Creative Sabbatical in Montana (Missoula, Great Falls: apartment, rent, how much)

[RossMNewton]

Hi,

I currently live in Dayton, Ohio and I'm planning on moving to Los Angeles for work. I'm a freelance 3D digital artist mod cut. There's not enough work for me where I'm currently at. On my way, I want/need to take about a three month break to hone my skills and work on some new ideas. I want to go somewhere I've never been that's very different than where I'm at and where I'm going.

So I'm looking for somewhere in Montana that would suit me for this break. I don't know much about the state except for a little research I've done. I'm basically looking for a small-town environment, some place well-kept and clean, friendly people, and great scenery and hiking (I don't fish or hunt). Like kind a "one road" kind of place that has a diner, a movie theater, a coffee shop, etc (and an internet connection). And of course a city where I can rent a room of a house or a small apartment. It seems like these kind of places don't really exist because they get left behind and lose their quaintness and don't stay well-kept. I'm open to something small to medium sized. I'm not looking for the size of like a Great Falls or Missoula however. Helena seemed nice, but that might even be too large. I was looking at really small places like Winifred but a place like that might be too small. I was hoping someone on here may live in or have visited this kind of ideal place.

Everyone on here seems really helpful so thank you in advance. I know this idea of mine technically qualifies me as a tourist. However I'm really not into touristy things and am just looking to mesh well for a couple of months while I work, find some regular places to occupy my time, and meet some good, real people (like myself) in the process.

Ross

[bigtrees]

Yeah - Cooke City, Montana would fit your bill nicely.

[AndersonRM]

Take a look at the Bitterroot Valley. The towns of Stevensville, Corvallis, Hamilton or Darby.

The valley is a long narrow valley in Western MT surrounded on three sides by National forest. The Bitteroot Mts on the west rise up about up 9000' with hiking canyons about every 5-10 miles. The Sapphire Mts on the east rise up about 7000'. To the west there is the Bitterroot Selway Wilderness area, the largest in the lower 48.

[AndersonRM]

I was looking through the local Hamilton newspaper, the Ravalli Republic, and found a 48 page magazine named Vista http://www.ravallirepublic.com/bonus/Vista/ (broken link) that provided a complete list of things to do this summer in the Bitterroot.

[Timberwolf232]

Just don't write some magazine article about how much you like the place...

Sorry to say it, but it draws the masses and ruins what made it worth writing about in the first place. There has been an onslaught of articles in outdoor mags, movies and TV lately about Montana. A few people profit from this, but it can also make it harder for people who live here too. Please keep that in mind.

[RossMNewton]

Originally Posted by AndersonRM

Take a look at the Bitterroot Valley. The towns of Stevensville, Corvallis, Hamilton or Darby.

All of these look great. Thanks for the advice. And no, I won't be writing any magazine articles. I'm just trying to remove distractions, focus, and get some things done before I deal with Los Angeles.

Sincere thanks.

[Montana Baby]

Or go north of Missoula. Polson maybe a nice fit or even Kalispell.

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by Montana Baby

Or go north of Missoula. Polson maybe a nice fit or even Kalispell.

It's hard to get more touristy than Kalispell / Flathead Valley area! It's beautiful there (in the summer) but awfully touristy.

[rangerider]

You might check out Townsend or White Sulphur Springs. Don't know about a movie theater in either place, though.

[AndersonRM]

Originally Posted by rangerider

You might check out Townsend or White Sulphur Springs. Don't know about a movie theater in either place, though.

Worst water I ever tasted was in WSS.