At first glance, Missoula might strike you as just another sports-obsessed burg like Boulder. Which is not untrue: there are no fewer than three dozen cycling, paddling, skiing, and fly-fishing shops inside city limits (pop. 66,800). But the former lumber town is in close enough contact with its industrial past to have retained its old grit. The University of Montana has outsize influence, adding intellectual vibrancy the city might lack otherwise. At local institution Charlie B's, you can catch a glimpse of what Missoula used to be, lumberjacks and Forest Service employees, doing their best to crowd out today's ubiquitous species: college girls in GO GRIZ T-shirts.
Missoula whitewater Photographer: Woods Wheatcroft
Comments
Family here, nephew at U of Montana. Prefer north, Swan Lake area myself but Missoula sure is nice
Flag ThisIf you can afford to live here, then it's great! But cost of living is insane! I would choose Spokane, WA over Missoula anyday!
Flag ThisMan, if you would choose Spokane over Missoula, you deserve to live in Spokane!
Flag This@Ken -- LOL! So very true! Not a hater of Spokane, but there is just no comparison. There is something about the culture and atmosphere of Missoula and it's greater valleys. Beautiful, through and through.
Flag This@Ken -- LOL! So very true! Not a hater of Spokane, but there is just no comparison. There is something about the culture and atmosphere of Missoula and it's greater valleys. Beautiful, through and through.
Flag ThisI am originally from Missoula and a lot has changed in the past 13 yrs there but if we could move back home I would do it in a heart beat!
Flag ThisMissoula born, Missoula raised. Fly fishing and Growlers, now those were the days.
Flag ThisNo way Missoula has jobs or AFFORDABLE housing! What a joke! very beautiful place, but I would NEVER move back...and I lived there for 25 years!
Flag ThisNo way Missoula has jobs or AFFORDABLE housing! What a joke! very beautiful place, but I would NEVER move back...and I lived there for 25 years!
Flag ThisGee, they forgot to mention malfunction junction and the insane traffic on Reserve.
Flag ThisGee, they forgot to mention malfunction junction and the insane traffic on Reserve.
Flag ThisAll you Californians and east coasters stay away, this place is a DUMP!
Flag This@BEAN how long has it been?? Malfunction Junction hasn't existed since about 8 years ago.
Flag Thiswth. ? I lived in missoula beginning in 1965 when there was no such thing as the reserve street bridge. Russell street bridge was almost brand new. Reserve was a two lane road along the south west edge of town, turn right at the 3rd light and you were heading down the bitterroot valley. 93 south.
Flag ThisHomer, are you freakin nuts? Spokane is a great little town. Love me some Spokanistan/spocompton, but there is absolutely no comparison. Missoula wins hands down.
Flag ThisStay Away....That's funny. There was an opinion editor for the Seattle Times who used to tell all that it was their responsibility to tell all their relatives that the weather was always rainy in Seattle. He said it was their civic duty to LIE to keep them from moving there.
Flag Thisstay away, There was a journalist for the Seattle Times (Emmet Watson) who used to say it was every Seattalite's responsibility to tell their friends and family how crappy the wether was in Seattle to discourage them from moving there.
Flag Thisdont gooo
Flag ThisCarved out a great life for myself over 8+ years in Missoula, with time and patience a great career is possible. I've lived all over the globe and Missoula is my idea of heaven on earth.
Flag ThisSure it's ok, but there are no JOBS in Missoula. The winters are long and cold. I'll take someplace warmer anyday.
Flag ThisSure it's ok, but there are no JOBS in Missoula. The winters are long and cold. I'll take someplace warmer anyday.
Flag ThisSure it's ok, but there are no JOBS in Missoula. The winters are long and cold. I'll take someplace warmer anyday.
Flag ThisI agree with STAY AWAY, Missoula is awful...summer is no fun and there are m Uiean bears and mountain lions around every corner that would eat you in a heartbeat.
Flag Thisand we have sweet coffee (BlackCoffeeRoastingco.com), Great Beer (various!), Great Fair-Trade Tea (BijaBody.com), sweet clothes shopping and one of the best SUP shops around (Strongwater!)
Flag ThisI live in NW Montana..... and I would say the Western portion of Montana should be ranked in the top three if you enjoy the outdoors.
Flag ThisOverpopulation ruins the nice places, so if that is no concern, then by all means move to Missoula. Hope you have deep pockets, though, and are self-employed.
Flag ThisMissoula is a great place if you have a truckload of money, don't need a job or retired with plenty of money. It's a great place for older retired folks with the coins because the mountaineering, backpacking, river running, skiing and continuing education opportunities are awesome. And like all of these "best places" that magazines feature, usually the writer of them has no real knowledge of the drawbacks or the real "hangouts" - whoever wrote this piece falls into that category.
Flag This