Guide to the Flathead Valley!

Welcome to the Flathead Valley!

The Flathead Can't Wait to Welcome You!

By now, I am sure you have realized that you have arrived in a very special place! Montana is a unique, wild, beautiful state and I am glad you are here. I have the pleasure of living in the Flathead Valley and love introducing others to this amazing area I would be more than happy to assist you in getting comfortable in the valley and learning what this area can offer you Whether you are looking for a great coffee shop, a spot for dinner, idea for an adventure or if you’re looking into real estate, I’m more than happy to help!

Should you have any questions or want to learn more about our community, I’d love to tell you more.

f you decide that you are interested in making Montana home, I’d be more than happy to introduce you to some local lenders and share some local listings. It’s a pleasure to meet you and I hope you enjoy your time in the Flathead!

-Brittney Osborne

The Flathead Valley

The Flathead Valley is a broad term used to encompass several uniquely beautiful communities Flathead Lake, located at the center of the valley, is the largest freshwater lake West of the Mississippi with over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of stunning shoreline. The crystal clear blue waters are absolutely spectacular and the varying terrain and views are breathtaking any time of year. Boaters, skiers, fisherman and sailors alike can find adventure and recreation on the water. Along the shores of Flathead lie several communities Polson, at the south end of the lake, Lakeside along the West and Bigfork along the East shore. North of the lake are Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish surrounded by Montana’s rugged Rocky Mountains. Many recreational opportunities exist in the Flathead. Whether you want to hike, bike, fish, hunt, ski, snowboard, boat, be in nature, or just relax, I am sure there is something for you!

Population of Montana : 1 1 million

Population of Flathead County : 108,454

Elevation of Flathead Lake : 2,894 feet

Elevation of Whitefish Mountain Summit : 6,817

Things to do in the Flathead Valley

Enjoy Glacier National Park

Less than an hour away from the heart of the Flathead Valley, Glacier National Park is a must-see for everyone. Also known as the “Crown of the Continent”, Glacier National Park is quite possibly one of the most stunning landscapes in the country Rocky peaks, crystal clear streams and lush hillsides grab your attention Only have half a day? Check out Lake McDonald Lodge, grab a Huckleberry ice cream cone in Apgar Village, and walk the Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail If you have more time, check out the famous Going to the Sun Road, visit East Glacier, or enjoy a hike at Logan’s Pass. Visiting late in the year? Take in the beautiful fall foliage and brisk Montana air

Shop and Dine in Whitefish

Whitefish, known for its world renowned ski resort, Whitefish Mountain Resort, is a quaint yet lively summer and winter town. It’s covered main street is home to a variety of shops, antique stores, fantastic restaurants and nightlife Just a short drive from downtown sits Whitefish Lake, another beautiful local attraction Summer days spent on the water are best concluded by a delicious meal downtown with a craft cocktail or local brew Whitefish Mountain Resort is also only a short drive out of town Winter activities abound in this Northwest corner of Montana paradise.

Explore Bigfork

Sitting right on the peaceful bay where the Swan River meets Flathead Lake, Bigfork is a darling community right out of a Hallmark movie. Named “One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns” in the nation, this community truly appreciates the arts, as evidenced by numerous galleries, shops featuring handcrafted goods and jewelry as well as the Bigfork Summer Playhouse Downtown Bigfork offers diverse eateries and classic watering holes If you visit Bigfork in the summer, take a drive along the East shore of Flathead Lake and sample some famous, locally grown Flathead Cherries!

Play on Flathead Lake

The largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi (roughly 30 miles long and 15 miles wide!), Flathead Lake is a blast to explore. Rent a boat, kayak, jet-ski or paddle board and play all day on the lake! Interested in catching fish? Let a local guide lead you to a trophy Lake Trout or Whitefish For those looking for an adventure, Wild Horse Island, in the middle of Flathead Lake, makes for a beautiful picnic spot or hiking destination While on the island, you may be granted the opportunity to view the wild horses, bighorn sheep or even a black bear. Conclude your day on the water at one of the local lake-side restaurants; watch the sun set as you reminisce on the fun times had

B I G F O R K

S U M M E R

P L A Y H O U S E

The Best Shows in Montana.

S W A N M O U N T A I N

O U T F I T T E R S

Horseback adventures through the unspoiled and awe-inspiring national treasure that is Glacier National Park.

G L A C I E R R A F T C O M P A N Y

Glacier Raft Company is Montana’s longest running and most experienced Glacier National Park rafting company

A L P I N E T H E A T R E P R O J E C T

Theatre in Whitefish featuring actors from Broadway Presenting plays, musical theatre, and concerts.

D O G S L E D A D V E N T U R E S

One of life’s great adventures; cruising the back country of northwest Montana pulled by Alaskan sled dogs.

Where local farmers and craftsmen showcase their products Live music, prepared food, and the season's freshest products are featured

W H I T E F I S H F A R M E R ' S M A R K E T

W E S T E R N

O U T D O O R

Annual Events in the Flathead Valley

T H E E V E N T A T R E B E C C A F A R M S

The Event at Rebecca Farm is a worldclass, community-oriented event. Competitors compete in the three main disciplines of eventing: dressage, crosscountry, and show jumping.

U N D E R T H E B I G

S K Y F E S T I V A L

Music festival, rodeo and roundup under Montana’s famous Big Sky! Under The Big Sky showcases the very best in Americana, folk, alt-country and rock across two beautiful stages

S K I - J O R I N G

Ski Joring is a sport that combines an interesting mix of two of Montana’s favorites: horses and skiing The public is invited to check out the continued revival of ski joring at the Whitefish Winter Carnival.

B I G F O R K R O D E O

A professional rodeo in the beautiful town of Bigfork, Montana during the best time of year!

N O R T H W E S T M O N T A N A F A I R

The NW Montana Fair & Rodeo comes alive each year in August featuring three nights of PRCA rodeo action, a concert, exciting carnival rides, and fabulous fair food

W H I T E F I S H W O O D Y W E E K E N D

Whitefish Woody Weekend is one of the premier classic boat events featuring classic wood boats from all over the Pacific Northwest, California and Canada.

W H I T E F I S H

W I N T E R C A R N I V A L

D R A G O N B O A T

F E S T I V A L

Powered by teams of 20 people, 46-footlong Hong Kong-style dragon boats coast through the fresh waters of Flathead Lake

F L A T H E A D C H E R R Y F E S T I V A L

The Polson Main Street Flathead Cherry Festival is full of fun activities for the whole family from pie-eating contests to pitspitting Shop from vendors and enjoy the local hospitality.

HUCKLEBERRY PICKING MAKES FOR A GREAT KIDFRIENDLY ADVENTURE

Places to Eat in the Flathead Valley

Breakfast and Brunch

Somers Bay Cafe | 47 Somers Road, Somers

The Somers Bay Cafe is located in the old Somers State Bank building, built in 1905. The Cafe is a mini-museum of old Somers, displaying historical photos and artifacts on the walls and serving classic breakfast and lunch.

Echo Lake Cafe | 1195 Montana Highway 83, Bigfork

Echo Lake Cafe is an iconic Breakfast & Lunch restaurant, located in beautiful Bigfork, MT This family owned and operated restaurant has been serving fresh, homemade food since 1960

Pocketstone Cafe | 444 Electric Avenue, Bigfork

Hearty American breakfast & lunch fare is served with coffee drinks in a simple, homey setting

Farmhouse Inn and Kitchen | 28 Lupfer Avenue, Whitefish

Enjoy an organic breakfast or lunch in a farm to table style café where meals are prepared from scratch and ingredients are from local farms

Three Forks Grille | 729 Nucleus Avenue, Columbia Falls

Providing dishes that combine Montana grown products and Mediterranean ingredients fusing traditional and contemporary trends. With a focus on fresh, local ingredients visitors will find a a cozy atmosphere and a menu that is seasonal and delicious

Lunch

Tamarack Brewing Company | 105 Blacktail Road, Lakeside

Casual alehouse with soaring ceilings & a creek-side patio, serving pub grub & beer brewed in-house.

BonellI’s Bistro | 38 1st Avenue East Suite C, Kalispell

Vibrant counter serve featuring Italian breakfast & lunch eats such as egg wraps, pasta & panini.

Backslope Brewing | 1107 9th Street West, Columbia Falls

The food is an array of tastes, textures and inspired combinations that will make it difficult to find a favorite and entice you to return again and again

Farmhouse Inn and Kitchen | 28 Lupfer Avenue, Whitefish

Enjoy an organic breakfast or lunch in a farm to table style café where meals are prepared from scratch and ingredients are from local farms.

Moose’s Saloon | 173 N Main Street, Kalispell

Guests carve their names into the rustic booths of this hangout, which offers pizza & draft beer Moose’s saloon has been serving legendary pizza for over 60 years!

Desoto Grill | 227 1st St W, Kalispell

BBQ food, sandwiches & Montana craft brews in an upbeat restaurant with a rockabilly vibe

Dinner

Sake to Me | 459 Electric Avenue, Suite I, Bigfork

Flathead Valley’s favorite sushi! Sustainably and creativity have always been at the top of SakeTome’s priorities, and in the seafood business, a reverence for the ocean is of utmost importance

Whitefish Lake Restaurant | 1200 US-93 N, Whitefish

The Flathead's best food, service and dining experience. Sensational steaks, seafood and house specialties await you in the historic 75-year old log clubhouse Enjoy a martini menu and wine list!

Tupelo Grille | 17 Central Avenue, Whitefish

Tupelo specializes in thoughtfully prepared Southern cuisine, offering fresh seafood, grilled steaks and signature pastas, alongside an innovative, yet familiar cocktail program and an award-winning wine list

Mercantile Steak | 30 2nd Steet East, Kalispell

Located in the historic KM Building, Mercantile Steak brings a classic dining experience to downtown Kalispell The menu is an instant classic anchored around top-grade aged beef, chops, and fresh fish daily

Gunsight Saloon | 624 Nucleus Avenue, Columbia Falls

With casual bar food, twenty beers on draft, a small wine and cocktail selection, and live music several days a week, Gunsight is the place to pitstop for a drink or hang out for the afternoon

Dinner

Harbor Grille | 7135 US-93, Lakeside

Harbor Grille offers a rare opportunity for waterfront dining on one of America’s most pristine and picturesque lakes Enjoy casual American cuisine, cocktails, live music, hard-to-beat views on their large patio

Beargrass Bistro | 306 Stoner Loop, Lakeside

Offering a unique farm-to-table dining experience, Beargrass Bistro serves upscale cuisine with local flair, thoughtfully prepared in Lakeside

KM Bar | 29 3rd Street East, Kalispell

American gastro-pub with a rotating seasonal menu offering small bites, grilled steaks and seasonal vegetable dishes The bar is stocked with offerings from local and regional distilleries, breweries, and cider houses

Boat Club Restaurant and Bar | 1380 Wisconsin Avenue, Whitefish, Enjoy a spectacular meal at the Restaurant featuring steaks, seafood and regional specialties or revel in the upbeat atmosphere of the Boat Club Bar, offering menu service, a full-service bar, and live music!

Jalisco Cantina | 510 Wisconsin Avenue, Whitefish

Jalisco Cantina’s scratch kitchen offers creative and delicious fresh food choices that pair wonderfully with some of the finest tequila and handcrafted cocktails available.

Snacks and Treats

M&S Meats | 23691 US-93, Rollins

M&S Meats offers many different kinds of delicious meat made from buffalo, beef, and elk.

Sweet Peaks | 343 S Main Street, Kalispell & 419 East 3rd Street, Whitefish

Carefully crafted ice cream and sorbets from Whitefish, Montana using Montana dairy and a selection of quality ingredients from the mountains.

Norm's News | 34 South Main Street, Kalispell

The Flathead Valley’s only old fashioned soda fountain

Fleur Bake Shop | 103 Central Avenue, Whitefish

Nestled in beautiful downtown Whitefish, with a focus on local and high quality ingredients, Fleur Bake Shop offers French-style pastries, specialty cakes, breads, macarons, small plates, espresso and more

Ceres Bakery | 318 South Main Street, Kalispell

Ceres proudly serves fresh pastries, breads, gorgeous cakes, and rich coffee Talented bakers bring you the best flavor combinations, and experienced baristas to get the crema on your coffee just right

Amazing Crepes | 123 Central Ave, Whitefish

Cafe preparing sweet & savory crepes & espresso drinks in a low-key space decorated with artwork

Drinks

Sacred Waters Brewing | 3250 US Highway 2 E, Kalispell

Beer goes well with music

Big Mountain Cider Works | 1051 Old Reserve Drive, Kalispell

Hard Crafted Hard Cider.

Spotted Bear Spirits | 503 Railway Street, Whitefish

Distillery inspired by Montana’s wild places and with a lineup of spirits that reflects the rugged landscape with heart & soul

Tamarack Brewing Company | 105 Blacktail Road, Lakeside

Tamarack brewery and pub house is nestled at the base of Blacktail Mountain and along the shores of beautiful Flathead Lake, making it the perfect habitat to brew great craft beer Relax with a beer and a burger on our creekside patio or sit by the fireplace aprés a day on the slopes

Bonfire | 15300 Mt Hwy 35, Bigfork

Eat. Drink. Gather.

Red Room Lounge | 147 Central Ave, Whitefish

Comfortably packaged in the downstairs area of Latitude 48

Let the relaxed vibe of Red Room Whitefish make your evening complete.

Misc. Area Information

Parks in the Flathead Valley

While in the Flathead, what better way to enjoy Big Sky Country than getting outside and taking in the sights, scenery and fresh air that Montana is famous for?! While Flathead and Lake counties have several neighborhood parks, dog parks and county parks, some uniquely beautiful parks that offer stunning views, river-frontage or even docks and boat launches are listed below. Let me know which one becomes your favorite!

Lone Pine State Park - 300 Lone Pine Road, Kalispell

Wayfarers State Park - 8600 MT-35, Bigfork

Finley Point State Park - 31453 South Finley Point Road, Polson

River’s Edge Park - 501 4th Avenue East, Columbia Falls

Whitefish Lake State Park - 1615 West Lakeshore Drive, Whitefish

Healthcare in the Flathead Valley

While hospitals are the last thing we want to think or worry about, especially while on vacation, knowing where to find great care is crucial Whether you’re on the North or South end of the Flathead Valley, there are qualified hospitals with a wide range of care offerings and specialties.

Logan Health - Kalispell | (406) 752-5111 | 310 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell

Logan Health - Whitefish | (406) 863-3500 | 1600 Hospital Way, Whitefish

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center | (406) 883-5680 | 6 13th Avenue East, Polson

Schools in the Flathead Valley

The Flathead Valley is home to several schooling options. Below is a brief overview of some of the Public school offerings.

Kalispell - Various Districts - Offering K-12

Bigfork - District 28 - Offering K-12

Columbia Falls - Districts 2 & 6 - Offering K-12

Lakeside/Somers - District 29 - Offering K-8

Whitefish - District 44 - Offering K-12

Polson - District 23 - Offering K-12

Many of the small communities throughout the Valley offer K-8 education and the cities of Kalispell, Bigfork, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Polson offer high school education In addition to public school offerings, there are also private school options throughout the Valley

Make Montana Home

Flathead Valley Real Estate Services

Should you fall in love with the Flathead Valley and decide to consider making Montana home, I would be glad to help you navigate the local real estate market and provide you with the necessary tools to be equipped for a smooth transaction

Engel & Völkers' mobile real estate app, EVInsider, lets you search listings and connect with me anytime and anywhere from the palm of your hands If you would like to use this app to search local listings and browse available properties, let me know and I can get you set up!

If you are in the area and would like to view our local or regional real estate or lifestyle publications, give me a call and I would be glad to provide you with the latest issues! You can see local listings and read about seasonal happenings

Engel & Völkers Western Frontier is the Flathead Valley's premier real estate brokerage, with shops in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Polson and beyond

Get To Know Your Advisor

As a fifth generation Osborne in the housing industry, Brittney has real estate in her blood Many childhood days consisted of walking construction sites and model homes, working in her father’s office, witnessing the housing industry first-hand and learning invaluable business lessons She then honed her skills at the University of Montana, earning a Bachelor’s degree in business marketing and a minor in communication studies

She is confident in her marketing skills to execute a creative marketing plan for every unique property Individual client needs and exceptional customer service are among Brittney’s top priorities in every transaction. She has an eye for detail with advertising and the presentation of properties, from listing to closing With her extensive history in real estate and skills developed at the University of Montana, Brittney is set apart from the rest In 2021, Brittney furthered her education and professionalism by earning her Real Estate Broker designation

Brittney happily calls the Flathead Valley home and finds many recreational opportunities here She loves to horseback ride, fish, hike, boat, travel and generally just be outdoors, enjoying Montana!

It’s important to identify what you are able to afford when it comes to a home and how much a lender is willing to loan based on key factors such as income, debt, expenses etc Your advisor can help you work within that budget and take into account other considerations as it relates to the property you seek

Are you looking for a single-family home, townhouse, condominium, coop or a multi-family building? There are many options and considerations for each that will impact your search

Identify your must-haves and list them out in priority, for both you and whomever you may be purchasing your home with. Make a list of your nonnegotiables when it comes to a home and take that with you when you are visiting properties

This is one of the most important factors to consider when you’re looking for your new home, because unlike structures, paint colors, and flooring, the location of your home cannot be changed Beyond the physical location of the home within the city or town, you should also think about its location in the neighborhood, community, and/or the building, as this too will have an impact on your home’s value

Y O U R M U S T - H A V E S

Y O U R B U Y I N G P O W E R

W H A T T Y P E O F H O M E D O Y O U W A N T ?

L O C A T I O N , L O C A T I O N , L O C A T I O N

Testimonials

"Brittney Osborne was very professional and was always available, on time, and very helpful if I had questions If she could not get the answer for me right then, she always got back to me quickly I really appreciated her help and time " - Buyer

"Brittany was such an amazing real estate agent! We had a unique situation and she went above-and-beyond to make sure that everything was handled efficiently and to our liking Even after closing, she is sticking by us to tie up all the loose ends I'd also like to mention that my dad has been a residential contractor for 40+ years and he thought that Brittney was the most hands-on and helpful real estate agent that he had ever worked with! 100% recommend Brittney for help buying the house/property of your dreams." - Buyer

"Brittney was the most thorough and detail oriented real estate agent we have ever used We have bought and sold many properties in the past but have never been as pleased with an agent as we were with Brittney We were in Tucson the whole time the process was in the works and she attended to every detail and kept us informed daily She anticipated problems we didn't know existed and went out of her way to head them off She is very knowledgeable regarding the real estate legalities in Montana and uses her knowledge to the client's advantage Purchasing real estate in Montana was surprisingly easy with her guidance I would unequivocally recommend her " - Buyer

"Brittney has been a delight to work with She is very knowledgeable and easy to work with Brittney is very detail oriented and we have always felt comfortable and relieved that she represents us My husband and I are both in our 70’s and, we both feel that she is the best Realtor we have had the pleasure to work with ” - Repeat Buyer & Seller

Live Your Luxury

At Engel & Völkers, we believe in clients for life Not only during, but well after the purchase of a home, I am glad to connect you with experts to help you continue making the most of the walls and community that surround you Luxury is found in the little moments that when combined, create the essence and the intangible qualities that make a house, home!