Family-Friendly Things to Do Near Big Mountain This Summer — Steps From Your Front Door

Summer in Whitefish means long days on the water, easy hikes, and a downtown you can actually walk to without loading everyone into the car. If you're staying at Front Row Whitefish, most of what's below is a short walk from the condo — which matters more than it sounds like with kids, gear, and nap schedules to work around.

Whitefish Lake, Five Minutes on Foot

Whitefish Lake is the obvious first stop — sandy beach, shallow swimming for younger kids, and deeper water off the docks for older ones who want to jump in. Pack a picnic, grab your towels, and you're set for the afternoon. From the condo, it's an easy walk down to the beach — no need to find parking or wrangle car seats twice in one day.

Paddleboards and kayaks rent right at the lake if you don't want to bring your own. Calm mornings before the wind picks up are the best window for younger paddlers.

Downtown, Even Closer

A pedestrian path puts restaurants, a coffee shop, breweries, a park, the market, and the butcher shop about three minutes from the front door on foot — along with the stop for the free Snow Bus shuttle. It's the kind of walkability that's hard to find in a condo that also has real mountain views — most units this close to town look out at a parking lot or a neighbor's siding, not Big Mountain. One past guest put it simply: the condo is "walkable to market/bar/restaurant, and quick drive to town and the mountain."

For a bigger outing, it's a 10-minute walk to Whitefish Lake Lodge, where the Boat Club and the seasonal Tiki Bar are open to the public, or 20 minutes on foot to downtown Whitefish and the city beach — an easy stroll if the kids are up for it, an even easier 3-minute drive if they're not.

Glacier National Park, a Longer Day Trip

For a full-day outing, Glacier National Park's West Glacier entrance is about 35 minutes away. Lake McDonald and the lower stretches of the Going-to-the-Sun Road are manageable with kids, and the turquoise water of McDonald Creek is a good excuse for a lot of photos. Go early — both for parking and for cooler hiking temperatures.

Back Home, the View Does the Work

After a full day out, there's not much to do except get back and let the kids wind down. That's where the condo's layout does something most rentals can't: the living room and balcony face straight at Big Mountain, unobstructed, from the only north-facing corner unit in the building. Two of the four beds are in private en-suite bedrooms, so nap schedules and bedtimes don't have to line up with everyone else's — and if you want a break from cooking, the Clubhouse pool (seasonal, June–August), hot tub, and fire pit are a short walk away too. It's a quiet way to end a loud day — no extra activity required.

Ready to plan your Whitefish summer? Check availability for Front Row Whitefish.