Wintertime in Whitefish, Montana is one of the most beautiful seasons to enjoy the small ski town and all it has to offer. This town doesn’t slow down after a winter storm, it celebrates it! Are you thinking about exploring this hidden gem for a weekend getaway? This article will give you the perfect weekend itinerary for what to see and do while you’re here.
Saturday
8:30 am – Breakfast at Buffalo Cafe
A local favorite, Buffalo Cafe offers amazing breakfast options to keep you energized for your full day ahead!
10:00 am – Ski on Big Mountain
A trip to Whitefish is never complete without a day at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Endless slopes and an approachable mountain offers a day of fun for all level of skiers and snowboarders.
3:00 pm – Apres Ski at Hellroaring Saloon
After hittin’ the slopes, enjoy an apres-ski drink and nachos at Hellroaring Saloon, located next to the village on the mountain.
5:00 pm – Massage at the Spa at Whitefish Lake
You’re bound to be sore after a day on the mountain, so treat yourself to a massage at the beautiful Spa at Whitefish Lake!
7:00 pm – Dinner at Tupelo Grille
Be sure to book a table here, and be ready for one of the best meals in town. Featuring local cuisine influenced by cajun and southern flavors, the superb service completes a meal here.
Sunday
8:30 am – Breakfast at Loula’s Cafe
Loula’s breakfasts include the standard fare as well as popular originals like Lemon Stuffed French toast with raspberry sauce or Eggs Benedict with white truffle oil.
9:45 am – Pick up a Packed Lunch from Montana Coffee Traders
Before you head off for the day, pick up a packed lunch from Montana Coffee Traders. They offer a variety of sandwiches and snacks that you can bring with you to the park which is helpful because most restaurants in West Glacier are closed in the winter!
10:00 am – Drive to Glacier National Park to snowshoe
The beautiful Glacier National Park is only a 30-minute drive away from Whitefish and offers miles of scenic snowshoeing trails. You can rent snowshoes from multiple places in town as well as outside of the park.
7:00 pm – Dinner at Abruzzo’s
Finish off your day with a delicious traditional Italian meal at Abruzzo’s. They offer extensive selection of shared plates, grilled steaks, fresh seafood, and a small but decadent dessert list, all prepared in-house and served alongside an Italian-focused cocktail program and an Italian-centric wine list.
Are you looking for a cute wall piece to liven up your living room, or a cute meaningful gift for someone that is hard to buy for? Why spend a ton of money at a department stores for decorations or gifts, when you could simply make them yourself!
I have always been one for arts and crafts, and with pinterest constantly filling my head with crafty ideas and do it yourself projects, string art just looked and sounded something cool to do! If you know how to handle a hammer and can tie a knot, this project should be easy and fun.
Here are my steps start to finish to help you to successfully make a beautiful and one of a kind string art project perfect for a gift, or simply as a decoration in your own home. Trust me, people will be asking where you got them.
Lets Get Started!
Step 1: Tools and Supplies
First you must decide what kind of material you would like to work with( wood, canvas, etc.), and collect all of the supplies you will need. In this project, here is a list of the supplies used:
Wood (size is optional, however it must be at least a half inch thick to ensure nails can be hammered deep enough to prevent them from coming loose)
Nails- (16mm-25.4mm long)
String (color is optional)
Printed string art pattern or stencil
Hammer
Scissors
Tape
Hot glue gun (optional)
Wood Stain (optional)
Paintbrush (optional)
Step 2: Hammer Time!
For this project, I chose to print out an outline, and tape it to my surface. If you would rather, you can draw the image straight on the surface, and follow the lines that way. The benefit of taping your outline onto the board is that you can remove the stencil later on and not have unwanted lines left behind. It also makes following the pattern very simple and easy.
As you can see in the pattern above, the lines are quite complex. If this is your first time attempting string art, I would suggest a less intricate stencil, and work your way up to more difficult patterns.
When hammering the nails, space them about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch apart.
Once you have finished hammering, go back through and make sure each nail is secure. This is VERY important to do to ensure that while stringing, the nails will not be pulled out, or loosen. This is also crucial to do before the outline is removed because when pulling the outline off, nails that are not secure will come out.
After removing the outline, I chose to stain the piece of wood in order to create a more bold background for the string to stand out from. This step is optional, however, it definitely adds to the piece.
Step 3: Ready, Set, STRING!
For this project, I decided to do a thick cross string pattern.
Essentially, there is no pattern to follow, simply begin by tying a double knot around one nail, this will be your starting point. Be sure to leave a long tail to connect your end piece of string with. From there, create the outline for your pattern by looping the string around the outer points of the pattern.
Once you have the outline strung up, begin crossing the string through out out the nails and fill in the pattern. Decide whether you want your pattern to look more ‘holey’, meaning the board beneath is visible, or more filled in where you cannot see the board.
Step 4: Finishing Touches
This step is just for tying up all the loose ends. (Literally)
Be sure that the string is tight and you have gotten the look you want. For extra securing purposes, use a hot glue gun to glue the two trimmed end pieces that are tied together. This is of course optional, however it does help the piece to last for years to come.
Katie Buckley is a University of Montana Senior in pursuit of a Marketing Degree as well as a certificate in Event Management. She loves Pinterest and gains a lot of her DIY inspiration from the creativity of others and hopes to share her own ideas projects with the world and inspire others.
Are you a proud Butte, Montana resident? Here is a list of 22 Butte highlights I am sure you can relate to and you will think of many more on your own!
1. Pork Chop Johns – The original Pork Chop Sandwich was founded in Butte, Montana in 1924. While there are many replicas, this one is the best out there. Many people come to Butte just to enjoy a Pork Chop.
2. St. Patrick’s Day – When the first parade was held in 1881, little did those folks know it would still be going strong 133 years later. This is a major celebration in Butte, Montana bringing in guests from all across the U.S. and even Ireland. The amazing bars in Butte and the fact that there is no open container law until 2:00 a.m. help make this event one to remember.
3. The Christmas Stroll – Held in early December, the Christmas Stroll is a main attraction in uptown Butte where locals stroll, visit, and make their Christmas purchases in the shops. Vendors line the streets offering goodies, while horse-drawn wagons give the kids a thrill.
4. Evel Knievel Days – Evel Knievel is Butte’s own son and the world’s first daredevil. Honoring Evel, Butte’s Evel Knievel Days has been a tradition for years. Bringing in stuntmen and women, and acts from across the nation, this is a fine tribute to the first real thrill-seeker. The free event is held the last weekend in July every summer and is a major attraction for Butte.
5. Pekin – Since the early 1900s, the Pekin Noodle Parlor has been a longtime favorite for Chinese food in Butte, Montana. The old architecture and narrow hallway lined with booths on either side create a unique atmosphere to enjoy your wontons and noodles.
6. “Metsgiving” – Celebrated on the eve of Thanksgiving, The Met Bar in Butte welcomes everyone home from college for Thanksgiving break, and the celebration has become known as “Metsgiving”. Like a high school reunion when you walk through the door, it is a great place to grab a drink, listen to music, and catch up with old friends.
7. Ice Skating on Neighborhood Rinks – When the snow finally falls in Butte, Montana, kids of all ages enjoy skating on their neighborhood rink. The rink at the Original Mine even has piped-in music!
8. An Ri Ra Irish Festival – Celebrating Butte’s Irish Heritage, the An Ri Ra provides endless entertainment including Irish dancing, world-renowned bands, and food and refreshments.
9. Festival of Trees– The Festival of Trees raises funds for the Paul Clark Home located in Butte, Montana, which provides housing to families with a loved one in the hospital. Local residents bid on beautifully decorated Christmas trees to support this worthy cause.
10. El Taco – Home of the best cheese melt and spicy spuds ever, El Taco was established by a local Butte family years ago and is an all-time favorite for many.
11. Freeway – For over half a century, the Freeway Tavern has been serving a sandwich known as the Wop-Chop. Similar to a pork chop, but with its own unique twist, this one is well worth a try. The Freeway was featured on the popular TV show Man vs. Food.
12. Povitica – A delicious Slavic ethnic dish, povitica is a Butte favorite that is made around the holidays. With layers of dough and sweet nut filling, this bread tastes as spectacular as it looks.
13. Lights Upon the Mines – The many gallus frames lining the hillsides of Butte are original all on their own. Shining with red lights every night, these beautiful sentinels are a Butte trademark.
14. Folk Festival – Starting off as the National Folk Festival, the Montana Folk Festival is now held each summer in Butte, and is already a treasured tradition. This free outdoor event with amazing, creative music, and delicious food and drink provide a wonderful weekend of family enjoyment.
15. 4th of July Parade – Parades are a longstanding holiday celebration, and the 4th of July Parade in Butte is one for the record books. Thousands of residents get up on Independence Day and start their day watching the parade with friends and family. It’s so good, even Obama and his family came!
16. Pasties – Meat, potatoes, and onions wrapped in dough make an amazing combination known as a pasty, and individuals are very particular regarding whether they are topped with and gravy or ketchup! Another ethnic favorite, this delicious dish is a specialty at several Butte restaurants.
17. Sledding on Hospital Hill – Called sleigh-riding in Butte by many, this is a great winter activity. After the first snow, kids and their sleds line the hill in front of the hospital for their turn to go down the steep incline. It is a great hill!
18. Orphan Girl Liquor – Made at Headframe Spirits, the local Butte distillery, this cream liqueur is the number one choice in the town of Butte and far beyond. Add it to your coffee, or make a Dirty Girl drink by mixing it with Root Beer, either way it’s delicious! Headframe’s only makes the best.
19. 3rd of July Fireworks – Montana’s most renowned fireworks show is held on the 3rd of July every year atop the “Big M” in Butte. This fantastic display is augmented by the many fireworks set off all around town by holiday revelers.
20. Twisted Sisters – A local boutique in downtown Butte, Montana, Twisted Sisters has established a very loyal following. From quality jeans to awesome dresses, they have it all. Run by two Butte girls who really are sisters, the customer service cannot be beat.
21. UpTop Clothing Company– Founded in Butte by brothers Luke and Colt Anderson, the UpTop Clothing Company has made its impression all over Montana. With multiple designs, the shirts, hats, and sweatshirts are the perfect complement to any casual attire. And now Baby UpTop is available too!
22. The Lady of the Rockies – The Lady of the Rockies sits atop the East Ridge in Butte, Montana overlooking and protecting its residence. At an astounding 90 feet tall and constructed entirely by volunteers, she is an impressive attraction for the Butte community and tourists alike.
Wintertime in Whitefish, Montana is one of the most beautiful seasons to enjoy the small ski town and all it has to offer. This town doesn’t slow down after a winter storm, it celebrates it! Are you thinking about exploring this hidden gem for a weekend getaway? This article will give you the perfect weekend itinerary for what to see and do while you’re here.
8:30 am – Breakfast at Buffalo Cafe
Loula’s breakfasts include the standard fare as well as popular originals like Lemon Stuffed French toast with raspberry sauce or Eggs Benedict with white truffle oil.
The beautiful Glacier National Park is only a 30-minute drive away from Whitefish and offers miles of scenic snowshoeing trails. You can rent snowshoes from multiple places in town as well as outside of the park.
Finish off your day with a delicious traditional Italian meal at Abruzzo’s. They offer extensive selection of shared plates, grilled steaks, fresh seafood, and a small but decadent dessert list, all prepared in-house and served alongside an Italian-focused cocktail program and an Italian-centric wine list.
Once you have finished hammering, go back through and make sure each nail is secure. This is VERY important to do to ensure that while stringing, the nails will not be pulled out, or loosen. This is also crucial to do before the outline is removed because when pulling the outline off, nails that are not secure will come out.
