Page 60 - PureMontana // 2016

MISSOULA & THE BITTERROOT
M ISSOULA, NAMED AMONG the Best Towns in America by Outside Magazine, is Northwest Montana’s biggest city. is city of 80,000, fondly nicknamed “Zootown,” is young and forward thinking, a center of technology, music, and contemporary
culture.
As Outside put it, Missoula is “a
place where people who could live any- where choose to live.”
Once the bottom of an ancient gla- cial lake, the at and walkable land is surrounded by steep hills on all sides. e Clark Fork River, which bisects
the town, is full of opportunities for recreation—there’s good shing, boat- ing, and even sur ng. Come winter, ski the Montana Snowbowl or hop in the car for a day trip to the bigger ski resorts in White sh or Bozeman. e Bitterroot Range, named after Montana’s state ower, runs past Missoula to the west and provides a playground for hikers, climbers, and other wilderness users.
A regional destination for shopping and dining, Missoula draws people from all around the state and beyond. ere are three distinct shopping districts, and
enough restaurants, cafes, and breweries to keep any foodie entertained. Bumper stickers that read “Keep Missoula Weird,” re ect the pride and eclectic cul- ture here, which is expressed during all sorts of community gatherings, events, and festivals. Rich in the arts, Missoula o ers local and world-class theatre, lm festivals, ballet, and opera.
One hour south of the city, the Stock Farm Club is a luxury community in Hamilton. Elegant and rustic, the pri- vate club is home to people who share a passion for Montana’s rare beauty and the adventures this land has to o er.
COUNTER-CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
A y sherman casts, hoping to land the “big one.” JASON VANDEHEY
Nothing beats soaking in the hot springs.
GORODISSKIJ
The beautiful Bitterroot is the state ower of Montana. CHRISTOPHER GARDINER
60 PURE MONTANA // PureWestRealEstate.com // 2016