Kalispell, Montana

[Ole]

Who can tell me anything about the Kalispell, Montana area as far as someone relocating would want to know?

TIA!

[pquirk]

I can tell ya if you move there I'll come visit. I don't take up a lot of room, but I might drink all your Leinies. :cheers

[GOTWA]

Ole, my gun-toting right minded friend, I think you would love it. Kalispell itself may not be all that thrilling but as I remeber it's a nice enough town. But you will be in the heart of some of the most gorgeous country in the USA.

Montana is a beautiful and diverse state with thick forests and rugged mountains on the west side to wide open vast spaces on the east side.

The have generous hunting regs too and while moose are not as popular, the elk roam in vast numbers.

I haven't been over there in quite some time but I think you'd dig it. XLF member Y2K would be an excellent source of info on the area. Shoot him off a pm and tell him I sent ya.

Attention Calfornians, everything I just typed is a lie. Montana, in fact the entire Pacific Northwest, sucks. It is a Hell hole of nuclear waste, crazed anarchists, and violent unstable volconos. You never, ever want to live there. (Teasing...sorta... ;))

[GOTWA]

And hey, you'll only be a couple hours ride from me. What more do you want? :dunno

[pquirk]

...Attention Calfornians, everything I just typed is a lie. Montana, in fact the entire Pacific Northwest, sucks. It is a Hell hole of nuclear waste, crazed anarchists, and violent unstable volconos. You never, ever want to live there. (Teasing...sorta... ;))

That's friggin' funny Man! :laugh

[Ole]

...you will be in the heart of some of the most gorgeous country in the USA.

Montana is a beautiful and diverse state with thick forests and rugged mountains on the west side to wide open vast spaces on the east side.

The have generous hunting regs too and while moose are not as popular, the elk roam in vast numbers...

Yah I'm thinking that I can't really go wrong almost anywhere on the continental divide. I was checking into the WI DNR but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. I can't stay doing what I'm doing, sitting here behind a computer all day long. We're tossing around relocating and we're just checking into different areas...anywhere from Montana/Idaho south to Arizona...

Thanks man!

[debster]

Ole, that is some of the most beautiful country in the west! I lived in MT for 7 years (until 1990), and I would still be there today if I could've found work that paid a living wage. I still have friends there that I visit every few years.

Pay scales seems to run well below national averages. MT is one of the few states that still do not have a sales tax. Real estate can be pretty pricey these days, especially in the fast-growing areas, which I believe include Kalispell. (I'm blaming Hollywood for that.) Recreationally speaking, if you love the outdoors, it's a great place to be. Lots of fishing, hunting, hiking, great motorcycling in the Rockies. There is a helmet law.

Bottom line, if you've got a decent job there, it's a great place to live. The sun always shines there!

[GOTWA]

Deb hits on a couple good points. Idaho and Montana do not have thriving state economies. And yes, some areas are getting stupidly expensive to live.

A really growing and attractive place is Post Falls Idaho. It is attracting more and more manufacturing businesses. Idaho, unlike my sad and greedy state, is business friendly. It's just outside Couer d'Alene (core-da-lane). Post Falls used to just be a blip on the radar and Couer d'Alene just a lake town. But Californians (and that isn't a slam just reality) have changed all that. Couer d'Alene is becomming quite the popular relocation community, along with Sandpoint Idaho, Bozeman MT, etc.

Post Falls is still very affordable and really nice place to live. Along with the jobs it has directly you are only a stone's throw from Spokane and Coeur d'Alene and the jobs they offer. I work with a hoop of people who live in Idaho but work in Washington, thus escaping our ridiculous taxes and stupid laws but reaping the benefits of the larger city.

I remember Kalispell being a logging town but I reckon, as Deb said, it has changed.

I'm better at talking about Idaho and really think you would like it there as well. I lived in Boise for almost seven years and damn near moved back there when I got out of the military. In fact my wife wanted to move back there and not come home but for various reasons we did come home. Some days I wonder if I made the right choice. My brother called me one day and said he'd been offered a job in Boise and wanted to know what I thought about it. If I thought he'd enjoy it there. I told him, knowing him, that he should move there in a heartbeat. And he did and has been there for years and has no plans of ever leaving. It's an awesome city smack dab in the middle of some of the most amazing country you can imagine. An hour in any direction brings incredible landscapes from high desert vistas to deep rugged mountains.

Give me some info buddy and maybe I can help more. What's your skill set? Other than killing shit I mean. :D Do I remember you saying you have a machinist background or am I wrong on that? What about the wife? Will she be looking for work too?

[Ole]

Ole, that is some of the most beautiful country in the west!...Recreationally speaking, if you love the outdoors, it's a great place to be. Lots of fishing, hunting, hiking, great motorcycling in the Rockies...
Some of the major reasons that I'm searching all along the continental divide.

Pay scales seems to run well below national averages. MT is one of the few states that still do not have a sales tax. Real estate can be pretty pricey these days, especially in the fast-growing areas, which I believe include Kalispell. (I'm blaming Hollywood for that.)...Bottom line, if you've got a decent job there, it's a great place to live...
I've been searching on housing and whatnot and haven't really been too disappointed but, then again, I'm just looking at working in Kalispell and living someplace more rural (smaller town). I'll listen to any advice you've got about the area. A BIG thank you for the input!


Deb hits on a couple good points. Idaho and Montana do not have thriving state economies. And yes, some areas are getting stupidly expensive to live...
Yah that's why I'm not going anywhere without a job waiting for me. I've been doing some searching and there's jobs to be had just about anywhere. I think that a lot of it just depends on the trade/profession, the individual doing the looking and what that individual (or their family) is willing to do to make their own life (lives) better (better being a relative term to each person).

I'm better at talking about Idaho and really think you would like it there as well. I lived in Boise for almost seven years and damn near moved back there when I got out of the military...It's an awesome city smack dab in the middle of some of the most amazing country you can imagine.
You're tempting me you...you...you evil tempter.

Give me some info buddy and maybe I can help more. What's your skill set? Other than killing shit I mean. :D Do I remember you saying you have a machinist background or am I wrong on that? What about the wife? Will she be looking for work too?
Yah machinist/toolmaker, however I also designed tooling for over 10 years. I can do either, and have earned my living at both, but I really prefer to work with my hands making the parts.

The Mrs. has a degree in hotel and restaurant management but hasn't been in the industry since our oldest was born over nine years ago; bless her soul she stays home during the day with the kids so we're the one's raising our children. That industry isn't very conducive to a normal family life though (odd hours, work weekend and holidays and whatnot). She teaches dance (jazz, tap and ballet) part-time a few evenings per week, pretty much to get out of the house once in awhile and keep her sanity. She might work for a studio somewhere if she can find one, or start her own? Who knows?

A BIG thank you for your input as well! I'll take any information, advice and personal experience you're willing to lend me.


I'll send a PM with my resume for you to peruse at your leisure...:roflblack

[doxbike]

Hey Gotwa:

Lighten up on CA,

I was born in Wyoming, lived in Montana for 26 years including 4 years at MSU, went to school in Washington, and moved to California more years ago than I care to divulge.

Still have relatives all over Montana, and can still outshoot all of them.

Californication ain't all bad.

[Y2K]

Nice town and as Erik said some stunning country,hell it's a dayride to Glacier National Park and Flathead lake is right there by Kalispell.
Some of the best trout fishing in the nation in the local streams too.
If you do need to go to a city for some reason it's not real far to Spokane,Wa./CoeurD'lane,Idaho or down to Missoula although it's not as big but Kalispell is big enough to have most everything you need including a Harley dealer.:smoke

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Here's a couple pics of Flathead Lake and some from Glacier Park to give you an idea of what the area is like.;)
Rough winters but summertime it's georgous there.

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[Ole]

Nice town and as Erik said some stunning country,hell it's a dayride to Glacier National Park and Flathead lake is right there by Kalispell.
Some of the best trout fishing in the nation in the local streams too.
If you do need to go to a city for some reason it's not real far to Spokane,Wa./CoeurD'lane,Idaho or down to Missoula although it's not as big but Kalispell is big enough to have most everything you need including a Harley dealer.:smoke

[maps]

Here's a couple pics of Flathead Lake and some from Glacier Park to give you an idea of what the area is like.;)
Rough winters but summertime it's georgous there.

[absolutely gorgeous photos]



WOW! Thanks for the pictures and insight man! As far as 'rough' winters go, I've lived in NW Wisconsin almost all of my life. I don't mind the winters so much but the lack of snow some winters is starting to bother me. We don't get it like we used to when I was a kid. I can handle cold but I like white stuff to go with it. :banana

[Boyd Who]

Kalispell & area are one of our favorite "close" places to visit. Not to far from Calgary. We try to drive down at least once a year. It's a very tourist-driven region. Whitefish (excellent skiing) is located about 20 or so miles to the north.

Although the road is only open for a few months in the summer, "Going to the Sun" highway through Glacier Nat'l Park is one of the most scenic rides on the continent. It's only about 50 miles long, but can take over 3 hours to do. I plan to ride down from Calgary this summer on my Sporty. Don't take it if you're scared of heights, though. :D

As for helmet laws, IIRC there is no helmet law for persons over 18 in Montana.

[GOTWA]

Hey Ole, did ya get my pm?

[idahopilot]

"Californication ain't all bad."

OH YES IT IS!

[risotteria]

starts snowing in august and warms up by july

[Ole]

Hey Ole, did ya get my pm?

Yah I did, thanks man! I just finally found time this weekend to do some searching (busy as all get-out at work right now).

[GOTWA]

Yah I did, thanks man! I just finally found time this weekend to do some searching (busy as all get-out at work right now).

Ok cool. My pm's were acting up a while back and just wanted to make sure things were working and you got it.

[FRAZZ]

Hey Gotwa:

Lighten up on CA,

I was born in Wyoming, lived in Montana for 26 years including 4 years at MSU, went to school in Washington, and moved to California more years ago than I care to divulge.

Still have relatives all over Montana, and can still outshoot all of them.

Californication ain't all bad.

They're just driving up land values to where the locals just getting in to the house market, can't afford it, and anyone coming in, coupled with the low wage, can't afford it either:( It sure enough is the last best place...going back this summer, for good:clap