Treasurable Staycations in Our Home State | Stay with Vacay Whitefish Throughout the Flathead Valley

50+ properties to choose from, explore Montana’s premiere vacation property rental company.

Written By Jordy Jones, Contributing Editor, Montana Edit

Summer allows Montana days to feel longer, giving us more time to soak up the long awaited sunshine and treasure the state we love to call home. It’s understandable why Montana draws in hundreds of thousands of visitors each month during June, July, and August- our parks, our lakes, our mountains and our hospitality are all world class accommodations. This summer, the case to staying close to home has never been stronger. Make this the summer of staycations and indulge in a family friendly Flathead Lake property or one of Vacay Whitefish’s many other vacation properties in Northwest Montana. 

The vacation property company, owned by couple Matt and Stephanie Bashara, brought Vacay Whitefish to life when they moved from the midwest to Montana years ago. Now raising their family of five kids here in the treasure state, they love bringing the magic of Montana to out of towners and locals alike. 

“Helping people experience Montana is the highlight of our day, week, and year,” Stephanie Bashara shared. 

“When you live where you love you want to share it, and helping guests experience the beauty and charm and adventure of Northwest Montana is the most rewarding part of what we down, hands down.”Every season here brings its fresh perspective on beauty, yet summer on Flathead is something Montanans look forward to year round. 

“Summer in Montana is what life is all about, cool mornings and evenings, warm days, light breezes make for perfect days. Not to mention the beautiful summer flowers, green valleys, pine covered mountains, big blue skies and low humidity- it’s kind of an outdoor paradise,” Vacay Whitefish owners expressed to the Montana Edit.

The Drive

The ultimate and only stop my family needed to make on our way to Flathead Lake was in St. Regis. Getting more gas, grabbing Huckleberry goodies and a milkshake, we made it out of the St. Regis Travel Center in a record time of 13 minutes which included our stop at the Trout Aquarium (a must see). An annual sense of excitement and eagerness to get to everyone's destination fills the large and familiar travel stop.Pulling out of the parking lot, our maps showed an hour and twenty minutes until we would be pulling up lakeside in Big Arm. Passing Quinn’s Hot Springs and Wild Horse Hot Springs, making fun and silly games out of our window views, it was a beautiful and peaceful way to coast into our staycation. 

The Arrival

A red metal gate will greet you as you pull off the main road and onto the gravel. With a simple push of a button like a wand, the gate opens, welcoming you to your own oasis. With plenty of space to park, step out and adore the cedar A-frame that you can call home for a few days. A garage awaits you as well if you want to park indoors or store extra lake life goodies away. 

Having already received the digital guide ahead of the trip, getting inside is just as easy. Unlock the front door with the pin code, and push it open to see a wall of windows as you step inside. 

The Stay

Your stay at this A-frame under the stars will be something your family talks about long after the trip. From having everything at your finger tips to the Mission Mountain views, this Flathead Lake stay is ideal for anyone looking to explore and escape in one getaway.

The cabin has three floors, making the home feel like you have plenty of space and privacy for individuals or separate families under one roof.

The top floor holds two bedrooms- one with big oak bunk beds and a beautiful and airy primary suite next door. Just outside the bedrooms you will find your own arcade! No need to grab quarters, these machines run off wifi and everlasting fun. 

The middle floor is mainly the community floor, with a large living room, dining room space and full kitchen to keep everyone full and happy. The kitchen truly had everything we needed. From their own seasonings, to a full grill kit, all the pans and pots plus plates, we were set. There was never a moment we were missing anything, the house was equipped and supplied perfectly. 

Downstairs, enjoy waterfront views in the two bedrooms. One with glass sliding doors, take in the lake as you fall asleep and wake up in our own form of heaven on earth. Big beds, fluffy pillows- it won’t be hard to rest your head after sunshine and sweet memories here. 

Also downstairs, aside from the two bedrooms, full bathroom and shower, there’s a full front set washer and dryer set for guests to use. So many details helped elevate this cabin from great to literally amazing. 

Enjoy ample time by the water with the home's large wooden dock and beachy area. With chairs sitting in front of the water, have catch up conversations or bask in the sun without a worry in the world.

The Vibe

This staycation truly felt like something out of a movie. One of those timeless summer movies like the “Parent Trap,” that plants something in your heart and keeps it growing for years to come. From the tall pine trees that stand tall over the cabin, to the green grass off the deck and wind off the water- every aspect of this property will sweep you away. The cabin feels new, but with an overwhelmingly familiar feel of nostalgia. The kitchen island gives off, “gather here,” along with the large dining room table. Neutral colors throughout the home paint a perfect picture of a space that lets the lake do all the talking. All of this heaven and we haven’t even made it out onto the deck yet! 

The sliding glass doors under the wall of windows opens to a spacious deck with a third area for sitting with the people you love most. Here, you can take in the Mission Mountains and gain a fresher perspective on how small we are compared to where we are, the biggest fresh water lake in the nation. Cotton candy skies are the ideal candlelight to your dinner and dessert scene before retiring to slumber or some more fun under the stars like hottubbing. 

Waking up and repeating the process of coffee on the deck, throwing rocks off the dock, and no scheduled meetings- just shared magic and memories.

The Town

Just 10 minutes from Polson, my husband, a Florida boy, texted me, “This town is cute.” Popping into the Walmart Supercenter for some fresh food items, Polson is a quick ride away for anything you need. A brewery, Glacier Brewing Co., a Safeway (and the Walmart I mentioned), Big Sky Arcadia, bowling and more, Polson’s a cute and quiet drive. 

Returning to the cabin, treat yourself to Copper Mountain Coffee along the way home for an iced coffee or cold brew before calling it a day and leaning back on your laurels for lake time. 

The Rating + Why We Would Return

Giving 10 stars to this Flathead Lake stay is an easy one. The whole family ruled that the experience, from start to finish, was exceptional. Not only did the views bring peace, but the peace and quiet brought peace of mind from a busy lifestyle and chaotic calendar. Here, you can leave all of that at the door and soak up a Montana staycation.

This property gives annual summer trip, family gathering, friend escape or girls weekend. The abundant amount of space made it easy to let loose with the only dress code being your lake athleisure. The waterfront escape is just that, an escape from anything that is not in front of you here. The mission mountains and forever memories, we cannot wait to come back to this Flathead Lake staycation under the stars. Vacay Whitefish is a host that not only has the luxury lake life accommodations, but also has all of the little details when it comes to working with and for their guests. Available at any time and for any reason, owners Matt and Stephanie have done a fabulous job of showing Montana hospitality to guests near and far. With 50 properties, dive into the wander that awaits in the Flathead Valley with their many different types of properties.