Amanda and her mum Sherry celebrating July 4 in the Lodge with Kootenai family and friends.
“Kootenai has been compared to Camelot, and in this crazy COVID filled world we’re living in, it’s truly a magical escape from the rest of the world. ”
My family has been visiting Montana ever since I was a toddler, and it has always held a special place in my heart. From the breathtaking views of the lakes to the unforgettable hikes, this truly is ‘The last best place’.
We’ve had our home in Kootenai for 7 years now, and we could not be happier living here. As a resident of Silicon Valley, I live for any opportunity to spend time on the picturesque Swan Lake. I could spend hours in front of the ‘Montana TV’ aka our fire pit overlooking the lake. It’s a real blessing to get to disconnect from my tech filled life and relax with my family over home cooked meals, late night s’mores, and huckleberry pies. Just down the road from Kootenai is one of my favorite hikes of all time, Holland Lake. It’s a very family friendly hike, with a view at the end that will take your breath away. Once you’ve finished your hike, be sure to grab lunch at the quaint Holland Lake Lodge, on the shore of the lake.
The only thing more beautiful than the scenery in a Montana summer, is the snow globe experience that you’ll get to have here in the winter. I’ve spent the last 4 Christmas' up here, and I couldn’t imaging spending them any other way. As you watch the trees and fields become coated in blankets of snow, the activities up here become even more plentiful. I’ve spent countless hours skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and ice skating. On lazy winter days, taking in the frozen lake and snow covered trees while curled up around the fire is one of the most peaceful thing to do. No matter when you’re here, there will always be fun times in store.
Spending the incredibly long summer days (and magical winter ones as well) in Montana is one of the most treasured experiences on the planet. From swimming, to wake surfing, to skiing, to fishing, it’s impossible to be bored up here. Sharing this property with the beautiful deer, turkeys and eagles that flock to this land is an incredible sight to see. Kootenai has been compared to Camelot, and in this crazy COVID filled world we’re living in, it’s truly a magical escape from the rest of the world.