We’ve moved from the cultural hub of Missoula to the hard-working, historically rich town of Butte. And although the towns are only about 90 miles apart, they couldn’t be more different. Butte is a city rich in heritage, specifically Irish heritage. In the 19th century, it was the largest city in Montana with a population over 100,000 and one of the largest copper mining operations in the world. So while you’re here, prepare yourself for a historical exploration. First, w

I know we talked about it not being too cold, and eating ice cream and all that...but you know, this is a strange time of year. Sometimes it’s warm--never hot--and the snow that’s been building almost melts away. And then other times, it’s cold--even freezing--and a blizzard whips through and drops a foot of snow overnight. So what we’re saying is that there might be an ice skating rink around. Wasn’t that obvious? It’s always been leading to lacing up some blades to your

In the words of John Snow, “winter is coming.” It’s going to get cold and snowy and windy and you won’t want to eat anything that drops your internal temperature. You’ll be eating soup and chili and...I don’t know, steak? But you most certainly won’t have any hankerings for ice cream. SO. With that said, head over to Big Dipper Ice Cream. It’s delicious, and from what I hear it’s where the cool kids get their sugar fix. #Montana #BigDipperIceCream #MovingtoMontana #Re

I remember the first time I went to a store outside of Montana. It was in Utah on a hot summer day and I was camping with my family at a little KOA on the outskirts of Salt Lake City. I walked into the camp store and being the seven year old kid I was, I picked up a Milky Way and set it on the counter, pulling out the 75 cents that the label stated I would owe. But to my surprise, when the cashier scanned it, it rang up as 87 cents. Naturally, I protested in my child-lik

I hear you. Enough of this consumerist shenanigans. And out of respect for your sensitive aesthetic, we’re taking you another direction. Up. Before you can think too long about it, get ahold of the UM Hang Gliding Club. Yes, we said hang gliding. Like with the wings and the air and the flying, and stuff. When you call them, I don’t really know what you say. Maybe try “I want to fly.” Or even “you got them wings?” And I don’t really know what they do about that. It m

Do you have a dog? Because you’ll want one after a day spent in the beautiful parks located around Missoula. Montana is one of the most dog friendly places in the US. It’s a city nestled in the mountains, with a river running through the middle. The whole thing is basically a big outdoor playground. Get up early and head to Fact n’ Fiction bookstore on North Higgins street to pick up some reading material, and then let your legs carry you. They’ll know where to go. #Monta

Since you were just on campus, do as the kids do. Wait. That could mean a lot of things. Don’t do all the things the kids do. But DO head to Blue Mountain to play some Disk Golf. And before you go, note that this is an actual sport now, and words like folf, frolf, and frisbee golf are considered offensive. It’s not ultimate frisbee. In fact, no frisbees are used. They are called disks. Now that we got that out of the way, let me personally attest to the joy of throwin

Now that you’ve conquered the mythical Brown trout with your cunning and inner-hunter, it’s time to foster the other side of your being. It’s time to drop in, get calm, and do some yoga. ​ Missoula is a beautiful hybrid of rugged outdoors and open-minded sensitivity. You can find everything you want. And within the four block radius of downtown, you can find three different yoga studios to choose from. Speaking from experience, I can fully endorse the sweaty stylings of Bi

Keeping with the spirit of fall, er, this whole guide in general, we are again sending you to the great out-of-doors. That’s probably not a surprise, but there is just so much to do here that we can’t help ourselves. Don’t worry, the next one will involve alcohol. Promise. Today, get out on the river. Specifically, the Bitterroot River. It’s going to freeze soon, and before it does, you should make a concentrated effort to catch some of the Brown trout that are known to

As we’ve been talking about smartphones and technology quite a bit, you may believe that Montana is squarely in the twenty-first century. And for the most part, you’d be right. But not completely. And that’s what makes Montana all the more unique. Hidden in small pockets throughout the state are isolated groups of (often) religiously devout people, living close to the land, with as little influence from modern American culture as possible. It’s a beautiful thing to see.