FLATHEAD LAKE, MONTANA
Flathead Lake is one of the cooler lakes have have visited in my years of travel.  The real selling point of the beauty is the fact that you can do so much in and around the lake.  Spend a lazy day picnicking in one of the many State Parks along the lake or take advantage of the many water sports.  Swimming, sailing, kayaking, fishing are just a few of the good times waiting at Flathead Lake.

Flathead Lake is the largest lake in the western U.S. and the largest lake in Montana.  Set against the backdrop of Glacier National Park, this picturesque lake is one of the cleanest in the world.  Anyone who sets eyes on Flathead will agree that one could spend weeks or the rest of their life in the Flathead Valley of Montana.
 

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Glacier National Park is one of the most recognizable names in the National Park system.  It is the jewel of Montana and on most folks must see list.  Glacier encompasses 1,600 square miles with 130 lakes and over 700 miles of hiking trails.  There is even a mile and a half trail that allows dogs, which is unusually in the National Parks system. 

One of the highlights in Glacier National Park is the Drive to the Sun, a 53 mile scenic drive across the park.  The road is a National Historic Landmark and a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.  The Drive to the Sun is closed in winter, only opening after six or more weeks of plowing in the spring.  In fact, when I did the drive in mid June only 16 miles on the west end of the park where open.  It sounds like a lot of time to plow a mere 53 miles but up to 80 feet of snow accumulates on Logan Pass during the winter.  Typically the Drive to the Sun is open June-October.

Additional Information
Fees:   $25 per vehicle (good for 7 days)
13 campgrounds
730 miles of hiking trails
established in 1910 (10th National Park created)