Rick and I are both Flathead Lake natives, grew up there, and took our first sailing lessons there out of Dayton, near Wild Horse Island. Flathead Lake is big, beautiful and can have some very nice wind. Usually good breeze in the morning and late afternoon. There are just a few destinations though, few parks and few marinas as most is privately owned, but they are available. Dayton has a nice sailing club and is usually available to stay at. Polson at the south end of the lake has now at least 2 marinas with available slips. The swimming is fine Mid July through early September, a little chilly in June. The storms do happen, but usually with fair warning. The first time we took a boat out alone, the instructor said "It looks a little marginal today" and we managed to broach the thing, yet lived to laugh about it. I'm always amazed at how little boat traffic is on this lake. Absolutely gorgeous when the weather is nice. If you need names of businesses, just let us know. We have to haul the boat there from Spokane at least once a year to go sailing or the summer just wouldn't be the same... Melanie **************Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000... 48)