The best things to do in Missoula

Skip the long drive and cool off right in the University District, where Bonner Splash Deck at Bonner Park keeps the kiddos gleefully soaked while you enjoy playground time, open courts, and easy picnic vibes. Quick reset for a hot week, zero overthinking required.

From the Missoula newsletter, October 3, 2026

If you want a quiet round with mountain views in the Missoula valley plus a legit community hub afterward, The Ranch Club Golf Course pairs links-style golf and large, pristine greens with a restaurant, pools, a fitness facility, and an event barn that hosts everything from weddings to New Year’s Eve dinners.

From the Missoula newsletter, September 21, 2026

If you need an easy win for friend hangouts, Westside Lanes & Fun Center packs 36 lanes, a full bar, Missoula's largest arcade, karaoke on Fridays and Saturdays, and Strike the Grill slinging pizzas, burgers, and all the snacky fuel your league dreams require, plus a private event room when your crew multiplies.

From the Missoula newsletter, November 10, 2026

Craving a quick reset between errands? Larchmont Golf Course keeps it simple with easy tee times, lessons when the swing's gone rogue, and a solid Pro Shop. Post-round, hit the Caddy Shack, or peek at their events if you want an excuse for more golf with friends.

From the Missoula newsletter, October 14, 2026

Missoula Art Museum is serving sharp contemporary work right now with Jacob Riddle: How to Grow a Hammer, on view through October 2026. True to its mission to educate, challenge, and inspire, expect brain-tickling exhibitions and that rare hometown feeling where art actually talks back...

From the Missoula newsletter, October 6, 2026

If you want a quick round without leaving town, University of Montana Golf Course serves up a nine-hole triple tee layout with mature, tree-lined fairways, resident deer, and native prairie views. Fun, affordable, friendly UM student staff, plus the on-site Iron Griz for a victory burger.

From the Missoula newsletter, September 8, 2026

Caras Park is Missoula’s go-to green spot for music and community happenings throughout the year. Between Out to Lunch, Downtown ToNight, and the Garden City Brewfest, it’s the place where a quick errand mysteriously becomes a full afternoon, and you inevitably run into half your contacts.

From the Missoula newsletter, September 27, 2026

When you want something more interesting than your inbox, Radius Gallery lines its walls with contemporary work by local artists plus ceramics that beg a second look. It’s an easy drop-in for a quick hit of Missoula creativity, a reminder your neighbors are wildly talented.

From the Missoula newsletter, September 28, 2026

Highlands Golf Club pairs Missoula Valley views with a nine-hole layout that actually rewards smart shot making, so bring your A-game and maybe your B irons. With eighteen tee positions, a full-service pro-shop and lounge, and staff who treat you like a regular, it’s perfect for quick after-work rounds.

From the Missoula newsletter, October 26, 2026

This week, when the kids are antsy or you need a brain-off float, Splash Montana delivers with three-story slides, a lazy river that veers into a wild branch, zero-depth play and the kiddie Grizzly slide, plus The Lake for honest-to-goodness lap lanes.

From the Missoula newsletter, October 20, 2026

If you like your golf tree lined, fast, and just punishing enough to keep you honest, Missoula Country Club has an 18-hole championship course, short-game facility, driving range, and PGA instruction. Private, welcoming, and surprisingly friendly, with pool, pickleball, and superb food that makes members stick around.

From the Missoula newsletter, September 15, 2026

Canyon River Golf Club delivers 18 holes that reward accuracy across fairways, water hazards, and honest sand traps. For Missoulians, the perks add up with leagues, instruction, and season passes, plus the Fox Den when you want a bite before or after the round.

From the Missoula newsletter, November 1, 2026

Montana Natural History Center is where Missoulians can get hands-on with our local flora, fauna, and geology through interactive exhibits and the Naturalist Lab, then wander the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden.

From the Missoula newsletter, October 31, 2026

Currents Aquatics Center keeps swimmers of every stripe happy with an indoor spray playground for kiddos, a fitness pool for laps, and two legit waterslides for your inner 10-year-old. Add water aerobics and swim lessons, and you’ve got a reliable McCormick Park hang.

From the Missoula newsletter, November 7, 2026

Linda Vista Public Golf Course is the low-stress place to sneak in a round, tune up with real-deal golf instruction, and nerd out on the TrackMan simulator. Grab a bite at the Miller Creek Cafe after you stripe it, or get fitted for Wilson gear so your clubs actually like you back.

From the Missoula newsletter, October 11, 2026