There are many opportunities for family fun in Whitefish, Montana. Indoor and outdoor attractions provide fun for all ages. Summer is a very busy season so be sure to plan ahead for lodging and tours.
Full-day
Glacier National Park
Exploring Glacier National Park is a must! Start off with a visit to the park's Discovery Cabin.
Stop in with children to view skins and skulls and try to complete tasks at the education stations set up in the cabin. Get the “Day hikes” newspaper and choose a short hike to go on. Popular hikes for children include: Trail of the Cedars, the Rocky Point Trail, Oxbow Trail, sections of the John's Lake Loop, Avalanche Lake, Hidden Lake Nature Trail, Barring Falls, Swift Current Nature Trail, and Running Eagle Falls at Two Medicine. Rent a boat or canoe at Apgar, Two Medicine or Many Glacier.
Glacier Institute
Drop the kids off at Glacier Institute, while you enjoy a day of fishing on the North Fork. Discovery School at Glacier Institute is a hands-on, field based outdoor education program designed for K-12th grade students. Day programs are $9 per child.
Apgar Village
Camp at Apgar Village, where children can bicycle or hike along the bike path to West Glacier. Apgar Village has all the amenities you will need while camping in Glacier National Park. Don't miss huckleberry ice cream cones for the kids!
Half-day
Whitewater Rafting and Scenic Float Trips
Enjoy a paddle on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River along the southwestern boundary of Glacier National Park. The rapids are rated class II and III, which makes it a fun and splashy adventure. This is an amazing way to enjoy the peaks of Glacier, while staying cool on those hot summer days.
Horseback Rides
Kids love horseback riding through Glacier National Park. Guided horseback rides are available inside the park at Many Glacier, Lake McDonald, and Apgar.
Glacier National Park Junior Ranger Program
Pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at one of the park visitor centers or ranger stations, have children complete the activities, go back to the visitor center for a ranger to check the answers and award the children with Glacier Junior Ranger badges.
Big Sky Waterslide
Big Sky Waterslides offers enjoyment for the entire family. The park features a wading pool and a mini-slide for younger children, larger straight slides for kids too big for the wading pool, and giant slides with twists and turns for the older slider. There is also a river ride with inner tubes offering even more fun and enjoyment.
Amazing Fun Center
The Amazing Fun Center is a great place to stop by for some active family fun while you're visiting the Glacier Park area. Go Carts, Glacier Maze, Mini Golf, Bumper Boats and Bankshot Basketball - the kids will love it!
Huckleberry Picking
Kids will love hunting for Montana huckleberries. The Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort could be one of the easiest places to find these delicious jems. Arm yourself with a bucket and climb the hillsides to find the "mother lodes"!
Zip Line Tour at Whitefish Mountain Resort
Strap on a harness, click into your custom built cable trolley, and get ready for some side by side zipping action. This 2 to 3 hour tour takes you through the forest with some amazing views of Flathead valley.
Mountain Biking
One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the surrounding area is cruising along the miles of cross country and lift-accessed mountain bike trails at Whitefish Mountain Resort. The Whitefish Trail from downtown Whitefish offers miles of family friendly biking.
Under 1 hour
Montana Vortex and House of Mystery
The famous "House of Mystery" is a crooked shack that sits right in the center of our smallest and most dynamic vortex. Built in 1970 as an attraction, the slanted walls and floors inside the house accentuate the power of the vortex and will provide you with lots of laughs and family fun as you explore and experience this unique energy field.
Alpine Slide at Whitefish Mountain Resort
Grab a sled and race down the Alpine Slide track, controlling your speed through straight-aways and around banked curves. The Alpine Slide is fun for all ages.
Beach Fun
Whitefish Lake city beach and Les Mason State Park in Whitefish offer lots of beach fun for the kids. Take a lounge chair or beach towel and bask in the summer sun while taking in breathtaking views.
Dave Olseth Memorial Skatepark
Located in the Armory Park in Whitefish the Dave Olseth Memorial Skatepark was built in 2005 and offers 15,000 square feet of free fun for the kids.
Riverside Park in Whitefish
Head to the city park to play on the swings, slides and more. Right in downtown Whitefish.
Entertainment/Evening
Flathead Lake Boat Tour
Framed by spectacular mountains, Flathead Lake is a picturesque setting unrivalled in North America. The best way to appreciate this natural landscape is to see it from the water of the largest natural fresh water lake west of the Great Lakes. Evening tours start at 7pm and are free for kids under 6.
Kid Friendly Restaurants in Whitefish
Whitefish is filled with many great places to eat. Family friendly establishments include: MacKenzie River Pizza, Haskill Station, Craggy Range, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake and Mambo Italiano.
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