Young Floridian moving to Wisconsin Rapids, unsure where to start!

[EllieKay56]

Stevens Point is a great place for weekends and also Wausau. Wausau has many nice restaurants and new brew pubs. Both have great concerts in the summer.

Also check out Ignite-Young Professionals in Stevens Point. Its a group that gets together to do good in the area but also to socialize.

[SP233]

I would suggest living in Stevens Point, as others have said. The commute to rapids isn’t terrible and there is infinitely more to do, more young people, and overall a better culture. Not to mention more liberal (which I’m assuming you prefer since you lived in Madison.

[Norik]

Originally Posted by damba

Have you really not done any ‘boots on the ground’ comparison of WR yet?

I have. I found a few people here in UW-Madison who come from Rapids and they've given me some advice. I ended up picking a place in the eastern side of rapids, close to the river but also not terribly far from SP if I ever want to go visit.

Originally Posted by EllieKay56

Also check out Ignite-Young Professionals in Stevens Point. It's a group that gets together to do good in the area but also to socialize.

Noted! Hadn't heard of this group before, I'll be sure to check them out.

Originally Posted by SP233

Not to mention more liberal (which I’m assuming you prefer since you lived in Madison).

Not really a selling point for me, the more conservative culture is part of why I decided to stay in Wisconsin as opposed to going back to Florida or moving to a place like Chicago or Minneapolis. I'm not terribly political, but the drug culture and such here in Madison makes me a bit uncomfortable (though I largely chalk that up to it being a college town more than anything).

[dirtydan57]

It would be fun to read an update to this story. How do you like Rapids, how severe was the culture shock and are you still there? LOL I grew up in Rapids but left upon graduating HS.

[Norik]

Update: Things are going well! Working as an engineer at the mill takes up most of my time, so I've honestly barely had any time to get to know the town and its surroundings. I'm enjoying the parks and lakes around the area, as well as the complete lack of any real traffic. I'll wait until winter to form a real opinion on the quality of life, but so far I'm enjoying it here.

The biggest shock for sure was going to a local church and being basically the only person under 50 (except for the two children fidgeting next to their grandmother). I am also amused by the occasional confederate flag bumper stickers, which I always assumed was a southern thing. Those things aside, I think my only real gripe so far is how dark the roads are at night. I'm afraid I'll hit a deer one of these days, I came fairly close not too long ago. Other than that it's been pretty nice.

[sub]

Originally Posted by Norik

Update: Things are going well! Working as an engineer at the mill takes up most of my time, so I've honestly barely had any time to get to know the town and its surroundings. I'm enjoying the parks and lakes around the area, as well as the complete lack of any real traffic. I'll wait until winter to form a real opinion on the quality of life, but so far I'm enjoying it here.

The biggest shock for sure was going to a local church and being basically the only person under 50 (except for the two children fidgeting next to their grandmother). I am also amused by the occasional confederate flag bumper stickers, which I always assumed was a southern thing. Those things aside, I think my only real gripe so far is how dark the roads are at night. I'm afraid I'll hit a deer one of these days, I came fairly close not too long ago. Other than that it's been pretty nice.

Good to hear.
Church culture is definitely a different thing in Wisconsin. VERY Catholic and Lutheran. A lot of people go, even young, but the demographics of who goes where doesn’t always line up in the same manner as other places especially compared to down south or faster growing areas. I can imagine the difference being more amplified in smaller towns.
Confederate paraphernalia gets sales in all 50 states oddly enough. Not sure why at this point. It can represent a LOT of different things to people.

Embrace winter if you really want to give it a fair chance. See if you like any kind of outdoor winter activity, or at least something that gets you out of the house from time to time.