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What to do in Missoula
Hello!
Heading to Missoula for Labor Day. What should we see? Where should we eat? Any lodging suggestions? |
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What sort of things are you looking for? Kid activities, nightlife, outdoor stuff, shopping, or just what?
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Assuming you have a car and don't mind a little driving possibilities could include:
Mission Mountain Winery (Dayton, MT) - about 90 miles. I believe it is the only winery in Montana. Short tour, and free tastings....stick with the whites, particularly the Reisling and Chardonnay. National Bison Range (Ronan, MT) - about 60 miles. 20 mile loop road provides great viewing opportunities of not only bison, but also pronghorn antelope and possibly elk. As for lodging, a number of the chains have properties here including Doubletree, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, and Comfort Inn. I don't think you will go wrong with either the DOubletree or Hampton. And be sure to try a buffalo burger if you haven't had one....tastes like ground beef, but much leaner. |
Hmmm...what does it mean when someone asks "what's to do in Missoula" and someone else posts options that are 60 and 90 miles away???
According to this evening's ABC network news, one of the things you can do in Missoula (and the entire rest of the state) is slug back a beer WHILE you are driving. It's not only legal, but there's a strong opposition movement against proposed legislation to end it. So if you do make those 60 or 90 mile drives...or even if you are just crossing the street...I'd be verrrry careful. |
My husband and I both grew up in Missoula and we get back a couple times a year. It's a great town! Try to stay near downtown if you can, because it's very walkable (Higgins is the main drag). Holiday Inn and Doubletree are both good (HI is closer to downtown) and right on the river, but there are lots of options (book early, though -- Missoula books up fast in the summer). As for what to do, hit the Farmer's Market/People's Market on Sat. morning -- it's at the end of Higgins Ave. There's a riverfront park with walkways on either side, a carousel, and a cool playground/fort (if you've got kids). Lots of interesting shops in the downtown area. I haven't been in years and years, but the Smokejumper's station outside of Missoula has a good tour.
As for places to eat/drink, a friend of ours was traveling through Missoula a couple years ago and I found the email we sent him (updated a little!) -- most are downtown. Breakfast: The Shack (222 W Main St). Lunch and dinner, too, but breakfast is the big draw. Break Espresso (424 N. Higgins). Muffins, cookies, sandwiches, good coffee and lots of big wooden tables and chairs (counter service). Bernice's Bakery (190 S. 3rd W --over the bridge from downtown). Similar to the Break, only lots more baked good options. Lunch: The Old Post (103 Spruce). This is a bar with good food (not just the usual bar food), and they've got a patio out back. I ate there twice in May. Good selection of beer, too. Warden's Market and Deli. (451 N Higgins Ave) The deli counter makes great soups and sandwiches, along with the usual deli items. Dinner: Perugia (1106 W Broadway) The outside is completely missable, and the inside decor is hilarious, with Christmas lights, hippie tapestries, etc -- the food is mostly Mediterranean, and in my husband's words, "fantastic". Hob Nob (208 E Main) In the back of the Union Club, this place has sweet potato fries, "earth burgers," and such. My sister loves it, I'm not as crazy about it. They've got a Hob Nob II on S. Higgins now, that serves lunch. Sushi Hana (3075 N. Reserve) Haven't tried it, but if you like sushi, might be worth a go. The Bridge (515 S Higgins Ave -- over the bridge from downtown) New-American fare (i.e. gourmet pizzas). Shadow's Keep (102 Ben Hogan Drive) This one's not downtown, but up on a hill overlooking the city. Nightlife: Charlie's. (428 Higgins Ave) The coolest bar in town. All types come here (I've got a friend who first came here in a baby backpack with her dad.) The Dinosaur Cafe serves Cajun food in back. Union Club (208 E Main St) Pool tables, live music on the weekends; the Hob Nob Cafe is located in the back. Oxford Bar And Cafe (337 Higgins Ave) The 'Ox' is an institution -- part bar/part diner/part keno casino. Good for late night eggs and hashbrowns, or if you're brave, "Brains and Eggs". The websites John listed are great, and The Independent newspaper website has good info as well (under A&E) -- www.missoulanews.com Hope you have fun! |
ATHENA10 Haven't been to the Oxford in a couple of years. Do they still have strippers in the "other" room behind the curtain with a bouncer and cover charge? Lots of local color here--not to be missed especially after midnight!! |
No, Mulligan's (the strip club attached to the Ox) is now closed. I'd forgotten about that!
My husband thought of another restaurant just outside of Missoula -- good for steak and log-cabin atmosphere: Guy's Lolo Creek Steakhouse. It's in Lolo, or rather up Lolo Creek a short way. Big log cabin building, lots of dead animals on the walls, small bar in the waiting area. Huge Frankenstein grill they cook the meat on. |
Great advice from others--but that won't stop me from adding more! Staying downtown would be best as it's a great area for walking and there are some great shops (check out the Laughing Boy, Bird's Nest used books, or Fact and Fiction bookstore, and Rockin' Rudy's south of the river to name a few.).
Other than the DoubleTree and Holiday Inn (there's also a Holiday Inn Express but it's a bit of a walk from downtown), there are very few downtown hotels you'd want to consider: Goldsmith's B&B (close by and right on the river (goldsmithsinn.com) and Foxglove Cottage B&B, a short drive up Rattlesnake canyon, and maybe the Red Lion on West Broadway (I was told it was remodeled recently). If you can't stay downtown, North Reserve has plenty of generic hotels, with C'mon Inn being the nicest (otherwise avoid N. Reserve due to traffic and nothing but big box stores). The hand-carved Carousel for Missoula (www.carrousel.com/)is a must-see even if you don't have kids, but along with neighboring Dragon's Hollow it will keep kids occupied for as long as you'll let them stay. The Bison Range is another great idea--there's a longer tour (over the top of the mountain) or a short one (less chance to see the beasts). Either way, take a short detour if the weather's nice--instead of turning off Highway 93 at Ravalli, continue north another mile or two to the rest area at the top of the hill. The view is one of the best in Montana. There aren't too many good lunch spots on the way (but plenty of spots to buy beer...) so bring a picnic lunch and stop at the picnic area where you're guarenteed to see bison. Speaking of eating, Shadow's Keep is worth it for the great view but probably isn't the greatest food and it's expensive. Better steak and seafood can be found at the Depot (downtown). For burgers, try Naps, and the Shack can't be beat for breakfasts. If you head to Guy's Steakhouse (worth the 8 mile drive south for great steak), consider driving another 25 to Lolo Hot Springs. The springs are in regular concrete swimming pools (hot and hotter), so if you want the real outdoor experience keep going to Jerry Johnson hot springs (ask for directions at the Trailhead in Missoula, and don't go if you can't handle nude bathers). Museums: The Smokejumper Center may still be a hopping spot around Labor Day, and, although not really a museum it'd be well worth taking the free tour. You'll probably see a few of WWII bombers coming and going on their slurry drops if it's a typical fire season since the center is just beyond the airport. Fort Missoula Museum-local history with a one-room school house, depot, Shay locomotive, and lookout tower. The Museum of Military History--right by the Fort Missoula museum. The Museum of Mountain Flying--in a hanger at the airport...and check back for the Forest Service Museum, opening sometime soon. Finally, consider driving up to the Blue Mountain Lookout tower (11 miles of dirt road, slow but not too rough. Check with the Forest Service offices for directions). Sorry for the long posting, but it was kind of sad that the first things people could suggest for "what to do in Missoula" involved leaving town, so this posting needed some input! |
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