5 Things You Learn About Missoula After A Visit To Los Angeles

I did some travel this Labor Day weekend and got to finally check out a place I've always wanted to go to but never had the opportunity - Los Angeles, California! It was a trip that was a couple of years in the making at this point, centered around meeting up with a few friends for the LA date of the Hella Mega Tour, featuring Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Weezer, and The Interrupters.

We did a few other things while we were there, and in the process, I think I learned something about my own city while I was exploring this new one, too. Here are five things you learn about Missoula when you go to visit Los Angeles:

1) Traffic On Reserve Street - It's Not That Bad!

Even if you've never been to Los Angeles, you've probably heard about the insane LA traffic. Well, there's a reason for that - it felt like just about every trip we took was about three times longer than what we expected it to be. It'll make you feel grateful when you're stuck in traffic on Reserve, because at least you know it could always be worse.

2) Walkability Is Key

There's also a reason why people drive everywhere in LA - it's not a very walkable city. We decided to walk to a few locations to save money on Ubers and the regret was immediate - tons of construction, lots of climbing up hills, and everything is spaced pretty far apart. Compare that to Missoula: you can walk around the downtown area and get everything you need really quickly.

3) Big Concerts In Missoula Are A Huge Community Event

If you live in Los Angeles, you're pretty much guaranteed that every major artist will be coming through town sooner or later, and that's a very cool thing. And Missoula's concert scene has been thriving over the last few years, but our capacity for truly huge shows is somewhat limited. That's what makes it all the more special for when those shows actually do come through town, and it feels like everyone in Missoula turns up for them. I was seeing people I knew left and right at the Guns N' Roses show at Washington-Grizzly Stadium last month, which only added to the experience.

4) Studios Come Here To Bring Realism To Their Films

I did the Warner Bros. Studio Tour while I was in LA, which was incredibly fascinating and a great ride through history. It also fully emphasized just how much you watch on screen is completely fabricated - buildings without ceilings, jungles that are really just a stretch of trees. The WB version of New York's Central Park was like 10 feet wide. That's why productions like Yellowstone like to shoot on location in places like Missoula when they can - if you want authenticity, this is the place to get it.

5) Their 95-Degree Days Are Way Worse Than Our 95-Degree Days

It hit 95 degrees while I was out in LA this weekend, and Missoula's been dealing with that kind of heat all summer long. But maybe it's the air out there in LA , because it felt way worse this past weekend. I was sweating just standing in place while outside. If you're heading to Los Angeles during the summer, don't forget to pack some sunscreen.