One of the best things we did on our New Year's trip to Whitefish, Montana was go on a dog sled ride through the beautiful Stillwater National Forest. It was amazing!  I found Dog Sled Adventures, in Olney, Montana, after reading a few blogs and some TripAdvisor reviews of things to do in the Whitefish area.  I was also thrilled to find a dog sled ride outfit that was owned by a fellow animal lover.  The dogs at Dog Sled Adventures were mainly rescue dogs and were all treated well.  Even the dogs that could no longer work remained in the dog yard and were taken care of. 

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake is located directly on Whitefish Lake, just a few minutes from the town of Whitefish, Montana.  Whitefish is near the larger town of Kalispell and Glacier National Park.  Arriving long after midnight, I did not see just how beautiful the Lodge was until I woke up the next morning.  The style of the buildings reminded me a bit of a large Swiss Alpine chalet, but also of the "camps" you find all around the Adirondacks-natural stone, wood beams, and fireplaces everywhere. There was even a large fireplace outside the entrance doors, which made for a wonderfully warm spot to wait for your car!  Since I was there New Year's weekend, the Lodge was still fully decorated for the holidays.  

​The restaurant and bar face the lake, and in the summer there is lots of outdoor seating on the porch and at the pool area.  The views of the lake and surrounding mountains were really pretty.  People were even cross country skiing across the frozen lake!

Also found along the lakefront was a year-round hot tub!  You could walk out to the hot tub from the spa without spending too much time in the freezing cold.

At the Lodge, there are many activities including snowshoe rental, a spa, fitness center, and an indoor pool (small, but lots of fun for kids to play in.) I took advantage of the Lodge's shuttle service to town for dinner and shopping one night. The bus to Whitefish Mountain stops at the Lodge, and they offer some other shuttle trips up there as well.