Missoula, Montana is one of my very favorite places to visit. My husband's grandmother was born and raised there and so the first several years of our marriage we went every summer or fall. There is so much to do there and during this time of year I always find myself longing to take a road-trip.
Here are some of my favorite things to do when in Missoula or the surrounding areas:
Places to Eat
Paul's Pancake Parlor: All I have to say is the breakfast there is absolutely delicious! We've been a few times and it is a great place to do breakfast or brunch. This time I ordered the Veggie Hash browns (mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, and cheese, sitting atop a pile of hash browns) and it came with french toast too!
The Montana Club Each time I've visited I have tried something new and can honestly say I've never had a meal that I didn't like. I especially love the salmon. The restaurant is lodge-style and it's fun to see all of the animals mounted on the walls around the room, and pictures of historical Montana events hanging around the room. My favorite stuffed animal is the grizzly bear.
Bob Marshall's Biga Pizza serves A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and very interesting pizza. My favorite pizza there is called the Flathead Cherry. It had homemade sausage, cherry chutney, smoked gouda, mozzarella, garlic oil and parsley. We also tried the Sweet Potato Bacon and Maple Chipotle pizza that had local bacon, caramelized sweet potatoes, toasted hazelnuts, olive oil, mozzarella and a maple-chipotle drizzle. The Mediterranean Salad is delicious too. We've eaten in and have also gotten it to go and both were very pleasant experiences. Be prepared for a small wait if you go when it is busy because the restaurant is pretty small.
Ekstrom's Stage Station The restaurant is located in historic homesteader cabins and they serve traditional ranch meals. There is a huge variety including watermelon-pickles and huckleberry pie. I've only been there once but it was good enough to return.
The Big Dipper has been one of our favorite places for years. We discovered this place on my first trip to Missoula and I highly recommend stopping there if you are ever in town. Even Sunset Magazine recommends stopping there, as do the 40+ people we waited in line with on a rather chilly night at 9:30 p.m. IT IS GOOD! My favorite flavor is White Mint Oreo. I always get the Little Dipper which includes a huge spoonful of chocolate fudge in the bottom of the bowl, a fairly large scoop of ice cream, more chocolate fudge, a few spoonfuls of nuts, whipped cream and a cherry on top. My husband loves their huckleberry shake.
Entertainment
The Book Exchange: I could literally spend hours in this bookstore! It is the best new/used bookstore I have ever been too and I spend months collecting books to trade-in for store credit. They sell bargain books (new and used) and a lot of Montana authors. Many of the books are dirt cheap and another exciting aspect is that you never know what you're going to find, as the turnover of inventory is huge.
A Carousel for Missoula: It opened in 1995 and was carved by hand by a local cabinet maker and is very exquisite in the details. My favorite pony is named Paint. Not only is the carousel pretty, there is also an awesome game that is part of the ride. There is a big dragon mounted atop the admission gate, and the mouth is filled with plastic rings. There is a special brass ring hidden among the others, and the lucky rider who manages to snag it gets a free ride! There is a fun playground outside that our kids love to visit.
Beautiful lakes and rivers abound. My husband's family used to have a yearly reunion at Seeley Lake which is gorgeous and not too cold at all. There is plenty of wildlife to look at too.
Visit surrounding areas such as Whitefish. A few years ago we tried to go to Glacier National Park, only to have the government shut down happen a few days before we were supposed to be here. The drive from Missoula to Whitefish gives great views of the Mission Mountains. To get there you have to drive through the Kootenai Indian Reservation where there are several antique stores along the highway.
We visited Whitefish during the off season so we were unable to ride to the gondola to the top of the mountain, but I am sure the views are incredible. We were there in the fall and Whitefish Lake was beautiful during that time of year. It sounds like a fun place to be in July as well because they shoot off fireworks over the lake. For one of the best slices of pie ever, stop in at Loula's and try the huckleberry. The Peach-Raspberry is really good too. They have a farmers market and a really cool toy store.
Kalispell is also a fun place to visit if you need a place to stay for the night. While we were there we ate dinner at a place called Norm's News, which was an old fashioned diner that included a Soda Fountain, Candy Shop (over 400 + variety), and a ton of magazines. The food was typical for that sort of place, nothing gourmet but it definitely hit the spot.
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