great time. I'd like to go back someday.

One thing I remember about the park is it wasn't at all crowded like many other national parks. The roads were a little congested as many people like to just drive through, but the park itself is quite nice. You do see other people often on the trails, but they aren't too busy and if I remember correctly we were there sometime close to peak season.

[we can do it]

2. Thank you, we can't wait.

Usually we pack our lunches, too so we don't waste time when there's that much to see. I also like to make coffee early in our room and have granola and yogurt or something like that while going over the day's plan. Dinner usually at a restaurant.

Hoping to get some awesome pictures while we are there.

[Staph]

3. My father grew up in Cut Bank, Montana, about 50 miles from the Park.

We used to go west to visit relatives about every other year. My suggestions:

• Day hike everywhere. There's a ranger station in Apgar Village, where you can maps and loads of advice.
  
• Take the boat tour of Lake McDonald. Lovely!
  
• Visit the various lodges. They are an old style of architecture that no one makes any more, because those massive logs simply aren't available any more. The food in the lodges is okay, nothing to write home about, but it might be worth it just for the experience.
  
• Go to Eddie's Cafe in Apgar and have huckleberry ice cream. Trust me!
  
• I've never done it, but I'm told that the old-fashioned bus rides over Going To The Sun highway is amazing. I've driven it myself many times, but never done the tour in the soft-topped bus.
  
• You might want to wander over to Browning, just east of the park on US 2, to see the Museum of the Plains Indians. It's run by the Blackfoot, whose reservation is the vast plains to the east.
  
• One of my family's favorite things is a quick stop at the Amazing Fun Center, in Coram, west of the park on the way to Kalispell. Their two-story maze is just a hoot!
  
• Also on US 2, on the park's southern border is the town of Essex, which used to be the point where the trains headed east and west picked up or dropped off extra engines to make it over the Continental Divide. There is an interesting hotel there, the Izaak Walton Inn, that was once the hotel for the train crews. They have a nice but pricy restaurant, and a great collection of engines and cabooses. Worth the stop!
  
• Check out the website ( http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm ) for much more information, including road and trail status. I know, you're going in August. About five years ago, we crossed Logan Pass on July 6, about three days after the last of the snow was plowed and the pass finally opened for the year.
  
• Be prepared for any kind of weather. I've been to this area of Montana in the months of May, June, July, August, September and November. I've seen it snow in Montana in the months of May, June, July, August, September and November. You have been warned.
  

[we can do it]

4. Great advice!

We plan on lots of hikes and are definitely doing the boat tour that includes the hike to Grinell Glacier. Thinking about the red bus tour. And would not miss touring the old lodges- we do that everytime we visit the national parks.

[Staph]

5. Doh! I forgot one of the best things!

Goat Lick! It's on US 2, along the southern border of the park. There's a massive cliff face, where water seeps out and carries minerals to the surface. The Rocky Mountain goats come from miles around, to leap down the cliffside onto the tiniest of outcropping, in order to get at the salt. The best time is near dusk, but you may see the goats at any time of day.

The NPS put together a PDF with the details -- http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/goatlick06.pdf -- enjoy! I wish I was going this year!

[we can do it]

6. Oh that sounds totally cool! Those goats are so cute!

(I know, don't approach wild animals...)