Winter Fun Guide, February 4, 2012

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Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012

Look inside for:

· Fun snowshoe haunts · Relaxing hot spring destinations · Perfect Montana winter adventures

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Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012

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bout 50 years ago, the community of Whitefish said “Enough!” to dull, cold winter days.

Though the skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort is always magnificent, it’s not hard for the winter blahs to slip in.

So town leaders came up with something creative that still goes on: the Whitefish Mountain Carnival.

The annual celebration of snow, fireworks and general community fun returns for its 53rd year Feb. 3-5. This year’s theme is “Fiesta Pecado Blanco,” which literally means “Whitefish Carnival” in Spanish.

Celebrants can take part in everything from a torchlight ski down the mountain to a parade, to concerts to contests. And yes, there will even be yetis, part of the myth that has sprung up over the decades.

The official legend of the festival centers on Ullr, the Nordic god of snow who traditionally reigned over winter activities in the Northern Region.

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Forgotten by his subjects, Ullr moved to the Flathead Valley and claimed Big Mountain (now known as the Whitefish Mountain Resort) as his home. Soon, he joined with human settlers to fight off evil yeti snowmen as they attempted to kidnap the queen and disrupt the Holiday Village’s festivities and assert their right to Big Mountain.

It’s become a yearly attack and retreat by the snow creatures, with Ullr and followers sending them fleeing back to the valleys beyond the mountain, where they plan future raids.

During carnival time, yetis can be spotted around town trying to cause mischief and scare guests, until mountain men show up to chase them away.

Past carnival events have included everything from community concerts, food, crowning of the Grand Ball at Grouse Mountain Lodge, and other general mid-winter fun. There’s even the chilly Penguin Plunge, where hearty souls take a quick dip into the icy waters of Whitefish Lake.

Some let everyone and anyone participate for free, others are more private and have a cost, such as the gala Winter Carnival ball, which usually fills up quickly.

Beyond the three-day carnival, there are many activities and traditions from January through March, and many restaurants or lodging establishments offer stay-and-play specials or info about other recreational opportunities.

In addition to the Carnival fun of the Carnival, there are other fun events planned this winter, including a Mardis Gras celebration on Presidents Weekend, Brewfest, Dummy Derby and the Pole, Pedal, Paddle Winter Triathlon.

For more details visit www.whitefishwintercarnival.com/ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Whitefish-WinterCarnival/204250248788?v=info Event tickets are available at the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, info@whitefishwintercarnival.com

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Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012

Two Great Hot Springs Locations Perfect for your Special Events!

autiful Day in Para e B a dis e!

It’s

Winter fun is a ‘shoe-in’ with snowshoeing

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nowshoe fans say the activity is an ideal way for people to experience the outdoors. Participants don’t have to spend much on gear, and there’s a very easy learning curve.

Today’s snowshoes are also different from the classic oversized tennis racket-like shoe of the past. They’re now made of heavy-duty but lightweight plastics with metal cleats. Some models have flexible bindings so the foot can easily move within the shoe.

Snowshoers don’t have to be in great physical condition either.

Essentially, anybody who can hike can snowshoe.

Fi! i W FREEFeaturing Riverside Suites, Canyon Cabins & Glacier

Lodge, Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort, located just 2.5 hrs. from Spokane, offers fine dining along with their mineral hot springs pools.

Visit us online at

www.quinnshotsprings.com or call

406.826.3150 ay! d o T ve Reser Nestled between the Bitterroot and Pioneer Mountain Ranges in beautiful Southwesten Montana,

Jackson Hot Springs Lodge offers amazing snowmobile trails, fly fishing and nearby skiing at Lost Trail & Maverick Mountain.

Contact us at 406.834.3151 or visit us online at

www.jacksonhotsprings.com

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In the Inland Northwest, there’s no shortage of great destinations for snowshoeing. Here are few to get you started: Mount Spokane: The ski area and state park features miles of trails for all abilities. A parking lot and trail head are at a hairpin turn halfway up the mountain. The trail is an old service road easily negotiated by beginners. For a greater challenge, try trails branching off from the main one, heading up to the summit of Mount Spokane, westward toward Mount Kit Carson and elsewhere.

Liberty Lake Regional Park: Located at the southeast end of Liberty Lake, this park includes a trail up to a cedar grove—and a handful of trails branch off from there.

Dishman Hills Natural Area: Dozens of trails wind through pristine woods, located south of Appleway Avenue and west of Dishman-Mica Road, in Spokane Valley. One minute, you’re standing a few blocks from automobile dealerships; the next moment, you’re in the middle of a wilderness with the sounds of the city behind.

Riverside State Park: Bowl and Pitcher is just the beginning.

Surrounding this natural phenomenon in Northwest Spokane, hundreds of trails wind their way around the river and through the neighboring forest.

The city of Spokane’s Park and Recreation Department offers snowshoeing lessons and guided snowshoeing trips, including some moonlit night trips with dinner afterward. Check with area outdoor recreation stores for maps, equipment or recommendations on beautiful spots or current snow conditions.

For more information on classes offered through the city, go to www.spokaneparks.org.

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Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012

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Fairmont Hot Springs

e have quite a few naturallyoccurring hot springs not far

from Spokane.

Some are as simple as unmapped warm-water holes in the ground, but the ones worth visiting are larger, modern facilities where mineral spring water is piped into a traditional swimming pool, and there are nearby restaurants and lodging. These make great weekend road trips, especially when combined with skiing or winter sight-seeing.

British Columbia, Canada www.fairmonthotsprings.com The hot springs is only part of the Fairmont experience. The resort about four hours north of Spokane boasts an impressive ski area, a golf course, a spa and access to peaceful countryside for hiking, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and outdoor rec fun.

350-foot enclosed water slide for year-round enjoyment. The water is supplied by a 155° natural hot spring that cools before it reaches the soaking areas.

Fairmont also boasts hotel rooms and a par 72 golf course, plus a spa, tennis courts and other amenities. It’s 30 miles from Discovery Ski Area, which allows soaking at night and skiing during the day. The area is near the Deer Lodge National Forest and there’s easy access to a regional cross-country trail system and snowmobile paths.

Ainsworth Hot Springs British Columbia, Canada www.hotnaturally.com

Here’s a round-up of some of the area’s more popular destination natural hot springs.

Springs Fairmont Hot

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NG T RI SP HO

The springs receives 1.5 million gallons of natural water daily, and visitors can partake of hot and cold plunge pools, a steam room, a sauna and a private outdoor soaking pool.

Guests can stay at lodges, cabins, cottages or camping sites. The skiing area also is described as ‘family friendly’ and includes a Magic Carpet moving platform for easy group ascents or new skiers.

Fairmont Hot Springs Montana www.fairmontmontana.com Halfway between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park, Fairmont offers two Olympic-sized swimming pools and an indoor and outdoor soaking pool, there’s also a popular

Just north of Nelson, British Columbia, at the northwest side of Kootenayy Lake, you’ll find Ainsworth Ainswor Hot Springs, which offers a U-shaped U ccave to wade w or walk through, th a llarger outdoor pool, ou and a small ‘cool’ pool ‘coo which lets whi you jump in before heading befor back where it’s Ainswort warmer. warm h Hot S prings

Accommodations include a restaurant and a 43-room resort, making Ainsworth a great area to visit for a few hours or days. Guests receive unlimited access to the hot springs, and visitors staying at other motels can pay a day use fee.

The water starts out painfully hot: 117° F. But it quickly cools a couple more degrees when it enters the cave, and by the time it reaches the larger pool, it’s a pleasant 96° F. Water also drips off the cave’s ceiling, creating a natural, flowing steam room.

Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012

Quinn’s Hot Springs Montana quinnshotsprings.com Near Paradise, Mont., in the Lolo National Forest and close to the Clark Fork River, about three hours east of Spokane, you’ll find Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort.

The highlight is a series of temperature-controlled mineral pools which are relaxing and said to have health benefits. Visitors can enjoy amenities like the Harwood House restaurant or drop by Quinn’s Tavern for TV, drinks and gaming machines.

There are several cabins and a lodge on the property, and campers can stay at the nearby Cascade National Campground.

The location has several stay-and-play special promotions, like “Ski, pr Soak So and Stay” which includes skiing at in Lookout Pass, soaking Lo at Quinn’s and dinner at Harwood House.

Other unique offerings O include a Murder in Mystery evening M Feb. F 12-13 and the 9th 9 annual Baroque Festival in July.

F The owners also own Jackson Hot Springs J in Jackson, Mont., i Quinn’s Hot Springs which offers a natural hot spring pool that begins at 155° F and cools down to somewhere between 103 and 94° F. For more info visit www. jacksonhotsprings.com/.

Ski Montana All Day

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Discovery Ski Area Ski Packages!

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Radium Hot Springs British Columbia, Canada www.pc.gc.ca/voyage-travel/sourcessprings/index/radium/radium.aspx Radium Hot Springs is located within Kootenay National Park and considered the largest hot springs pool in Canada. It’s also on Canada’s Register of Historic Places. Visitors can partake of a pool with temps between 98 and 104° F, or a cooler pool in the mid-80s. The cool pool is open Fridays through Sunday from January until mid-May. Radium is part of the Canadian Rockies Hot Springs, which also include Banff, and Miette, in nearby Jasper National Park (considered the hottest of the three.) Visitors to either Radium or Banff can receive even more relaxation with a massage or other spa services from the Pleiades Massage and Spa.

~ Soak All Night!

*Starting at $87.50 per person! *67 Runs - 1,670 ft. Vertical Drop *Four Natural Hot Springs Pools *104 Degrees of Hot Water Packages in include: nclude:: Accom Accommodations, mmodatti lift tickets and *Massage and Spa waterslide passes. For details visit our websites. *Casual and Fine Dining

Visit us at www.fairmontmontana.com or www.skidiscovery.com call 1.800.332.3272 I-90 Exit 211, 15 miles west of Butte, Montana

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Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012

Montana Welcomes Winter

By Tia Troy/ Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission

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hile La Nina may have taken her time getting here, she’s quickly making herself at home by dumping fresh snow on nearly 7,000 acres of skiable terrain at Montana ski resorts.

With ski areas ranging from family owned mountains like Snowbowl and Lost Trail to Lookout Pass and the WhiteďŹ sh Mountain Resort – diverse skiing is found in Western Montana.

With more than 300 inches of snow each year, there is plenty of untracked terrain. “Skiing in Montana is really the cream of the crop,� said Racene Friede, Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission. “Whether you’re coming for a familyfocused trip or if you prefer challenging terrain with soft powder bowls, you won’t be disappointed.�

Lift tickets vary from $30 - $66 per day and an average lodging rate 20 percent lower than the national average, making Montana an affordable destination.

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I SK

For a long weekend stay, try the Pay It Forward Ski Package at Good Medicine Lodge, including 20 percent off the room rate and lift ticket when you stay and ski four or more nights, saving more than $200. www.goodmedicinelodge.com

For on-mountain lodging, try the $79 Hibernation House special at WhiteďŹ sh Mountain Resort’s Hibernation House, which includes a lift ticket, accommodations and full breakfast. www.skiwhiteďŹ sh.com

Insider Tip: Taste Montana by visiting Great Northern Brewery in downtown

"

Based on availability. Not valid with other discounts. Must show ad at check-in.

Expires February Expires May 20122012

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Shopp Hampton Inn Kalispell 406.755.7900 • 1140 Hwy 2 West, Kalispell www.hamptoninnkalispell.com

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h SSkiWhiteďŹ Ski te ďŹ sh ssh WhiteďŹ â€˘ All non-smoking rooms • Free wireless internet • Free HBO • Exercise Room • Complimentary continental breakfast • Two heated pools with connected swim channel • Free Big Mountain Snow Bus • Ample trailer parking • Blacktail Mountain 30 miles away

Cross Country Skiing & Snowmobiling nearby. www.thepinelodge.com 920 Spokane Ave.• WhiteďŹ sh Montana • 1-800-305-7463

Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012

Whitefish. The brewery crafts beer with Montana-lovin’ names like Wild Huckleberry Wheat and SnowGhost Winter Lager.

Stay & Shop

For a heart-happy alternative to downhill shredding, try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, complete with stellar mountain views. Try a crosscountry route over ridge tops, along lake shores and through forests, like the 20 kilometers of groomed trails at Stillwater Nordic near Whitefish.

Take advantage of Glacier National Park’s quiet season and set out on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. www.stillwatermtnlodge.com

Shopping in the States…

Staying with Hilton Garden Inn® Kalispell Bring your BFF and have some Fun! Shop ‘til your credit cards beg for mercy in Kalispell, Montana between November 1 – December 31, 2011

Insider Tip: Leave the driving to the professionals. Hop aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder in Spokane and ride it to Libby, Whitefish or West Glacier for nearly instant access.

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1840 US Hwy 93 S | Kalispell MT 59901 TEL: 406.756.4500 | FAX: 406.756.4505

Western Montana has plenty of options for snowmobiling.

“This area has some of the best snowmobiling trails in the Northwest,” said Friede. “From playing in open meadows to exploring snow-covered logging roads, the possibilities for sledding are endless.”

Seeley Lake – Montana’s Mecca for snowmobiling – offers more than 350 miles of groomed trails in nearly every direction from the center of town which take riders to scenic lookouts and backcountry lakes.

Located south and west of Missoula on the Montana/Idaho border, Lolo Pass provides access to 250 miles of groomed, connecting trails in the Lolo and Clearwater national forests, plus trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. After a day of playing in the Montana’s outdoors, unwind in the mineral pools at Lolo Hot Springs.

For more on winter in Glacier Country, visit www.glaciermt.com.

www.rockymtnlodge.com

UPCOMING EVENTS Winter Storytelling Series, Lolo, Jan. 7-March 31 www.traversrest.org Whitefish Winter Carnival, Whitefish, Feb. 3-5 www.whitefishwintercarnival.com Cabin Fever Days, Martin City, Feb. 10-12 www.cabinfeverdays.com Big Sky Documentary Film Fest, Missoula, Feb. 17-28 www.bigskyfilmfest.org Snowboard Jam, Missoula, March 3-4 www.montanasnowbowl.com Pond Skim, Whitefish, April 7 www.skiwhitefish.com

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• FREE S.N.O.W. Bus to Whitefish Mountain Resort on Big Mountain • Year-round outdoor heated pool and hot tub • Free internet • Jetted tub rooms available • Rooms with fireplaces available Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Ice Skating, Dining, & Shopping Nearby.

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Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012

snowfall of 300 feet. The longest run is 3 miles and has a 2,600 foot vertical drop.

issoula has a lot going for it. It’s a college town, with eclectic galleries and shops, fun night spots and Lift tickets are $42 for all day for adults or $37 ½ day. Students/seniors plenty for all ages. It’s also a great stopping point for are $39 and $37, and children 6-12 are $19 for either a full or half day. outdoor recreation fans.

Lessons are available, and Tuesdays in January are considered “Learn to Ski” days with free beginner lift, plus half-priced lessons and rentals.

In warmer weather, it’s a good staging location for fishing and camping adventures. This time of year, visitors get great There are a variety of stay-and-play packages for Snowbowl at various access to Snowbowl.

Missoula hotels or motels, and other seasonal promotions in the works.

For example, the Snowbowl Cup Gelande Championship Feb. 25-26 features competitors “Right across the street is the park and ride for Snowbowl, which offers jumping up to 200 feet to qualify for an $8,000 free shuttles,” he said. “People like to stay here and walk over.” prize. The Girls on C’mon Inn is also a great après-ski spot, with five hot tubs and an Shred event March 3 indoor pool. Olson said the community areas and the guest rooms are lets girls compete for both great to hang out in. free, and the 24th annual Snowboard Jam offers all “We’re also close to downtown, so there’s a lot you can see and do fun prizes and challenges. without even getting in your car,” he said.

“Missoula is a great place,” said Brent Olson, general manager of the C’mon Inn, which offers 119 rooms and easy access to many local amenities.

For skiers less familiar with Snowbowl, it’s nestled in the Lolo National Forest, has a base elevation of 5,000 feet and receives an average

For more details visit www.montanasnowbowl.com/ or www.cmoninn.com/midwest-hotel-locations/missoula/

t C l os e s Hotel to Bowl Snow

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