Nice place to stay near Glacier National Park

Guest: Debbie (Eastern Long Island, New York)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/16/11

We enjoyed the apartment and our stay here. Marlene was responsive to our every need. Marlene and her husband live above this apartment. The only thing people should know is that you do hear the sounds above you - Marlene and her husband try to be very quiet so this did not bother us but if you want to be completely alone without any other people near you than I would not recommend this apartment. For us the lake was beautiful, the location was nice and it is close to Glacier National Park. We also enjoyed going to Whitefish and some of the surrounding towns as well. Marlene gave us wonderful advice on where to go food shopping. Marlene has lots of guide books in the apartment for things to do in the area and we did make use of them. The bed was very comfortable and it was nice having a full kitchen and gas grill. No one comes down to the deck area of the apartment that faces the lake so you have complete privacy on the porch to the lake. The stars here are great so go out at night to see them. The apartment is actually larger than the photos posted though I don't know how Marlene could make it look like it truly does.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children.

Perfect location - perfect experience

Guest: Amy (Elkton, MD)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

We just spent a week at Tom/Marlene's lovely apartment on the shore of Spoon Lake. We could not have been happier with our experience. First of all, it is CLOSE to Glacier Nat'l Park, which is why we were there in the first place. Once we got out there, and I thought of the other places we considered staying, I was SO glad we stayed here. The 'back way' to the park (very easy to navigate) made the trip about 20 minutes of easy driving, maybe even less. That was the #1 main positive about this property - location, location, location. The days are very long, and it stays light until close to 10pm. We used up every minute of daylight, and, when we left the park after 9 most nights, it was lovely to just have a short drive back 'home' where we grilled and ate our dinner between 10 and 11 most nights! So the location was perfect, however.....it was completely comfortable and charming as well, which made it even better. We built a fire in the fire pit on the shore of the lake on the last night and just talked over what a great week it had been. The apt is comfortable with little extra touches like coffee, filters, trash bags, bear spray for us to take on our hikes (instead of us having to spend $50 to buy it and then have to leave it there because you can't fly with it), heavy duty bug spray (you'll need it!), laundry and dw detergent, firewood for the fire pit, etc. This was our first VRBO experience, so I am not sure if this is typical, but it was lovely to have found these thoughtful inclusions waiting for us. The kitchen is a pleasure to cook in, large and well appointed, we used the gas grill almost every night. One night a bear smelled our dinner and came a-huntin' for leftovers and turned the grill upside down. We found it in the morning, having slept through the whole thing. Marlene was a gracious hostess (Tom was away so we did not meet him), giving us complete privacy but being available when/if we had any questions, needed directions, or anything else. We could not have been happier with our experience at Spoon Lake. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children.

Guest: Marlene's Comment 2010 (-)
Date of Stay: 10/31/10 Review Submitted: 10/31/10

Thank you all once again for your kind comments and positive reviews. We are enjoying our adventure as hosts of a VRBO rental, meeting so many wonderful people and learning something new from each and every one. Have a great winter and hope to see you all again.

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wonderful find!

Guest: Jennifer & John (Monticello, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/08/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/10

LOVE this place! For our first trip to Glacier my husband and I initially looked at the usual in park lodging to find they were booked. We thought we were out of luck but boy were we wrong! We found this place and it was fabulous! It was so nice to come back to a relaxing, restful place after a long day of hiking. We were able to take advantage of the kitchen/living space and enjoy some home cooked meals and movies after touring the wilderness all day. Plus, everywhere you look, gorgeous scenery - it is like having your own private home nestled in Columbia Falls. Great location for Glacier too - easy to get to the park each day, just a short scenic drive to the W. Glacier entrance. And, an added bonus - Tom and Marlene are wonderful! It was such a joy to meet them - we loved learning about their history that landed them on Spoon Lake. Plus, it was great to have them nearby to help out when anything came up (specifically when we locked ourselves out!). Our only regret in staying here is that we weren't able to stay longer!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

Gracious hosts, lovely apartment and beautiful setttng!

Guest: Pam (Macomb, IL)
Date of Stay: 06/28/10 Review Submitted: 08/19/10

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our nine day vacation at Marlene and Tom's lovely place on Spoon Lake. The facilities, environment and hospitality were exquisite and met our every need and want for value, privacy, safety, cleanliness, comfort, convenience and entertainment. It is a rare Internet find to score a lakeside like-new luxury apartment with owners so accommodating and considerate. Tom is a construction expert and Marlene a talented homemaker and decorator. They respect the privacy of their guests, but, if you inquire, the story of their house building is very inspiring. This rental apartment has more than all the comforts of home - a large living room with fireplace, TV and wireless Internet; a large kitchen with all appliances, utensils/dishes, and lots of cabinets; a big bathroom with bath/shower and nice linens; a bedroom with both a queen and single bed, full closet and comfy linens; and a large laundry room. We were thrilled with the inside of the apartment, but it is the expansive view from both the living room and bedroom that takes your breath away - sunsets, mountains, forests and a lake as smooth as glass. After our daily short commute and awesome touring and hiking in Glacier National Park, we appreciated the tranquility and relaxation of dinner on our private patio and a rowboat spin around the lake. We also treated ourselves to a whole day of reading by the fireplace watching a gentle rain that was almost as beautiful as the usual sunlight, loons, birds, and ducks gliding over the lake and through the fragrant pines. We knew this was a special place when we first arrived and a bald eagle swooped over our heads and perched in the trees right by our front door! We could not have been more pleased with this rental and look forward to returning as soon and often as we can. Pam

Recommended for:People with disabilities, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

Peacefully Perfect

Guest: Emily, Clay and Evan (cincinnati, ohio)
Date of Stay: 08/02/10 Review Submitted: 08/13/10

Our little family of three adventurers stayed here at Spoon Lake and LOVED it! Our ten year old son who is normally interested in Wii and anything adventurous and fast moving said as we left, "I want to come back here to live." We watched the loon family, rowed across the lake and barbequed every night before a game of Rummikub or Scrabble that the hosts left in the house. Tom and Marlene's home was a beautiful, restful retreat to come home to after days of fishing, hiking, and rafting in Glacier. It was also a lovely place to spend days soaking up all nature has to offer. Thank you both for such a wonderful stay!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway, families with young children.

Hidden gem

Guest: K, J, & G (Madison, WI)
Date of Stay: 07/14/10 Review Submitted: 07/24/10

Very comfortable one-floor condo/apartment in a beautiful, relatively isolated setting, away from the main tourist-y corridors. Well-maintained, and furnishings tasteful and comfy. Plenty of space for our group of 3 adults; we were quite impressed that the place was built entirely by the owners. Small lake just steps from the door, as shown in the pictures; the quiet in the morning really makes you just want to slow down, sit, and reflect. Plenty to do right at the lodging, though we didn't take advantage of everything due to our focus being our first trip ever to Glacier National Park. The combination of amenities and setting rival condo lodging we've had in flashier settings (Vail, Whistler-Blackcomb). Owners friendly and helpful, quite attentive to needs. Drive to GNP entrance was about 25 minutes (taking Blankenship Rd to Belton Stage to Lake Five -- with one ~100 ft stretch of unpaved road and a short one-lane bridge), but no regrets on choosing this location over a hotel/motel. Would stay here again in future.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway.

Guest: Jan and Larry (-)
Date of Stay: 10/08/09 Review Submitted: 10/08/09

July 30-August 1 2009 The beauty of the surroundings is only surpassed by the hospitality of the hosts. Thank you.

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Guest: Dan and Courtnee (-)
Date of Stay: 10/08/09 Review Submitted: 10/08/09

06-10 September, 09 07 Sept, 09 Dear Marlene, Today we've enjoyed the unfamiliar sounds of nothingness and occasional sounds of owls and wolves as we sat by the dock. We can't remember the last time we heard nothing. Fantastic! Also, around 7 p.m. a small brown bear strolled by the porch. We ran outside to take a picture but unfortunately he scampered away before we could get a shot. Having a great vacation so far! 09 Sept, 09 Iceberg Lake at Glacier is a must see! We didn't run into any grizzlies on the hike but saw several mtn goats and one black bear. Also, free roaming cows are all over the roads on the east side of the park. Drive Safe! 10 Sept, 09 Marlene, We have had such a relaxing time at Spoon Lake. Pending no deployment, we will be back next year! Dan and Courtnee

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Guest: Rita and Ken (-)
Date of Stay: 10/08/09 Review Submitted: 10/08/09

August 4-10, 2009 Thank you, it was great. Your baby robins are gone, don't know why. I didn't think they were ready to fly. Thanks

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