This year our annual excursion began with a stop in Missoula, Montana. Growing up this was one of my favorite places to visit. Knowing that Clay had never been (discounting his drive through the state in 2009), I knew we had to hop to Montana on our way to Portland.
My Great Aunt Iva (Paternal Grandmother’s Sister) resides in Missoula on 2 acres of gorgeous land on the side of a mountain with amazing views of the entire town. We spent most of our stay in Missoula with her at her home, but also ventured downtown for an afternoon to see Clark Fork River. We began at Caras Park, downtown, that sits next to the river and has a walking path that winds alongside the river. The best part about Caras Park? There is a Carousel! A Carousel for Missoula was completed in 1995 and is one of the striking memories I have of Missoula from my visits in the past. However, I definitely did not remember it being that fast!
In the end, we did not want to leave. I wish we could have stayed and visited with my Great Aunt Iva for much longer than we did, but if we were going to make it to Glacier National Park before our flight out to Portland, we had to mosey along.
Enjoy some of my snapshots of Missoula!

Clay at the Missoula, MT airport – 8.16.14

View of Missoula, MT from my Great Aunt Iva’s back deck – 8.17.14

Posing in the tree in Great Aunt Iva’s backyard in Missoula, MT – 8.17.14

I loved all of these orange berries! They were everywhere in Missoula, MT – 8.17.14

Hiking behind my Great Aunt Iva’s house (hers is the one in the middle) – 8.17.14

Clay’s Carousel Steed in Missoula, MT – 8.17.14

My Carousel Dragon in Missoula, MT – 8.17.14

Great Aunt Iva and I in Missoula, MT – 8.18.14

Clay and Great Aunt Iva in Missoula, MT – 8.18.14

Clay and I at my Great Aunt Iva’s home in Missoula, MT – 8.18.14
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