Essex, Montana
If you are looking for something a
little out ot the ordinary, Essex might just be worth a look. Oh,
and you should like trains......
Essex sits along Hwy 2 just south
of the Glacier National Park boundary.
Isaic Walton Hotel is the
main attraction. It sits right next to a working rail yard complete
with sidings, switch engines, and a train every 30 to 45 minutes.
The hotel has a good restaurant. The rooms are adequate if you can
tolerate no TV, no internet, no cell phone coverage, and no air
conditioning.
Externded accomodations include
several caboose sleeping cars, a locomotive sleeping cabin and
numerous small traditional cabins situated along a hillside above the
hotel.
Amtrac provides twice daily
service. I understand that the scheduled arrival and departure times
vary a lot with the rail traffic.
Built in another era to accomodate railroad workers, the hotel maintains much of the original charm.
The charm being that you
immediately feel as though you have been transported back in time.
Expect to be at least 26 miles from things to do. (It's 26 miles to
West Glacier and 36 to East Glacier.) There is not much in between
other than beautiful mountain and river views.
The drive along the Flathead River
was breathtaking. There are several nice pull offs along the way for
photos.
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