There is no way around it... Missoula is a cool place. We have known it and been boasting about it for years. "Coolcations" are heating up the travel scene: these are vacations where people travel to cooler climates rather than heading to the hotter spots like beaches as a way to enjoy the gorgeous cooler climate, or choose to travel in cooler months as opposed to summer. In their recent list, USA Today highlighted Missoula as a top coolcation spot to visit in the country.
"This college town has a strong community of local farmers and purveyors, a cool arts and music scene, and access to plenty of outdoor gems. And with seriously cold temperatures in the off-season and chilly summer nights, it makes for a classic coolcation.
Bundle up and walk along the Clark Fork River, soak at the Lolo Hot Springs Pools Resort, or hike in the surrounding mountains. The food scene swings in many directions, with restaurants offering college students and locals bites from around the world. Break Espresso is my favorite place in town to grab a treat and a steaming drink after enjoying the great outdoors. For something more substantial, try Golden Yolk Griddle or Michi Ramen Bar."
1. The weather is ideal. Missoula is located in Western Montana, making it a prime spot for a coolcation. Missoula has a hospitable climate year round: summertime brings average highs of 84° with cooler nights, and the winter months bring highs in the 30° range, with average lows dropping into the teens or single digits at night.
2. The access to outdoor recreation is superb. Missoula is surrounded on all sides by pristine wilderness. Located in the heart of five river valleys, you will not be hard pressed to discover seemingly endless opportunities to get outside regardless of the season. Boating, hiking, biking, fishing and hunting, skiing and more, you will find it all in Missoula.
3. Our food scene is sure to wow. Missoula's chefs never cease to wow us. From corner mom-and-pop shops to high-end bistros, you will simply not have a bad meal in Missoula. The love of all things local and season is a cornerstone to our food scene (as evidenced in our outstanding farmers market scene), and the variety of cuisines is more akin to a large city than a small mountain town.
4. Missoula is a welcoming, close-knit community. There must be something in the water or maybe it is the college-town ambiance, but Missoulians are some of the friendliest people you will ever want to meet. They support each other, they welcome newcomers, and they are very involved in the community. This atmosphere makes for a great place to vacation regardless of the size or age of your group.
5. There's a coffee shop or brewery on every corner. We are not kidding. Montana has the highest breweries per capita of any state in the country, so it seems that around every corner is another brewery serving up craft beers (we even have a few distilleries and a cidery to boot). In cooler months, nothing hits the spot quite like a fresh cup of coffee, and Missoula has plenty of those to choose from as well. Snuggle up or grab it to go and explore!
6. Natural hot springs are easily accessed. One serious cool thing about Missoula is its proximity to natural hot springs. If you are looking to enjoy warm waters in a pool setting, be sure to check out Lolo Hot Springs. If you are looking for a short hike to a hot springs in a natural setting, Wier Hot Springs and Jerry Johnson are great options, too, though they require a hike to get to the waters.
