It was only 11:00 in the morning.
We had been together for about two hours on what would be a five-hour Glacier National Park Driving Tour when one of our guests turned to me and said something I’ll never forget.
His family had traveled from Houston, Texas. Along for the adventure were his wife, their six-year-old daughter, and his mother-in-law. His wife is a marathon runner and running coach, and the entire family loves spending time outdoors whenever they get the chance. Living in Houston, they don’t have easy access to mountains, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and wide-open wilderness like we do here in Montana.
They expected Glacier National Park to be beautiful. What surprised them was just how spectacular it was, and we were only getting started.
After that conversation, we stopped at even more scenic viewpoints and also headed north to the Polebridge Mercantile for a picnic. We finished the afternoon along the shores of Lake McDonald, exploring some of our favorite spots before wrapping up the tour.
On a driving tour you spend a lot of time in the van with each other. It’s wonderful to get to know people from all over the world. On this day, our conversations shifted beyond the tour itself. This was the family’s first day in Montana and they would be here for the rest of the week, so I helped them plan the rest of their vacation. We talked about biking Going-to-the-Sun Road, where to park, how the shuttle system works, hiking options, scenic drives, and how to avoid some of the common mistakes first-time visitors make. I even pointed out some good parking spots for them.
That’s one of my favorite parts of guiding. I love to give people tips and tricks for all their Montana adventures.
My goal as a guide isn’t simply to show you Glacier National Park for a day. All of us at Tour Glacier don’t just want to show you Glacier National Park; we want to help you make the most of your entire Montana adventure. Whether it’s recommending restaurants, explaining trail conditions, suggesting hidden gems, or helping you plan the rest of your itinerary, we want you to leave feeling confident about every day of your trip and not just the one you spend with us.
