Glacier National Park is a 1,583-sq.-mi. wilderness area in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. It’s crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Our 4-day journey through Glacier – well, lets just say, it didn’t go as I had original planned. I was struck with an illness that made me feel like I walked in front of a semi truck, but with 3 kids in tow, you have no choice but to suck it up buttercup (as I often tell the kids!) And that I did…it was an 8 hour drive from the fires in N. Cascades National Park in Washington to Glacier National Park in Montana. Of course we were greeted by a heat wave in Northern Montana – it was too hot to relax in our tent during the day which meant we were in the car venturing out all day. We conquered a few hikes but my energy level was not good enough for the longer more strenuous hike that was on my pre-trip itinerary. We opted for more low-key activities but ended up having a wonderful experience without the crazy hikes we usual endure!