Whitefish competes for best ski town

Folks who live in Whitefish already know it’s the best, but the town is in the running to be the Best Ski Town in a USA Today reader’s choice poll.

The list is part of USA Today’s 10Best.com, which says it provides “original, unbiased and experiential” travel articles around the U.S. and world. Two Whitefish lodges are also competing for a spot in the top 10 Best Ski Hotel category.

Nominees were chosen by five experts from the ski world, noting that all of the ski towns on the list are appealing destinations, both on and off the slopes. Online voting will determine the towns that make the top 10 list.

“The best ski towns offer way more than convenient access to the mountain,” the website says. “Many of these towns and small cities are steeped in heritage and a sense of authenticity.”

Bozeman is the only other Montana city to make the list of 20 nominees.

The listing says Whitefish boasts an impressive collection of restaurants, family-run stores and a lively après-ski scene. As of Tuesday, Whitefish was sitting in the No. 4 spot in the voting.

“Situated at the base of the underrated Whitefish Mountain Resort, the town of Whitefish is part rustic Western, part artsy chic,” the site says.

Mayor John Muhlfeld said Whitefish is made up of real families that chose to live, work and raise families because of the quality of life here.

“Simply put, Whitefish is a real, authentic mountain town with roots dating back over 111 years,” he said. “We are not contrived, and we are fortunate to boast some of the most spectacular scenery and unspoiled natural environments in North America. It’s for these reasons why Whitefish has become such a desirable place to live, work and raise families. People thirst for quality of life, and we provide that right here in beautiful northwest Montana.”

Kevin Gartland, Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, said Whitefish is always a contender for the best ski town or ski resort and the reason is simple.

“It’s because we’re not just a ski town — we’re a real town,” he said. “The folks who live, work and play here take tremendous pride in our community, and they’re more than willing to share it with those who travel hundreds — if not thousands — of miles to spend a couple of days or weeks here. They’re friendly and welcoming ... and in my experience, that’s pretty rare in most true tourist towns.”

Gartland has lived in four other ski towns, all of which he said made their living exclusively off tourism but were not happy about those tourists who fueled their economics. Whitefish isn’t like that and it’s apparent to those who visit, he noted.

“It’s why they return year-after-year, and why many choose to move here to live, work, raise families, open businesses and retire,” he said.

Riley Polumbus, spokesperson for Whitefish Mountain Resort, said the mountain has great terrain and consistent snowfall, but most of all there’s a sense of belonging that resonates for local residents and visitors. Everyone feels at home here, she noted.

“Whitefish has a rich history of skiing that dates back to the 1930s when a group of skiers so passionate for the sport would set out and climb our mountain to ski — not an easy task back then — yet the love for the sport only grew from there,” she said. “Our town embraced the sport to such a degree that it pooled its resources to build a ski area. Today the passion lives on as locals and out-of-town visitors happily share the slopes at Whitefish Mountain Resort and rub shoulders and swap stories over après-ski drinks at the legendary Bierstube or Great Northern Bar.”

The Good Medicine Lodge and Hidden Moose Lodge are both nominees the category for the Best Ski Hotel. They join 20 other nominees from around the country in the category.

“What makes an ideal ski hotel?” says the listing. “Some might say a slope-side location with ski-in, ski-out service. Others would point to a serene spa for soothing sore muscles or a warming whirlpool with mountain views.”

Lisa Jones, public relations manager for Explore Whitefish, said Whitefish is a small town with a lot of spirit and pride and she hopes that everyone will rally to vote for Whitefish.

“Good Medicine Lodge and Hidden Moose Lodge are also neck in neck for the top Ski Hotel, and we are proud that our small unique lodges are competing with big fancy high-rise hotels at big fancy ski areas — the genuineness of Whitefish always wins,” she said.

Also in the running for the Best Ski Town are Aspen, Colorado; Banff, Alberta; Breckenridge, Colorado; Crested Butte, Colorado; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Lake Placid, New York; Mammoth Lakes, California; North Conway, New Hampshire; Park City, Utah; Reno, Nevada; Revelstoke, British Columbia; Rossland, British Columbia; South Lake Tahoe, California; Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Stowe, Vermont; Taos, New Mexico; Telluride Colorado; and Truckee, California.

Polls close on Monday, Nov. 21 at noon Eastern time. The results will be announced on Friday, Nov. 25. The website to vote is http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/. One vote per day, per category is allowed.