The Glacier Park Excursion
Featuring Going-to-the-Sun Road
7 Days | June-September
Starting At $Flexible Pricing
The highlight of any Glacier Park Excursion is riding “The Reds” with a “Jammer” over “Going-to-the-Sun Road.” This is one of World’s Most Beautiful drives. Bring your group and fly into Spokane, we will schedule an epic adventure in the shadow of the glacier carved peaks of Northern Idaho and Montana.
Highlights
Tour Highlights:
|
Tour Inclusions
|
We are happy to accommodate Groups who want to add a night or two, or further customize their trip.
StarrGroups Flexible Pricing:
- Customizable Comps
- Net Rates
- Luxury or First Class Hotels & Meals
- Motorcoach Transportation & Professional Tour Managers are available
Whatever you want, StarrGroups will be happy to structure tour prices to match your needs. Just let us know!
Itinerary
Day 1 – Spokane, WA – Guided Tour of Spokane – Bing Crosby’s House – Welcome Dinner
Arrive today in Spokane, WA. Today includes a guided tour of Spokane. Enjoy Spokane’s natural beauty, historic neighborhoods, and unique architecture along the scenic Spokane City Drive. You will also see Bing Crosby’s House. 20th Century singer and actor Harry Lillis (Bing) Crosby, a native of Spokane and alumnus of Gonzaga University. Now part of Gonzaga, Crosby’s childhood home was built in 1911 and still stands at its original location.
Then check into your area hotel for the night. A Welcome Dinner is included this evening at a local restaurant. (D)
Day 2 – Historic Wallace, Idaho – Silver Mine Tour – Kalispell, MT
First stop today is the Center of the Universe, Historic Wallace, Idaho. In 2004, the Mayor proclaimed the city of Wallace, Idaho to be the center of the universe (because it can’t be proven otherwise). Today, a manhole cover represents the exact spot of the Center of the Universe, and it is celebrated yearly by the citizens of Wallace. Enjoy time for lunch on own and shopping in downtown Wallace – the shopping in Wallace is as unique as its history.
Your time in Wallace also includes a tour of a Silver Mine. Wallace continues its 100-plus year run as the world’s largest silver producer — making it the richest mining town still in existence, and the last town entirely listed on the National Register of Historic Places! The Silver Valley is the richest silver mining district in the United States with over a billion ounces of silver mined and is one of the top three most valuable silver districts in the entire world.
This afternoon travel to Kalispell, MT where you check into your hotel for a four-night stay. Dinner is included this evening at the hotel. (B,D)
Day 3 – Full Day in Glacier National Park with Guide
Today, enjoy a full day in Glacier National Park with a local guide. Established as a National Park in 1910, it is a land of mountain ranges carved by prehistoric ice rivers. It features alpine meadows, deep forests, waterfalls, 25 glistening glaciers and 200 sparkling lakes. The vistas are breathtaking and the wildlife is abundant – it’s a photographer’s paradise.
One could say this park was built for the railroads. Who once they became trans-continental helped influence the construction of National Park Lodges to increase ridership. Once there was a hotel, they began to enhance the experience and the desire of tourists to visit. Going-to-the-Sun-Road, is a 50-mile engineering marvel that is one of the most scenic highways in the world. The park bought canvas-topped buses (so you can see the eagles soaring above) and painted them red. With a shortage of driver trained guides, the park then hired Native Americans and taught them to operate vehicles with a standard transmission drive. The driver’s quickly earned the nickname “Jammers.”
Your touring will be onboard a “Red” with a “Jammer” at the wheel and will climb over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6.646 feet). You will make many photo stops once in the interior of the Park at many of the most popular spots with names like the Iron Teepee’s, Wild Goose Island, and Jackson Glacier. Lunch will be included today while in the park.
Following a day at Glacier, return to the hotel to freshen up before dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Day 4 – Stop at Cherry Orchard – Purple Mountain Lavender Farms – Flathead Lake Cruise – Bigfork Summer Playhouse
The morning includes a stop at one of the local Cherry Orchards where you can get some of the famous cherries from the region (available July & August). The best cherries in the world come from Montana.
Next, tour the Purple Mountain Lavender Farms. Established in 2004, Purple Mountain Lavender overlooks beautiful Flathead Lake in Lakeside, Montana. This family-owned business and has over 1,500 plants and 35 varieties of lavender. They also have a gift shop where you can by lavender goods.
After an included lunch at a local restaurant, arrive at Flathead Lake for a sightseeing cruise. Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states, with over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. The southern half of Flathead Lake is within the boundary of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Flathead Reservation.
Dinner is included this evening at a local restaurant. Following dinner, enjoy a live theatre production at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. Each season, “the theater by the Bay” recruits Broadway caliber acting talent from across the country to bring their patrons the finest live professional theatre in the Northwest. Known for bringing the best of Broadway to the Rockies, the Playhouse has been bringing you Broadway caliber shows for over 50 years. (B,L,D)
Day 5 – Free Time in Whitefish, MT – Whitefish Mountain Resort Gondola Ride
Today you head to nearby Whitefish, MT for the day. Whitefish, Montana has all you’re looking for in a mountain town—a shimmering lake, high peaks, trails in every direction and a fun and funky town center.
The first stop today Whitefish Mountain Resort where you enjoy a ride on a Gondola. Sit back and enjoy the mountain scenery as well as views of Whitefish Lake, the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park on the ride to the summit. Once at the summit, enjoy 360-degree views before returning down the mountain, or spend some time at the Summit House shopping at Summit Gifts or enjoying the view with a beverage from the Summit House Bar.
Lunch is included today at a local restaurant. Enjoy an afternoon on your own in downtown Whitefish. Stroll through the quaint downtown area filled with locally-owned shops and galleries. There are also many options for dinner on own this evening. (B,L)
Day 6 – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – Lake Cruise – Coeur d’Alene Casino & Resort – Cultural Tribal Dinner
This morning you depart Kalispell and travel to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. On arrival, enjoy a Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise. You’ll hear a narration that highlights points of interest on Lake Coeur d’Alene, see wildlife, view secluded lake homes along the shore, and cruise alongside the world’s only floating golf green.
Then late afternoon check into the Coeur d’Alene Casino and Resort for the night. This 300-room luxury hotel and resort offers views of the scenic rolling Palouse hills of Northern Idaho. The resort and casino boast over 100,000 square feet of gaming space, boutiques, a spa, and a premium 18-hole golf course.
Tonight, enjoy a Cultural Tribal Dinner at the Casino. Enjoy the Coeur d’Alene Tribal storytellers, drummers and dancers and feast on traditional huckleberry salmon and sides. (B,D)
Day 7 – Cultural Workshop – Depart for Home
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy cultural workshop which will include making your own moccasins or traditional buckskin necklace.
Depart for Spokane after your workshop and begin your journey home. (B)