{"id":2779,"date":"2021-05-23T07:00:38","date_gmt":"2021-05-23T07:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=2779"},"modified":"2022-04-05T18:06:52","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T18:06:52","slug":"our-first-visit-to-glacier-national-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=2779","title":{"rendered":"Our First Visit to Glacier National Park"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Montana is a beautiful state. Whitefish and the surrounding area are so different from Atlanta. Everywhere you turn there is a wild animal or a breathtaking view. We can see how people fall in love with this area. The pace of life here is slower. The people are nice.<\/p>\n<p>Glacier National Park is so close. We made our first trip out to Glacier National Park. The Going-to-the-Sun Road was open, but not all the way. On this day we could only go as far as Lake McDonald Lodge.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-2779 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2757'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1512\" height=\"2016\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6323-rotated.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6323-rotated.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6323-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6323-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6323-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1512px) 100vw, 1512px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2757'>\n\t\t\t\tA future Forest Ranger&#8230;his middle name is Forest.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2756'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1512\" height=\"2016\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6319-rotated.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2756\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6319-rotated.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6319-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6319-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6319-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1512px) 100vw, 1512px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2756'>\n\t\t\t\tLucas and Henry hoping this is the only bear we see close up today.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2755'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1512\" height=\"2016\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6318-rotated.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2755\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6318-rotated.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6318-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6318-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6318-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1512px) 100vw, 1512px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2755'>\n\t\t\t\tHenry is larger than life and so is his chair.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>We drove as far as we could and then we went for a four-mile hike. We are planning to go a few more times before the crowds start showing up. The park is starting a ticketing system after Memorial Day and we have heard it can be bumper to bumper in the summer. We enjoy visiting when it is less crowded.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-2779 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2761'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6334.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-2761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6334.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6334-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6334-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6334-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6334-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-2761'>\n\t\t\t\tWe chose the shortest hike because we arrived later in the day. \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2758'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1512\" height=\"2016\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6326-rotated.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-2758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6326-rotated.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6326-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6326-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6326-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1512px) 100vw, 1512px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-2758'>\n\t\t\t\tMom had to lead the way to protect the boys from bears.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2759'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1512\" height=\"2016\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6330-rotated.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-2759\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6330-rotated.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6330-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6330-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6330-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1512px) 100vw, 1512px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-2759'>\n\t\t\t\tWe would have gone further, but we were thwarted by snow.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2760'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6332.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-2760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6332.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6332-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6332-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6332-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6332-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-2760'>\n\t\t\t\tHenry was happy we were turning around.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>After our hike, we stayed and had a picnic dinner. We spotted what we think are prairie dogs while we were eating<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-2779 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2749'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_2870.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-2749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_2870.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_2870-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_2870-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_2870-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_2870-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-2749'>\n\t\t\t\tEnjoying the great outdoors\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2763'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"556\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6348.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-2763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6348.jpg 556w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6348-130x300.jpg 130w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6348-445x1024.jpg 445w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 556px) 100vw, 556px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-2763'>\n\t\t\t\tWe noticed these little guys popping up out of the ground.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2768'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1039\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6402.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-2768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6402.jpg 1039w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6402-244x300.jpg 244w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6402-831x1024.jpg 831w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6402-768x946.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1039px) 100vw, 1039px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-2768'>\n\t\t\t\tThe only thing more exciting than seeing a deer is seeing a baby deer.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>We stopped on the way out of the park to check out the views at Lake McDonald.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-2779 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2764'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6361.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-2764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6361.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6361-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6361-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6361-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6361-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-2764'>\n\t\t\t\tLucas and Henry could throw rocks all day. \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=2767'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6395.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-2767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6395.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6395-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6395-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6395-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG_6395-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-2767'>\n\t\t\t\tJudy and Michael could stare at this view all day.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>We are excited to return to Glacier when more of the Going-to-the-Sun Road opens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Montana is a beautiful state. Whitefish and the surrounding area are so different from Atlanta. Everywhere you turn there is a wild animal or a breathtaking view. We can see how people fall in love with this area. The pace of life here is slower. The people are nice. Glacier National Park is so close. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,121],"tags":[16,70,14,15],"class_list":["post-2779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","category-united-states","tag-family-travel","tag-montana","tag-travel-with-kids","tag-worldschooling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2779"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2779\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2809,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2779\/revisions\/2809"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}