May/June 2024
Missoula, MT
It truly was love at first sight. I could not wait to get on those bright green rolling hills and down to the flowing water. This AZ desert gal needs more of this kind of beauty in her life!
Missoula is nestled in the Northern Rockies of Montana, surrounded by seven wilderness areas and at the confluence of three rivers. You can kayak, raft, or tube through downtown or take a hike in the 60,000 acres of wilderness (which is only minutes from your hotel). Missoula is known for its blue-ribbon trout fishing (made famous by A River Runs Through It) and spectacular natural beauty. The opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts are limitless and the appeal doesn't stop there.
Missoula is also a regional destination for shopping and dining featuring three distinct shopping districts. From modern brewery patios with views of the mountains, to dark and relaxed cocktail lounges, to charming and warm coffee houses, I never had a drink with a boring atmosphere. Likewise with food, I experienced locally noted bakeries, delicious patio lunches, and also an elegant vintage themed French Bistro dinner. Missoula offered quite the unexpected and thorough palette of cuisine in all price ranges.
It's culture is eclectic and suits its young college crowd as well as its mature audience and any tourist. Some town activities include the symphony, theatre, film festivals, author's readings at independent bookstores, college sports, ballet, opera and roller derby. Culture and history are also celebrated here ie: Native American and Lewis & Clark to Smokejumpers and Glacial Lake Missoula...there is more to learn if you visit and read about it!
Adventure, culture, music, art, fitness, food, beauty...Missoula is a BIG small town. There is plenty to see and do and when you need a rest, there are many beautiful places to do that too.
The Main Reason We Came...
We already knew we would love Montana. We are hikers. We love beautiful country full of mountains, water, and trees. We might live here one day and we had to see what this city has to offer. When a really amazing flight deal came across my phone screen I knew we were meant to see Missoula sooner than later!
Maclay Flat Recreation Area
This area offers a beautiful nature loop that has marshland, aspens, ponderosa pines, wildflowers, a creek, a river, meadows, and offers many mountain views and wildlife viewing opportunities. We even saw a moose sprinting through the meadow (we think a small dog got away and was chasing it)! The trail was relatively flat; great for walking, jogging, or even a wheel chair if the tires can handle a little dirt and mildly bumpy terrain. No bikes!! During times of rain or snow melt, I would imagine this gets pretty muddy. It is for day use only. A great spot for a walk and a picnic, a morning stroll, or a place to sit by the river and contemplate how beautiful life can be. More Information Here
Rattlesnake Recreation Area
**Have Bear Spray! The woods are beautiful and thick and the bears love it too.
Stay on the main trail for a relatively flat path that takes you alongside Rattlesnake creek. Enjoy the beauty of the forest, wildflowers, and views of the mountains. For a little more cardio, take a hike to Stuart Peak!
A great area for day walks/hikes or overnighters if you plan accordingly. Wildlife is abundant here too. Did I mention bear spray??
Blue Mountain Recreation Area
If you are a fan of coming back a different way than you came, this is a great area for you! Have a paper map with you, as the 41 miles of trails are not labeled well on the map provided at the trail head and the maps online are incomplete. We found it hard to decipher milage and trail identities. Basically, come prepared for longer routes than anticipated or time how long you've been on each trail to know approximately how long it will take if you turn back. It is VERY beautiful here and offers many views of the city, surrounding mountains, and the forest. The meadows make you want to spin around and sing, "The Hills Are Alive"! In fact, I might have done that.... video below! This is another place I would recommend having bear spray. Honestly, if you are anywhere outside of the city in a forested area...you should carry it.
Bluebird Preserve
We caught the yellow wildflower bloom in all its glory and realized that the summit offered the best 360 view we had seen of the surrounding mountains. Yet another beautiful trail minutes away from the city. ..
If Missoula has all of this, I CANNOT wait to visit other Montana cities!
Kootenai Creek
This was the most impressive and unexpected stop we've ever made! One of the days we stayed in Missoula we decided to take a drive to see the Bitterroot Valley. After passing a majestic view of a chain of jagged, snow capped mountains, we randomly pulled off on a dirt road that had a trail at the end. We were greeted with a cliff-side trail with a creek running down the canyon. It was a great place to find a spot and relax to the sound of running water. The other side of the canyon was full of interesting rock falls and pine trees. I wish we were more prepared for a hike that day because it would have been hard to stop climbing into that canyon! The view down the creek lead to more mountains in the distant valley. Hike all the way to the lake or turn around when you feel like it!
The Best Park I've Ever Seen- Greenough Park
I could literally spend all day here. Reading under a lavender tree, napping in the grass with a river lullaby, journaling while eating a picnic lunch, walking through the lush trails, exploring to find secret spaces... 42 acres of nature and park amenities await you here. The pictures can explain a little better than words. It was so beautiful, I had to come back a second time before we left! More Details
The Downtown Scene
I love exploring the "downtown" of any city. It always seems to highlight a towns true character and allows you to people watch, eat, drink, walk around, shop, and feel the town's vibe.
- Grab a quick and delicious cookie on the go (Shoutout to Mary's Mountain Cookies for the BEST gluten free baked treat I've ever had!- we went there twice) Veera donuts was also incredible for the largest & tastiest apple fritter (NOT gluten free but the best cheat choice of the trip- allergies suck)!
- Stop at the Market on Front to grab a picnic lunch for later before you head to a hike or to a park
- Grab a pick-me up coffee at the local roasters Black Coffee Roasting Company or sit down to lounge in the cute Break Espresso
- For a beautiful experience inside or out, go to the Conflux. Great food, fun atmosphere, and a roof patio with a mountain view.
- The patio at Top Hat was also great. More great food and drinks while you people watch....
- For a dark and quiet mood, stop at the Montgomery Distillery for an artisian cocktail in an "adult" atmosphere
- Stop in any of the artsy and kitchy shops for some fun browsing
- Walk to the courthouse and admire its elegant architecture or take some pictures in the cute gazebo.
- Check out the historic train by the station and walk the streets of old town- I love those old charming buildings!
- Head to Finn for Sunday brunch and get a view of the river and the mountain
- Bar Plata had a fantastic vintage vibe and fun bar keep
- Speaking of elegant vintage...check out the Florence Hotel! I am in love
- Check out the historic carousel with hand-carved horses! You don't have to be a kid to ride
- If the sun is up late and you're not ready to go to bed yet, go to trivia at the secret bar in the alley -Stave and Hoop Speakeasy
- *Boxcar Bistro was a little off from downtown but it was a wonderful French Dining experience with perfect ambiance
Honestly, we did not expect as much out of the food or downtown scene here as we were blessed with. There is so much we haven't even seen yet.
It Doesn't Take Much Effort to Enjoy this Town
The green space in Missoula is abundant and everything is incredibly well taken care of. The sense of pride in this community runs deep and it shows. We enjoyed walking along the river; passing hidden parks, finding many places to picnic and benches to sit on and enjoy the view. You could be adventurous and kayak or tube the river and there is even a place to catch a wave if you are so daring (Watching the surfers was just as entertaining)! We unexpectedly wandered past the old iconic train depot that now stands without tracks (there is a metaphor here somewhere). We took every opportunity to relax and enjoy the scenery, act like a local, be a tourist, be silly, have fun, wander, and just soak up the magic that is Missoula. It would be weird if we don't find our way back here to explore more of this city and more of Montana!
A Hike to the "M"
A Missoulian right of passage if you will...a pilgrimage...it just had to be done.
Also, I am a sucker for a good view.
It was easier than it looked and shorter than I thought. We even went up higher to see down the river and over the hill...then it became really windy so we went back down. It is a hike loved by all here it seems. From the very mature folk to the college kids to the really young and their parents. For many, I believe this is a daily ritual.
A WALK THROUGH CAMPUS
The University of Montana- Go Grizzlies!
The campus is gorgeous with a lot of open and green space. The buildings are also marvelous! I would have loved to be a student here. You can tell that the pride runs deep; Grizzly stickers and signs are plastered all over this city. I think that even I would become a football fan if I lived here. We went on a stroll down University street because it looked so pretty. The trees were large and green and hanging over the street like a dream; the houses were just as incredible! What I'd give to live on a street like this...
Where We Stayed
At the historic wilma downtown
We found a cute condo online in this building. It had everything we needed (including a huge rain shower!!) and was in the perfect location! The days we walked around town we didn't have to drive and it was nice to go out for food or drinks as needed and also get back quickly when we were tired and worn out. The best thing? The view from the room (below)! It also had a delicious restaurant downstairs and if you time it right you can catch a show at the theatre during your stay too!
Until Next Time...
WE WILL DREAM ABOUT YOU
Questions? Please reach out! Do you live in or adventure in Montana often? I'd love to hear from you or read your blog- contact me!
