brooke

One of the advantages to living in a state with so few residents is the lack of light pollution. Even in Missoula, stars are readily visible on clear, cloudless nights.

Where I grew up, I could see even more stars, and they shone even brighter against the backdrop of the pitch-black night sky

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When I first moved to Missoula for college, I was scared to leave the dorm parking lot.

I came from a small town with one stoplight. So to me, this city seemed huge, and I was terrified of getting lost.

As the w

Photo by Brooke Andrus

All good things must come to an end. I always knew that I would have to leave Missoula eventually, but I can’t believe that the time has really come to pack up and hit the road. I have a feeling that it won’t sink in until I’m hundreds o

For most Americans, Labor Day weekend is the capstone of the summer season. It’s a time when families and friends get together to squeeze the last bit of fun, sun and relaxation out of the season before everyone gets wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of fall. W

In the minds of most Montanans, Butte is famous for two things: St. Patrick’s Day and the Berkeley Pit. The Mining City often is the butt of jokes made by those of us fortunate enough to live in, shall we say, more aesthetically pleasing areas of the state. B

Photo courtesy of martinhoward/Flickr

When you first got your driver’s license, you were probably extra careful when it came to following the rules of the road. But, as time goes on, most drivers start to get a little lazy, and some end up developing some pretty bad habits. Lately,

What makes a town, a town? The Montana Department of Transportation was faced with that question in 2000, when it proposed eliminating 18 towns from the state road map.

The office eventually decided that to stay on the map, each town must have at least one year-round resident. In the e

If you thought costume parties were just for kids, think again.

There’s no better way to spice up a summer barbecue than to give guests a dress-up theme. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated — in fact, my experience has shown that the broader the theme is, the more people will participate.

This pas

I love spending time outdoors during the summer months, but I do not love all of the multi-legged creatures that make their home in the forest — especially the ones that bite.

A few days ago, I set out on a nice, long run from the main trailhead in the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area. The temp

If you’ve lived in Missoula long enough, you have probably floated the Clark Fork or the Blackfoot at some point. My friends and I have loaded up our inner tubes and floating coolers dozens of times; we’re always up for a nice, leisurely trip down the river.

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Give visiting friends and family members a taste of real Montana culture at one of these local watering holes.

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Most of the time, I’m a pretty good sport when it comes to being pranked.

OK, that’s a total lie. I hate being the victim of practical jokes, but I love playing the part of the jokester — although, to be honest, most of my pranks fail due to my inability to keep a straight face.

But, I w