I found this for you

https://www.touropia.com/best-places-to-visit-in-idaho/

https://www.touropia.com/best-places-to-visit-in-montana/

Enjoy it! I'm happy for your hubby making it to 50. Will he now add Guam and Puerto Rico ?

Billings is a loooong way from Glacier National Park......almost 300 miles! Many do not realize how big (and mostly empty) Montana is. Very scenic of course but if you veer very far off I90, not all that much civilization :-)

rob...no, no plans to add the territories! :)

I have to agree about the veering off of I90 and if you do fill up if your tank becomes even close to half full. Some of the small towns now have 24 hour pumps but finding a small town with one can empty your tank.

The air is normally much dryer and the wind blows constantly except for about an half of an hour both morning and evening when you are in the treeless areas in southern Idaho and Montana so you may find that you need to hold onto the steering wheel more tightly than normal.

Hells Canyon that is near the Oregon Idaho line south of Spokane is an interesting place that will add to your appreciation of the early pioneers that came that way. It is south of Spokane but pay attention to any early snow.

And Glacier is a huge park. We spent almost a week there just on the west side one year, including Whitefish and Kalispell. Went back last year and concentrated more on the east side.

I recommend taking the "Going to the Sun" road through Glacier National Park. Lake McDonald is at the west end and Lake St. Mary is at the East end. Both lakes are pretty, but St. Mary is the most picturesque of the two. The best photo times for Lake St. Mary is mid-morning and the best for Lake McDonald is afternoon.

I was looking on line and thought avalanche lake hike might be doable...

Yes, that is a very doable hike, as are the trails around Two Medicine. On the west side of Lake MacDonald, there are several fairly short hikes in miles but we found them to be fairly steep except for one or two. I can’t recall the names now without looking at a trail map. If you are spending some time there, the boat rides are fun and interesting. The guide narrates about interesting facts. We took them late in the day after we were finished hiking. Reserve early. I can give you a little more info on those if you want.

Okay, Annie, you are going to think I’m nuts and you may be right, but have you considered a wilderness river trip? The best river trips in the US, IMHO, even surpassing the Grand Canyon, are on either the Middle Fork of the Salmon River (my fave) or the Main Salmon in the Frank Church Wilderness area in Idaho. There are a number of outfitters offering a wide variety of trips. It’s a once in a lifetime experience! Well, 4 for us with another trip scheduled for early July! Breathtakingly scenery, great side hikes, pictographs, hot springs and very remote!

mojomom, if it includes getting wet, then I'm out. My idea of roughing it is when they don't turn down the bed at night and leave a chocolate on the pillow!

:)