Head to Montana for a ski vacation that’s easy on the budget

It’s not Vail or Whistler, but downhill skiers looking for a budget getaway will find it easy to warm up to Montana’s Whitefish in winter.

The lift-tickets at the Whitefish Mountain Resort at Big Mountain (www.skiwhitefish.com) are $61.

No need for a car. A free shuttle bus goes between downtown (elevation 3,000 feet) and the mountain where lifts travel to the 7,000-foot summit. See www.bigmtncommercial.org.

On the western slope of the Continental Divide, Whitefish grew in the early 1900s with the construction of the transcontinental Great Northern Railway.

It earned the nickname Stumptown for tree stumps left after railway workers cleared land around Whitefish Lake.

The chalet-style train depot houses the Stumptown Historical Society’s museum. Stop here for a walking tour map of Whitefish’s compact historical district.

More tips for a budget visit:

— Late snow coupled with the downturn in the economy put a dent in the number of people visiting the 60-year-old ski resort this year. Hotels and condos are offering reduced rates (See www.skiwhitefish.com).

One of the best bargains is the Downtowner Inn, three blocks from the train depot. Spacious doubles are $65 ($75 for three or four) through April, including a bagel breakfast served fireside. See www.downtownermotel.cc.

— Even if you’re not a skier, take the free shuttle bus to the Whitefish Mountain Resort. Buy a $10 ticket to ride the lift to the summit for stunning views of Glacier National Park.

— Stroll Central Avenue, the main street in the downtown historic district, and explore the shops, restaurants and bars in century-old buildings under covered walkways. Check out the vintage sign collection in the Great Northern Bar. Stop in at the Great Northern Brewing Co. (www.greatnorthernbrewing.com) to receive a free 4-ounce pour.

— Stop for coffee and snacks at Montana Coffee Traders (www.coffeetraders.com) in a 1903-era Central Avenue building with exposed brick walls and a pressed-tin ceiling.

— Have breakfast or dinner in the basement of a former Masonic Temple, now Loula’s, a locally owned cafe with healthful twists on standards such as lemon-stuffed french toast with homemade raspberry sauce ($8.25). Dinner ($20 range for entrees) is more of a splurge, but worth it. When’s the last time you saw elk medallions on a menu?