While summer activities where top of mind, readers also noted the great opportunities for winter recreation specifically the Nordic ski and groomed snowmobile trail systems.
Owners of Pop's Place Tim and Connie Clark
The Filling Station took the top spot in both the Best Dinner Under $20 and Best Place to Get a Beer categories.
This is the third year of the Best of the Valleys competition sponsored by the Seeley Swan Pathfinder. Many businesses and organizations kept their title of "Best of" with a few new faces topping the lists this year including Pop's Place and The Filling Station. First place winners will receive a plaque to display in their businesses.
Thank you everyone who took the time to vote and for supporting local businesses!
Best Cup of Coffee
Jitterbug Java at the Grizzly Claw Trading Company
Second Place: Blue River Station
Third Place: Pop's Place
Best Breakfast
Pop's Place
Second Place: Double Arrow Lodge
Third Place: The Stray Bullet
Best Lunch
The Ice Cream Place
Second Place: Pop's Place
Third Place: The Filling Station
Best Dinner Under $20
The Filling Station
Second Place: The Ice Cream Place
Third Place: Seeley Lake Chicken Coop
**Top three in this category were only separated by six votes
Best Place to Get a Beer
The Filling Station
Second Place: Seeley Lake Chicken Coop
Third Place: Double Arrow Lodge
Best Dinner Over $20
Double Arrow Lodge
Second Place: Lindey's Prime Steak House
Third Place: Hungry Bear Steak House
Best Convenience Store
Rovero's
Second Place: Seeley Lake 1-Stop
Third Place: Mission Mountains Mercantile
Best Place to Buy a gift
Good Times
Second Place: Grizzly Claw Trading Co.
Third Place: Blue River Station
Best Real Estate Agency
Clearwater Montana Properties
Second Place: Great Bear Properties
Third Place: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Best Artist
Juan de Santa Anna
Second Place: Will Kats
Third Place Tie: Kris Gullikson and Diane Whitehead
Best Lodging
The Lodges on Seeley Lake
Second Place: Double Arrow Lodge
Third Place: Tamaracks Resort
Best Health and Wellness
Rejuvenate Physical Therapy & Massage
Second Place: Seeley-Swan Medical Center
Third Place: Optimal Fitness
Best Contractor
Rod Stevens
Second Place: Crescent Mountain Builders, LLC
Third Place: Lake Country Builders, Inc.
Best Auto Care
Glen's Automotive Service
Second Place: Clearwater Towing
Third Place: Scott's Auto Body
Best Store Front
Blue River Station
Second Place: Mission Mountains Mercantile
Third Place Tie: Grizzly Claw Trading Co. and Good Times
Best Customer Service
Cory's Valley Market
Second Place: Rovero's
Third Place: Blue River Station
Best Non Profit
Loving Hearts
Second Place: Seeley Lake Community Foundation
Third Place: Alpine Artisans, Inc.
Best Community Event
Fourth of July Celebrations in the Valleys - More than 50 percent said these celebrations were their favorite!
Second Place: The Bob Marshal Music Festival
Third Place: Loon and Fish
** Also within a couple votes of the top three included Seeley Lake Pond Hockey and Driftriders Snowball & Fun Run
Best Campground
Big Larch Campground
Second Place: Placid Lake State Campground
Third Place: River Point Campground
** Tamaracks Resorts finished just outside the top three - one of the few private campgrounds in the area!
Best Recreational Opportunity
Playing on the lakes in the summer This continues to be the favorite recreational opportunity with the top picks being Seeley Lake and Holland Lake.
Second Place: Hiking. Favorite spots being Morrell Falls, Holland Falls and the Bob Marshal Wilderness.
Third Place: Nordic Ski trails & Snowmobiling. While summer recreation was top of mind, winter recreation was still a favorite highlighting the Nordic ski trails and hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails.
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