need honest montana info (Kalispell, Whitefish: schools, living, shops)

[KimnTx]

Hi. My husband and I are wanting to move our three children to Montana, but we are all born and raised in Texas, so we have no clue about your beautiful state except what we found on internet. We are looking for small, quaint, rural living, with friendly people, lots of snow, no heat, and beautiful scenery.
We are 40 miles North of Houston..population 50,000. We want smaller. Any information would get us started in the right direction.
Thank you in advance for your help.

[Timberwolf232]

I'll say the same thing many others have said. I'd come and visit first before deciding to move somewhere. Sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side, take some time to check it out before taking the plunge. (Just a suggestion)

[KimnTx]

Thank you for your reply. We were thinking of visiting in the spring, and somewhere around Kalispell. Would that be a good place to start?

[limadude]

Originally Posted by KimnTx

Hi. My husband and I are wanting to move our three children to Montana, but we are all born and raised in Texas, so we have no clue about your beautiful state except what we found on internet. We are looking for small, quaint, rural living, with friendly people, lots of snow, no heat, and beautiful scenery.
We are 40 miles North of Houston..population 50,000. We want smaller. Any information would get us started in the right direction.
Thank you in advance for your help.

I f you want to move to Montana, We live in a very small rural town. We have 260 people here, Cold in the winter beautiful scenery all around. Great hunting and fishing. Our school is K- 12th grade. I brought my family here 3 years ago from Sacramento Ca. It was a big change, but great for the kids. Anyway I forgot to tell where, Lima Montana. Look us up on the net, and if you have any questions feel free to write me. Rick

[limadude]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

I'll say the same thing many others have said. I'd come and visit first before deciding to move somewhere. Sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side, take some time to check it out before taking the plunge. (Just a suggestion)

you were right on with that! I took the plunge for my wife, Now I am here!!!!

[LRUA]

Kalispell is very good place to start ....anywhere near Flathead Lake ...Whitefish/Columbia Falls ...can't beat it ...close to Glacier National Park ...cold by Texas standards but much milder than farther east in MT

[KimnTx]

I've visited Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Canada, and Alaska, so as far as cold weather is concerned, I have an idea what to expect. Only we want to move someplace much simpler. We aren't big on malls, golf courses or resorts, just nice friendly people, who like the simple life as well.
We want to live in a place where we can park on one end of town with doors unlocked and walk safely as a family to the other end of town, visiting shops and saying hi to folks we know by name. A sort of Mayberry type of setting.
We have a deep love of old towns that don't change just because other towns have.

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by KimnTx

We have a deep love of old towns that don't change just because other towns have.

Towns that don't change defintely does not describe Kalispell or anywhere in the Flathead Valley...I was born and raised there and can hardly recognize the place today

[KimnTx]

Originally Posted by bigtrees

Towns that don't change defintely does not describe Kalispell or anywhere in the Flathead Valley...I was born and raised there and can hardly recognize the place today

hmm...Can you give me any other prospects?

[KimnTx]

Can anyone please tell me about the schools? If you moved to Montana from another state, was it hard for your child/children to adjust? Did they have an easy time making new friends? Any info would be great..thank you.