Need Iowan's Input

[jamesp]

Ankeny Iowa is the place you need

[GayleAZ]

Originally Posted by doogy

You'll like Des Moines but you have to realise that the winters here in IOWA are brutally COLD....I don't understand why people here don't seem to mind...a lot of people leave Iowa because it's so damn cold for almost half a year.

I'm OK with cold. I'm tired of frying my 'posterior' off for 9 months out of the year. I'd actully like to celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas WITH OUT THE A/C ON! It stops being HOT here the end of Oct. and warms back up again in March. The trees are even confused about the seasons now that the place has heated up even more with 6M warm bodies and a few billion cubic yards of concrete and stucco slapped all over the valley.

Only 106 today 110 tomorrow. Come on down - bring your sunscreen and your insurance card for the 3rd degree burns you'll incur just touching a steering wheel - much less leather or vinyl seat covering. Then you need skin grafts to replace the layer you just burned and peeled off the back of your thighs.

[GayleAZ]

Originally Posted by doogy

You'll like Des Moines but you have to realise that the winters here in IOWA are brutally COLD....I don't understand why people here don't seem to mind...a lot of people leave Iowa because it's so damn cold for almost half a year.

Originally Posted by jamesp

Ankeny Iowa is the place you need

Do I really need it if I can't pronounce it!

[Carrie710]

I'm sorry, I'm just getting anxious... I'm moving from Boston, MA to the Cedar Rapids area... I could live within a two hour radius of there because of my work... I know NOONE. Is there any town that would be a little less lonely for me? Thank you!!

[Carrie710]

OK...sorry, thought the rest of my post showed up here... I'm 30, single, a woman with no kids....

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by Carrie710

OK...sorry, thought the rest of my post showed up here... I'm 30, single, a woman with no kids....

If you can easily live within 2 hours of there then these are the towns you need to consider.

First of all, Cedar Rapids itself isn't horrible - it's not too lonely I think you'd be able to meet more people. Iowa City is right down the road, and a lot of people are more partial to it over Cedar Rapids because of the clean college town atmosphere and a little bit more to do.

Metro Des Moines is within two hours, the biggest area of the state and fastest growing - pretty nice place to be. Also check out the Quad Cities. (Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, and Rock Island)

I recommend these four areas because I think you will heave the least trouble meeting people.

Welcome to Iowa!

[Not Iowa]

I'd say anywhere from Iowa City to Robins (just travel 80 to 380 N and pick a spot you like). It's the corridor - and medical jobs with the University in IC are abundent (a strong field in this part of the state). If you want safety you'll find it in any of the towns on this route - if you want quiet, I'd cross Iowa City off the list (at a minimum - anywhere downtown). Small town feel? Marion, N. Liberty, Mt. Vernon are all my faves - there is also Robins, Swisher, Solon - wait, Solon is one of my faves too.... Hiawatha et al. Cedar Rapids of course, it's quieter than Iowa City without the small town feel.

I would probably miss some if I tried to name them all, but as far as potential POE's you have University Hospitals, Mercy Medical, in Iowa City - St. Lukes and Mercy in Cedar Rapids. Those are the big ones.

[Iowagirl566]

Originally Posted by GayleAZ

Do I really need it if I can't pronounce it!

Ank(Rhymes with Hank) + eny(Sounds like Annie) = Ankeny

Last winter was a bit unusual, it started about mid November and I think we got snow in May. Flooding seems to be a major issue in some places so be sure to check that out where ever you move to. Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Cedar Falls, Waterloo and the Quad Cities all had major flooding June 08.

Ames would meet most of the items you are looking for in a town...
There is both a Saturday and a Wednesday Farmers Market along with 3 Greenhouses all within about 3 miles of town.

There are many festivals and concerts that come to town. There is also a beautiful garden(Reiman Garden) that has a butterfly garden.

There is a winery in West Ames and several more within about a 15 mile radius. There are a few Apple Orchards nearby also.

Cute shops in the downtown and North Grand Mall along with 2 Walmarts, Target, Best Buy. Boone is about 15 miles west and it also has cute shops.

There is a college in town which hosts alot of different events and workshops.

There is a hospital(Mary Greeley) in Ames. There is also a hospital in Nevada(10 miles East) and they are in the process of building a new medical center.

Des Moines is about 35 miles south which is about a 35 minute drive depending on what part of town your going to visit. I actually make the drive every day. There are 4 hospital that I can think of along with many outpatient clinics.

I love Dubuque. I use to visit every fall. Beautiful leaves, the cable car shopping area, Galena 15 miles away. Very hill so I always wondered what living there was like in the winter.

Decorah is also very picturique. There is a heritage farm here that produces heritage fruits and veggies(can't remember the name right now). They have several events every year.