Just yesterday my son asked “Mom, can we go back to Montana?” Even a few months since our return, this family experience is still fresh in his head. I asked him what his favorite part was and he said “everything.” 
I had the privilege to return to Montana Memorial Day weekend for a meeting with the FTA – Family Travel Association. The meeting was held at Flathead Lake Lodge and I was fortunate enough to get to bring my family... after all, it was a meeting about family travel!
To get to Flathead you fly to Kalispell Montana which is located near Glacier National Park. The best way to describe Flathead Lake Lodge is family camp. They are open seasonally from May through the Fall. Like “camp” you stay for a week – Saturday to Saturday. Each family will have their own lodging and unit.
What I found very intriguing and unique about this particular ranch is you have the typical ranch activities – horseback riding, lessons, trail rides, steak fry wagon dinners; but you also have all of the fun activities that a lake vacations offers you. You can spend your morning horseback riding and your afternoon in a kayak or canoe. The lake also offers fun activities like boat rides and water skiing. You can be as active has you would like to be or you can spend the day poolside with a great book.
All of your meals are included. There are fabulous local breweries and a cute town and do some shopping. For day trips you could go white water rafting or visit Glacier National Park. At night sip a glass of wine around the fire pit, enjoy a smore and take in the magic of the big Montana Sky. I was fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights – bucket list check!
Flathead Lake Lodge is a special place. By day three all your worries are gone and it's just about good old fashioned family time. You feel so safe in this environment. Kids are kids and love their new found freedom of riding bikes together and just playing without screens. Joey's favorite part was building a fort with his new found best friends – and no girls were allowed!
I've always loved “outdoorsy” destination and this was no exception. If you need a week to reconnect with your family this is a very special destination to do so.
