Honestly I just had family in town for about 8 days and I think they had the best trip they could have imagined I will hit highlights of what to do to always remember it. They stayed at the KOA in a camper and loved it BTW.
1. Find someone to take you on a brewery/distillery tour. or you can take the bike brew tour if you don't have a driver. We went to big sky (Brew), highlander (Brew), Montana (distillery), Draught Works(Brew), Montgomery (Distillery) and Bayern(Brew). We started about noon and it was a hell of a day. Still missed a bunch of brewery's
2. Flathead lake... we took the short 1+ hour trip north to Flathead. We went to Finely point. left town about 8 am and got there. got a nice spot under the trees with a cooler and chairs. Floated aroud in a tub and paddle board. Drank a few beers and a sandwich for lunch. Stopped and got some Flathead cherries on the drive back. Great way to spend a day
3. Downtown Tonight. Thursday night went to caras park and enjoyed some awesome music and ate food from some great food carts. At the end walked up to Mary's Mountains Cookies about .5 block away and had an awesome ice cream cookie sandwich! Amazing place night to get Missoula culture.
4. Hike the M. We took a hike up the M one morning before it got too hot. Just took our time and walked it. Beautiful sites and amazing place to look over the campus.
5. Fished the Bitteroot River. Grabbed a 3 day fishing license for the family and took a drive down the Bitterroot. We fished in the later afternoon and early evening. Surprisingly fish were biting as soon as we got there. Had some first timers catch some beautiful and large trout.
6. Float the River. We dropped in the blackfoot up at thibodeau falls and floated down a few hours. Great way to go as you have a few little rapids at the start and then it just calms out and you can just sun bath and enjoy a beer. I also enjoy floating the bitteroot from lolo into missoula.
7. Went and got big dipper ice cream one evening. There was a small line of only 10-15 people and is usually much longer. worth it and always is.
8. National Bison Range. This was probably the favorite of the family. I go 2 times a year usually. Its about 45 miles from Missoula and is awesome. We hit it on the way back from flathead lake becuase the best time to go is in the evening or really early. you have to start by 7pm. I recommend about 6-630. leave the lake about 530ish. We saw a few bears, Elk, Deer, Antelope, Bison within a few feet and Birds galore.
Other:
-I think you are coming the week of the Fair in Missoula. It is not what it once was...but it is free to get into and you can go see a rodeo one night or get some great fair food!
- Glacier national park. I love Glacier national park but it is a good 3 hours from Missoula. It also is very very busy this time of year. If you do it, I recommend staying in like Kalispell the night before and getting up early and getting in. You can do a fair amount in a day but if you go. The going to the sun road is a MUST!
- Phillipsburg! another family favorite. Head over to phillipsburg and mine some gemstones that you can keep as is or send off to be cut and polished for some jewelry. You can stop by their sweet palace candy shop too!
- My favorite drive: Skalkaho pass! just head down 30 minutes south and jump on the highway 38 and it takes you on a beautiful drive that takes you to a few waterfalls. Drive all the way through takes a few hours and drops you out by phillipsburg!
