From KCMO, considering a move to Eau Claire...

[crazyme4878]

Originally Posted by geekduo

I've never been to Duluth though, I'd like to visit up there sometime.

You should definitely find time to visit. Depending on how much time you have, you can visit the Bayfield Pennisula or drive up the North Shore. There is so much to do in the outdoors up there.

[Drover]

I guess I'm not as enamored with Eau Claire as others seem to be. Maybe I let people build up my expectations a little too much, bit I was a bit disappointed when I finally went to check it out for myself. IMO La Crosse offers everything Eau Claire supposedly does, but with more vitality, tidier homes & neighborhoods (not to say Eau Claire is a ghetto or anything), a better-maintained infrastructure, and a nicer natural setting. I'd suggest adding La Crosse to your short list.

Considering what you're looking to get away from, I'd consider crossing the Twin Cities area off your list, even suburbia. It's not as "redneckish" as KC but a lot of the things you seem to not like about KC strike me as endemic to most cities of its approximate size and geographical isolation. Plus I believe you'll find real estate prices in the Twin Cities area to be off the charts compared to what you're used to in the KC area.

[crazyme4878]

I agree with Drover on both accounts. I have never lived in Eau Claire, so I don't know how much I can really say, but I have visited/shopped in the town numerous times and never cared for it. But most of my experience has been in the strip mall areas. I also don't feel like either Eau Claire or Chippewa Falls is close to the northwoods, but I'm a little bit of a snob, as I like to live in the woods....

And while there are very nice places around the Cities to live, I can't help but think it will be a lot of the same from where you are--in ways. I guess it depends on exactly what you want--what specific recreation opportunties you want and how far you want to drive.

Again, Duluth would be my pick. But my heart belongs to Lake Superior and the north, northwoods. I love cold and snow, as well. I think Duluth is beautiful, but there are definitely people who think it is a hole. Also, I feel that the camping and hiking opportunities are closer, but it could just be that my favorite places are closer. Biking in the town itself is more difficult since it is built on a hill. Not sure about the in-town bike trails in any of the OPs picked locations.

Of course, the job possibilities will be stronger in the Cities and even Eau Claire.

[suecen]

Drover- I agree with what you said about EC and LaX; I was just in Eau Claire for first time ever and if given a choice definitely choose La Crosse. There's just something so special about that place and you also have the great Mississippi and can access Minnesota and those great drives. Oh well - just my opinion for what it's worth. I'm biased - I once lived in La Crosse.

[geekduo]

I do agree that LaCrosse is better than Eau Claire. It has more character and natural beauty. However jobs are hard to find in both cities. You definitely would want to find a job before you move. Cities that I also like are Wausau and Green Bay. Appleton isn't high on my list either. I tend to think that Eau Claire and Appleton have a generic, big box feel to them.

The big thing though is finding a job in any of these cities. That is not so easy in the current economy. My husband just went to an IT conference in the Fox Valley and was amazed by how many professionals were either out of work or had been notified that they soon would be. And these are cities that usually are easier to find jobs in than Eau Claire or La Crosse. The IT industry is not as hot as it once was. Do some research on Dice.com for jobs in the cities you are interested in.

[Megan1967]

My 2 cents on this is very dated, but back in 1990 I moved to Eau Claire for two years and found the city very sterile and the people unbelievably unfriendly. If you weren't related by blood (as 90% of the population was at that point) then you didn't exist.

[halfpint512]

I have lived in Chippewa Falls/ Eau Claire my whole life. If you want a nice outdoors type of family setting...you may want to live in chippewa and drive to Eau Claire. There is a new bypass now that gets you from Chippewa Falls to Eau Claire in literally minutes. The best area is Lake Hallie as it is nice and property taxes are going to be lower in Chippewa falls and Lake Hallie area than Eau Claire. There are tons of areas that are super nice in the area as they have been doing tons of work on bike trails. There are beautiful trails spiderwebbing trough Eau claire, even train bridges turn bike trails though the city. But once your off the downtown area...it will be hard to commute on bike as it is mostly fast streets. Depending on where you live in relation to your job.

Definately have a job before you move here though. You may not have a problem being your career...but around here, unless you are a professional or in the Medical profession, your going to be working as a waiter or in a factory assembly line.

There are zillions of parks. Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls has a full zoo that is pretty nice, with tons of nature trails and playground areas. Carson Park in Eau Claire is a neat place also with a Paul Bunyon Logging Camp museum and the Chippewa Valley Museum. And don't forget Lake Wissota State Park.

If you have young kids...there is a nice children's museum downtown Eau Claire. There is one athletic club here for kids that has some fun things and summer camps when school is out. But those are your options for winter time. It can be pretty "cabin fever'ish" by January. We also just finished having -40 below zero windchills and schools were closed for about 3 days too because it was too cold.

This area has a lot going for it if you can find a job.