Day 12: Glacier National Park

 The lady who owns the cabins where we are staying recommended that we get up early and head into Glacier.  So, Scott herded us all, half asleep, out of the cabin at 7 a.m.

On the way we passed this turn out and had to stop to see the river.  Wow.  The water here is crystal clear...

We drove the Headed-to-the-Sun-Road.  Amazing.  Seriously.  I’m pretty sure this is the most beautiful place I've ever been.  They have  these adorable old red cars that have no tops that will drive you, but you can't get our and Scott wanted to be able to stop where we wanted and get out.  But, how cute are these old red cars?!!

 Just a little way in to the park is the MacDonald Lake Lodge.  We went in to look around.  It's over 10 years old and it is gorgeous!

Skipping rocks!

 The view was breathtaking...

 They had a beautiful old piano in the lobby, so the kids played a bit!

 The flowers here are incredible...

Then we really started the drive.  It is a total "white knuckler!"  You are literally on the edge of the mountain, no guardrails.  In a few places they've put up a foot high rock ledge...that's it. But, everywhere you look it's like this...

 Water falls EVERYWHERE....on the side of the road, going under the road and sometimes even into the road!

 This is a "soon to be waterfall," it's just hidden under the snow!

I love this picture.  Like father, like son!

 About halfway through there is a visitor center that marks the Continental Divide!

 It's July 3rd, Thomas' 14th birthday and there is still lots of snow on the ground! So of course you know those Texas kids couldn't resist a little snowball fight!

 Not long after the Visitor Center you get your first view of one of the glaciers...

All that "snow" in the middle is actually a glacier.

 The glacier is melting every year due to "climate change" and they estimate that at its current rate, it will be completely gone by 2030.  So if you want to see it, plan your trip accordingly.

Honestly, this place is absolutely worth the drive.  I would, hands down, choose this over a trip to Hawaii any day of the week.  We will be back here.  In my opinion, this may be America's best kept secret.

We stopped at a picnic area for lunch and these bear warnings were on all of the tables...

 Thought it was funny, till the family a few tables away packed up their lunch and left because they saw a bear!  We never saw him, but people were trying to get pictures!
This is just one of the many, gigantic lakes in this park...

Grace taught me how to take a panoramic picture on my iPhone, and this was the perfect place to try it!

After you come out on the other side of the park, it's only about 45 minutes to Canada.  So, we went....

A colleague of Scott's said not to miss High Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel...

Look at that view!!

To my shock, they all loved it and want to do it again in Vancouver!  Of course, you know there's nothing sophisticated about us...Mandy was dancing in the lobby afterwards....

All aboard the crazy train. I will say that we seem to be a hit wherever we go, because we are all the way from Texas.  (Or, at least that's the reason I'm telling myself!)

After making it successfully back into the country.  We headed back to our cabin.  It was a long day in the car, but completely worth it.

Now, just to keep it real.  I don't want you to think that the Milder children just sat calmly in their seats all day, just absorbing the beautiful scenery.  The reality is, they are 14, 12, and 8.  Not. Happening.  However, they did enjoy it a lot, and during the long driving portions they managed to keep themselves entertained...

Glacier Blessings,
Leslie