Distinctly Montana Magazine

HOW MUCH CAN YOU DO IN A LONG SUMMER'S DAY? ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN SCHOTT GOLF WHITEFISH SUNRISE: 5:36 AM – TEE OFF I That's right, we're tee- ing off at sunrise, first on the course. The 36-hole WHITEFISH LAKE GOLF CLUB course offers fabulous mountain and lake views. Every year, Whitefish con- tinues to become better known as an incredible and affordable golf desti- nation and has been rated one of the "50 Greatest Golf Destinations in the World" by Golf Digest. The fairways are lined by magnificent pine and birch trees. The log clubhouse was built in the 1930s from logs harvested from the property and houses one of the best res- taurants in the valley along with a fully stocked golf shop. YOU GOTTA EAT 7 AM: BREAKFAST AT LOULA'S When a PBS film crew recently spent a week in White- fish, the star of the show was not the dramatic scenery—it was the extraordinary dining and food experience made possible by local farmers and chefs working together. "The 78 town. So when the editor of this magazine asked me to detail an insider's guide to Whitefish in summer, it got me thinking—how much could you pack into one day? With more than 16 hours of daylight—and plenty to do in the dark—here's a look at a wild 24 hours in Whitefish. n the media consulting work I do for the Whitefish Conven- tion & Visitors Bureau, I have the fun task of putting press trip itineraries together for travel writers who visit the Endless Feast" aired on PBS stations nationwide. After our nine holes, we've eaten Lemon Stuffed French toast with raspberry sauce and Eggs Benedict with white truffle oil. We're crazy—so we topped it off with some of Loula's famous Huckleberry pie. WHITEFISH LAKE 8 AM: RENT A BOAT FROM THE LODGE AT WHITEFISH LAKE Nestled at the edge of Whitefish, the lake is all that remains of an ice age glacier that flowed across the area. Today the lake is great for water sports. After renting a power boat from the marina (they offer canoes and sea kayaks too), we cruise around to the three primary public access points. City Beach is sandy, with a large roped swimming area. Les Mason State Park is on the quieter, wilder northeast side of Whitefish Lake. And Whitefish Lake State Park provides a picnic area, camping sites, swimming area, and a boat launch on the undeveloped western shore. We even jump in for a quick water ski session before docking the boat. DISTINCTLY MONTANA • SUMMER 2012

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