Moving to Orono (Bangor: ski resort, homes, high school)

[nanometer]

Hello, everybody,

I am thinking about moving to Orono. I have done some research and have not got very useful information until I came here.

If anyone happens to live Orono or Bangor, Could you give me some more detailed information about the life there.

Orono has a long winter, I wonder what kinds of outdoor activities I can do.

For spring, it is muddy and a lot of mosquito in summer. The small flies could be a very big issue for my wife.

I also read a bunch of negative comments from students about University of Maine, Orono (I would work there. ) . Something like it is boring, difficult to make firends. I am really hesitating after I read this.

Could any local people there give me some suggestions?

Thanks a lot!

[Submariner]

I live near Orono. We like it.

I think that the kids who do not like Orono UM, were expecting a more urban lifestyle. More clubs, more frats, less cops.

Orono offers bike paths, kayaking, hiking, and near-by snow skiing.

Being a small campus town, the locals there have built up a massive PD with 5 times more LEO than a town that size really needs. The LEO get bored so they spend their time busting the kids. It happens, such is life. I did 2 tours of LEO work while in the military, so I am kind of familiar with that scene. I know some of the LEO, so I hear their side of it too.

We have 2 UM professors that live near us, they like it. Near enough to UM that it is handy, yet outside of Orono so we do not have that level of hassle.

I was a vendor at the Orono Farmer's Market for a year. It was neat, some customers would kayak from their homes to the market to get meats, milk, eggs, veggies and fruits.

[nanometer]

thank you so much, forest

[fxtrader]

I went to Bangor High School and had several friends that went to UMO including my wife. I cannot imagine it being hard to make friends there. I spent many weekends in Orono during my college years and always had a great time. I would recommend the college to anyone from what I have seen. Hockey is huge at UMO, so hockey games are the thing to do in the winter. The college has a large field house, public skating arena and an olympic pool so there is things to do inside during the winter. I am not sure if they still have it but there used to be a bus going to Sunday River ski resort from the college. There are plenty of places to cross country ski and snow shoe. Bangor is pretty close by and there is a large mall and strip malls located right off the highway.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by nanometer

thank you so much, forest

Anytime.

Come to the Orono area, tour each community in a 20 mile radius. I am sure that you will find a community that you like [assuming that small towns interest you]. Bangor is close by, though as others will point out, as a 'city' Bangor is small.

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by fxtrader

I went to Bangor High School and had several friends that went to UMO including my wife. I cannot imagine it being hard to make friends there. I spent many weekends in Orono during my college years and always had a great time. I would recommend the college to anyone from what I have seen. Hockey is huge at UMO, so hockey games are the thing to do in the winter. The college has a large field house, public skating arena and an olympic pool so there is things to do inside during the winter. I am not sure if they still have it but there used to be a bus going to Sunday River ski resort from the college. There are plenty of places to cross country ski and snow shoe. Bangor is pretty close by and there is a large mall and strip malls located right off the highway.

The annual "Bumstock" was always fun...do they still do that?

Here's a link to the town website: http://www.orono.org/
Bangor: http://www.bangormaine.gov/

I always suggest starting at the town/city websites for preliminary research. Reading the minutes for town meetings can also tell you a little about how things are decided.

[AustinB]

UMO is a nice school and it is as easy to make friends there as you want it to be.

[8635angelvalley]

Originally Posted by reloop

The annual "Bumstock" was always fun...do they still do that?

Here's a link to the town website: Home | Town of Orono, Maine
Bangor: Welcome to the City of Bangor

I always suggest starting at the town/city websites for preliminary research. Reading the minutes for town meetings can also tell you a little about how things are decided.

I think they still do it but it isn't like back in the 70s.