Some people feel a natural call to the sea, while others do not. I would call those that hear the sea calling “crazy people”, because that’s where all the capsizing and drowning goes on. We’re land-based folk, but we feel called to the sky, and the Missoula Museum of Mountain Flying truly gets us. Continue Reading

Over the past four years we’ve had a chance to review more than half of all major hotels in the state of Montana, and I can say without a doubt, one of the single worst values in the entirety of the state is the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula. Continue Reading

One of the more interesting places we visited in Missoula also just so happened to be free, and it’s the Montana Museum of Work History, located inside Axmen, a guy’s guy’s store of epic scale and proportion. The lower 8-feet of this store offers BBQs, tools, propane equipment, roofing and gardening supplies, but from eye-level up is a collection of historic items on display you wouldn’t believe. Continue Reading

Missoula is a pretty big city, and one of the biggest in Montana both in terms of size and tourist traffic. It’s a city right on I-90, and the first major city once you drive east of Spokane, Washington. There are a ton of hotel/motel options, but a lot of the usual players may be booked solid when you visit. Take a quick drive off the interstate and hit the Southgate Inn. It’s good value, face value, and we enjoyed our stay. Continue Reading

Of all the IHOPs we’ve reviewed, and believe me, as big fans of IHOP, we’ve reviewed a bunch, this one is easily in our top three favorites. The food is good, the service is prompt, the value is expected and the atmosphere is nice. Add that to their laundry list of promos and you’ve got a dinner destination far better than taking your chances with the random restaurant any day of the week. Continue Reading

We published a review of KOA Campgrounds a few days ago, specifically as it pertains to the property in West Glacier. We enjoyed a number of thoughtful and detailed responses to the review, and as promised, I’ve taken them all into account and written this response which will hopefully clarify a few of the original points, as well as expand into new areas of consideration raised since it was published. Continue Reading

KOA, also known as Kampgrounds of America, has carved out a clever corporate niche in a world of otherwise independent providers. While you technically need nothing more than a few square feet upon which to pitch your tent, KOA has brought in a nationwide corporate brand, and in doing so, they’ve managed to successfully prey on consumers unaware that there is in fact an alternative. Continue Reading

For years now, IHOP has been the clearest face of Pancake Day, a quasi-holiday dating back at least 1,000 years. At first I thought this nationwide fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network was little more than an easy-breezy publicity stunt for this house of pancakes, so ostensibly international. I was dead wrong. This is a serious charity drive, and it serves the children well, as the results surely show. Continue Reading

If you’re driving on Highway 93 in the area south of Missoula, Montana, there’s a certain family fun center you just shouldn’t miss. It’s got a name as unique as the super-fun offerings they have inside, but maybe you don’t have kids, you’re in a big hurry, or just some sort of general fuddy-duddy. I can’t speak to who you are or what made you that way, but I can tell you that if you’re in the area and hungry, forget what you know about afterthought cafés, because Café Gelato is well worth the stop whatever your reason.
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We first visited Staggering Ox in Helena, where they have an unbelievable flagship eatery, complete with acres of kitsch, an art museum full of some of the least likely “art,” and a staff that just can’t be beat… they also have great food, but once you’re there, it hardly seems like the point. We loved the food, so we decided to focus on it more specifically this time around.
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It seems that once you hit the summer scorching states, a big percentage of them have water attractions designed to draw you in. Some are better than others, though, and others still soak you twice when it comes to price. We stayed at plenty, but our favorite by a good margin was the Wingate by Wyndam in Missoula. They’ve got the value, quality, convenience and good rooms too.
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I’ve never pretended I felt anything less than total love for Missoula. It’s hands-down my favorite city in Montana, and maybe even my favorite city anywhere. They’ve got a killer carousel, the greatest public park I’ve ever seen, their public parks have squirty water features for summer play, and the people there are as kind as you’ll find anywhere in the world. So let’s add one more feather to that already-foppish cap; Splash Montana Water Park.
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The city of Missoula has really come into its own in the last ten years. I’m only five fingers, so I have to take it on faith and research (more the latter) and I’ve got to say, of all the places in Montana — and they were all great cities — Missoula is the best of all of them. Currents Aquatic Center might not be the best example of what’s great about Missoula, but it’s got to be easily in the top 2-3. Currents Aquatic Center is really fantastic.
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If you live in a city with a wide selection of professional sports, you may think of minor league games as little more than events that make parking difficult at unpredictable times for no good reason, but in pro-sports deprived cities, it can be a lot of fun. Businesses get behind it to do promotions and giveaways and attendance is strong. The people are there for the fun of it, not because they’re obsessive about baseball, but they do cheer for well-turned plays.
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Just west of Missoula, Montana, along the Interstate-90 corridor, drivers may notice signs for the Smokejumper Visitor Center. The name is a bit puzzling until you learn that it’s exactly what it sounds like – people jumping from planes into flames – and then the whole profession itself becomes the puzzle. I know Smokey says “Only you can prevent forest fires,” but these people take that catch phrase WAY too seriously.
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If you’ve got some extra time in Missoula, Montana, or you want to learn the most about the natural history of the region, there are two great places in town to do it. One is the Elk County Visitor Center and the other is its less attractive cousin, the one that resides on the other side of the tracks, the Montana Natural History Center.
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As a man of miniature stature myself, I’m always on the lookout for new things more me-sized than medium. Mostly my size-based pursuits lead to nothing (thanks a lot, jumbo shrimp!) but there is one thing sized to pint that’s true to its name, and it is miniature golf. I discovered it, and I immediately learned to love it.
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If you aren’t a Montana native, it would seem a bit unlikely you’d be traveling south away from Interstate-90 along the general Missoula-ish swath of the state. Maybe you’re passing by that way because you’re looking for adventure, or your taking a different route to find your way to stones yellow or jelly. I can’t speak to your motivation for driving in such directions, but I can give you advice once you commit to doing so.
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In the heart of the coolest part of Missoula, Montana, and I assure you such a place can and does exist, is a playground park like no other I’ve ever seen. When I say it’s the tallest playground ever, I am so beside myself I can’t possibly be expected to back it up with facts or figures.
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This coming Tuesday is National Pancake Day. Sure, it’s only marked on the most comprehensive of every-holiday calendars, but it happens every year, and it’s a day for win-win benefit all around, so maybe you need to gear up for a hot breakfast this Tuesday, February 24th, and get ready to chow down… for the children.
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