Conveniently straddling I-90, Missoula is an easy-access winter destination with a satisfying mix of urban amenities, mountain scenery and outdoor fun. In Missoula, you’ll find opportunities for skiing and snowboarding, ice skating and more. If you’re a skier, head to Montana Snowbowl (montanasnowbowl.com), about 20 minutes from downtown. At Snowbowl, you’ll find 2,600 vertical feet and more than 900 acres of terrain. You can even stay slope-side with a ski and stay package at the ski-in-ski-out, European-style Gelandesprung Lodge.
If you prefer urban surroundings, stay downtown within walking distance to restaurants and nightlife. For a mix of character, vintage style and history, The Wilma (stayatthewilma.com) offers contemporary, vacation-rental condos in a renovated 1920s theater building right on the Clark Fork River. When it’s time for some winter fun in the city, head to the fairgrounds and strap on the ice skates at Glacier Ice Rink, which has both indoor and outdoor rinks.
If you’re driving from Seattle, you’ll reach Missoula in about seven hours; from Portland, in a little over eight hours. To find out more about a visit to Missoula, go online at destinationmissoula.org.
