Missoula is without a doubt, a beautiful city. The Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Blackfoot rivers are beautiful; you can see the mountains from anywhere in town and the trees are breathtaking. What makes Missoula even more desirable is an incredible culture, making it no surprise that Missoula landed a spot on the 10 best places to live in the U.S. list. Here are 7 activities that make people fall in love with Missoula.

Fishing

Does anyone remember the movie A River Runs Through It with Brad Pitt and Robert Redford? Yepp, that took place in Missoula and captures Missoula’s world-famous blue-ribbon fly fishing and lake fishing. People from all over the world come to Missoula for some of the best fishing you can find. Fishermen who live in Missoula get the perk of having it in their own backyard.

Skiing/Snowboarding

There’s a select group of people in Missoula who deem winter as their favorite season. Those are the skiers and snowboarders. The short 20-minute drive to Snowbowl leads them to their heavenly sanctuary. The trails are steep, the snow is powder and the prices are reasonable in comparison to other ski resorts. They even have a great hotel with world-famous wood-fired pizza.

Skating

Another popular activity in Missoula is skating. Mobash State Park is known for its bowls, ramps, rails, and benches. The state park is accommodating to every level of skater and offers a great outdoor activity for kids. It’s located right in Missoula, making it convenient to get to.

Shopping

Missoula’s Hip Strip offers the perfect shopping for hipsters. Thrift store shopping is a favorite pastime for Missoulians and Betty’s Devine sells vintage-inspired pieces that are newly made to give the experience and feel of thrift shopping without buying used clothing.

Movies

Whether you like the typical AMC movie-going experience or you like the historic movie experience that the Roxy theater offers, Missoula has it all. Missoula is also home to many film festivals including the International Wildlife Film Festival, established in 1977 and held at the Roxy Theater and the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival held at the historic Wilma Theater. Missoula is truly a great place for film lovers. 

Museums

Love Museums? Then check out the ones in Missoula such as the Montana Museum of Art & Culture, which showcases a large collection of objects, featuring everything from Rembrandt to Warhol and the Missoula Art Museum, which is free and offers incredible art.

Floating

If you’re in Missoula for summer, you’re sure to see people of all ages floating the river. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s what we do in Missoula! Floating is not the only river fun we partake in. There’s also paddle boarding, surfing, canoeing and so much more! It’s the perfect leisurely activity on a hot summer day in Missoula.

Missoula is an amazing place to visit and an amazing place to live. One of the things that make Missoula such a desirable place to live is that it is amazing every time of the year. Every season has its place in Missoula.