Montana - Travel Blue Book

Picnicking at Ten Spoon Winery

August 6, 2014 By Anne Keery 1 Comment

Ten Spoon Winery is a short ten minute drive up a canyon from downtown Missoula. The winery sits just off of Rattlesnake Drive, which leaves downtown as N. Van Buren Street and heads straight north. At one point, there is a sharp right turn to stay on the main road, however it is very clear which direction you ought to head! The winery pops up on the left hand side, as you are heading north, with a few dozen vines appearing first and a one way driveway shortly after.

Pulling off the road, you drive past the main building and have your choice of parking in a rather large gravel lot. If you are lucky, you will spy a songbird poking its head out from one of the several bird feeders along the fence line.

I hope you remembered to bring a picnic! [Read more…]

First Friday in Missoula, MT

July 8, 2014 By Anne Keery 2 Comments

Photo Credit: By functoruser via flickr and Creative Commons

On the first Friday of the month, every single month, regardless of if it is January 1^st or not, the art galleries and shops in downtown Missoula, Montana are open. More than open, they are open late and celebrating!

Missoula’s First Friday is a decentralized event, with lots of different galleries, businesses, restaurants, coffee shops, bars and retailers participating by featuring artists. Galleries change-up their features and coordinate show openings to fall on these evenings. Then, from 5 until 8 PM, or sometimes later, they are open. Different places have a variety of snacks, drinks and free wine on offer. You can sip on a drink while you wander through. Several galleries have musicians, from one person acts, to harpists, to multi-person bands. In June 2014, there was a wandering brass band downtown! [Read more…]

Five on Black – An Amazing Brazilian Restaurant

June 25, 2014 By Anne Keery 2 Comments

325 North Higgins Avenue looks like pretty much every other business on the street. It has a brick street front, a few tables outside and an awning, with a few gooseneck lamps pointing at the sign.

While it may look like everywhere else, you might see a little bit of a line winding its way out the door. If there is, don’t worry, it won’t take long. This is the home of Five on Black Brazilian Grill. Get yourself in that line!

Five on Black is a newcomer to the food scene in Missoula, Montana, opening in April of 2013. It has already become wildly popular and it isn’t hard to figure out why. [Read more…]

Road Cycling Lake Koocanusa, MT

June 10, 2014 By Anne Keery 2 Comments

Photo Credit: By Colby Stoper via flickr and Creative Commons

Lake Koocanusa is the lake created by the hydroelectric damn located in Libby, MT. It stretches 90 miles (145 km) long and is located approximately half in Montana and half across the border in British Columbia, Canada. A bridge connects Montana Highway 37 on the east side to the National Forest Development Road on the west. After crossing the bridge, you can head north, towards the northern shores of Lake Koocanusa or you can head south, down to Libby.

To do a full weekend itinerary, make your way to Eureka for Friday evening. [Read more…]

Going to the Sun Road at Glacier National Park

April 16, 2014 By Anne Keery 2 Comments

Photo Credit: By twbuckner via flickr andCreative Commons

Glacier National Park straddles the continental divide, providing an epic crossing through Logan Pass, via the narrow twists and turns of the “Going to the Sun Road.” As the only road which crosses the park, the Going to the Sun Road is known as a feat of engineering, and driving it will leave you very much in awe – as long as the shock of the kinks and bends doesn’t overpower you. [Read more…]