The mountain playground we live in provides fun times throughout the year, especially during the winter months with hiking, skiing and snow sports galore. But what about those who prefer a little indoor time during the winter? Afterall, it’s the coziest months to spend inside and explore within.
Don’t worry – we have the indoor winter lovers covered. From student clubs to gaming spots and plenty of ways to make friends, build community and ride out the shortest days of the year, UM has tons of outlets to stay cozy indoors throughout the winter.
Check out this extensive list of some fun indoor options in our coldest months:
If you’re looking to have some fun on campus, the Gaming Den is the perfect spot. Located on the 2nd floor of the UC, the Gaming Den has billiards, table tennis and eSports for $3 per person per hour. If you get nervous trying new things, check out the classes offered for learning billiards, table tennis and eSports.
After an intense game of table tennis, take a quick walk over to the new Makerspace — a place where you can do some hands-on learning and use your creativity to make and experiment with things. The Makerspace was created with the goal of being an accessible and inclusive space for students to come create. You can check out their GrizHub page for a list of their events!
Read More: The UM Makerspace: A Jumpstart to Innovation
Missoula’s Roxy Theater, located downtown, is a staple here in Missoula. Whether you are looking to see a film made eighty years ago or now, they’ve got you covered. Before watching, be sure to order their triple organic popcorn — a Roxy movie staple. You can check out their showtimes or follow them on Instagram for events, new movies and more.
Missoulians love their coffee, so the options are endless. Whether you want to stick to a campus coffee shop or visit the UC for one of their fun, daily coffees or venture into town to sit in The Break for a few hours to soak in the cozy vibes, you’ll never want for coffee shops.
Maybe winter sports and the cold aren’t your thing, but you can still get in a workout! Campus Rec has weights, cardio machines, a track, a basketball court, the indoor pool and more. Furthermore, you can sign up for a workout class such as Oula, pilates, yoga and more.
There’s always music in artsy Missoula, and that includes the cold wintertime. There’s venues abound around town, so be sure to check shows at The Wilma, Adams Center, Top Hat and more. Make sure you support your peers, too! The School of Music has events year round, so be sure to check GrizHub and get yourself a seat!
Read More: Best Live Music On and Off Campus
Want to cheer on the Griz, eat a hotdog in a warm space and watch Monte get up to some indoor shenanigans? Make sure you catch a Griz and Lady Griz basketball game this season. There’s explosive energy in the Dahlberg Arena at game time! Not interested in basketball? You can also check out the indoor track events, tennis and softball!
Read More: Griz Athletics - Who to Cheer For and When
UM’s community service is the best – and that’s the truth! Volunteer opportunities are presented throughout the year, so be sure to check fliers, the University website and through social media. Missoula doesn’t run out of volunteer opportunities either. The Food Bank, the UM Food Pantry and the Volunteer Missoula website are good places to start!
Medieval combat? Dancing? Criminology? What do these things have in common? They are ASUM clubs, as well as the perfect solution to do something during the cold months with your peers. There are hundreds of clubs to choose from, and many are clubs that meet indoors, so the only time Jack Frost will nip at your nose is the walk from your dorm to the meeting room!
Read More: How to Join a Student Club at UM
A favorite pastime of many is laying out in the warm night, soft grass beneath them as they stare up into the sky and look at stars and constellations (and satellites)! Well, UM has the opportunity to do that, only you can look at the sky indoors via the UM Planetarium in the Payne Family Native American Center. Keep an eye on the website for themed shows!
Throughout the year, but especially during the colder months, it can be fun to attend a special lecture. It can be fun learning about something you know nothing about or getting a better perspective on topics through experts’ talks and presentations. You can find these lectures via GrizHub, as well as from posters around campus or via your own department’s website if someone is speaking about something related to your studies.