Perhaps, like me, you are the stereotypical college student that always seems to be short on funds and unfortunately the popular activities of skiing and snowboarding during these frosty Missoula winter’s become a bit pricey after the first lift ticket (or even just the first!). Fortunately, you don’t have to be left out of winter fun to be had and you’re wallet will be pleased with these cheap adventures you can try.
Of the most basic and possibly most fun, we have the true cash-free winter activities. One of the best things you could possibly do during the week to take the edge off tough classes and the stress of work : grab a couple friends, some inner-tubes or plastic discs that will bring you back to snow days as a kid, dress warmly and find a good hill somewhere to burn off some calories and have some serious fun. Bringing along hot chocolate doesn’t hurt either.
A new one that I have just recently been introduced to as a non-Missoulian: going to the hot springs. There a couple different places you can go to soak in the natural hot spring fed pools, one of the most popular that I’ve heard of is the Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, which is a free, hike-in destination near Lolo (technically Idaho). So if you feel like taking a trip on the weekend and have a car, this would be the perfect getaway. Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is open from 6:00am-8:00pm, but be advised that there are very often nude soakers so if that is a little too open for you, you might want to find a commercially run location such as Lolo Hot Springs.
If you want to try something new or just skate around with some friends, try ice-skating at the nearby Glacier Ice Rink. Adult skate rentals are listed at only $4 and they are open for public skating on many of the weekdays. For a more detailed schedule click here.
If all else fails, you don’t have enough free-time, don’t feel like driving or just need something small, a fool-proof idea is just simply putting on warm clothes and venturing outside, possibly with your furry canine companion in tow, having a good old fashioned snowball fight or snowman building contest or just trekking to a nearby coffee shop for a caramel macchiato to help you stay warm!