The main shopping area of Whitefish is on Central Avenue and stretches for 3 blocks. For a ski town, the shopping frenzy is fairly subdued. The largest bookshop in town is Bookworks, 244 Spokane Ave. (tel. 406/862-4980), which stocks the best in nature books, regional writing, and children's literature; it's also the source of current hardcover and paperback bestsellers. McGough and Company, 131 Central Ave. (tel. 406/862-9199), has a large selection of Indian-made jewelry. The Bear Mountain Mercantile, 237 Central Ave. (tel. 406/862-8382), is chock-full of gimcracks, knickknacks, and souvenirs, many with a bear theme. Two Medicine Gallery, 123 Central Ave. (tel. 406/862-0744), is one of our favorites, stocking a mix of antique books, interesting decor, and eclectic art. There are 12 art galleries in Whitefish that participate in a "First Thursdays" program on Thursday nights from July to October.
For a behind-the-scenes look at some of the local farms and their offerings, contact FarmHands (tel. 406/862-5356) for a free map of Flathead Valley farms that produce everything from goats to garlic and also welcome visitors.
