Where in or around Wisconsin should I go? (Madison, Superior: co-op, houses)

[schemn95]

Well I have lived in Wisconsin my entire life. Honestly I would love to live somewhere different (Wyoming, Maine, etc.). My wife is really close to her family though and would probably hate moving across the country and never seeing her family. So I want to live in or around Wisconsin. I guess the reason I dislike Wisconsin because I live sort of by Madison. I'm surrounded by corn fields, cookie cutter houses, flat lands, sedimentary life style, large cities, etc. Basically everything I don't like. I want to live in a place full of woods, nature, hills, lakes and activities. I love everything outdoors from dirt biking, bmx, canoeing, etc. I want to live on the outskirts of a small liberal community. I, like anyone else, enjoy a place with good culture and food though. I know this is a lot for one area but I would really appreciate any personal input. I just am so sick of the area that I live in right now and want to get out.

[MaseMan]

Um...there are plenty of places with woods, lakes, and hills that aren't that far from Madison. I really am not sure where to point you though if you dislike Madison that much.

[schemn95]

Originally Posted by MaseMan

Um...there are plenty of places with woods, lakes, and hills that aren't that far from Madison. I really am not sure where to point you though if you dislike Madison that much.

I think I wan't to live more up north but If you have an city in mind I would still love to hear it. I don't dislike the Madison area that much, it's just not really my first choice as to where I want to live. I have been all around the area and it's not my kind of place. Maybe I missed a city though..

[crazyme4878]

Washburn/Bayfield/Ashland area. Northland College has created a liberal circle of area around it (with plenty of blue-collared conservatives to even it out nicely), and brings in speakers, performers, programs, etc. They just expanded the co-op in Ashland and it looks like it is huge and beautiful. Not a huge amount of restaurants, but a couple great ones. An hour to Duluth for more shopping and eating options. And of course, you have the northwoods surrounding you, Lake Superior at your feet, several cross country ski races in the area, downhill skiing options an hour to the east. Add in that housing prices are ridiculously cheap compared to Madison.

Really, I love the Chequamegon Peninsula. I think it is highly underrated, but maybe that's a good thing.

[cheese plate]

Just west of Madison is one of the best places in the Midwest for nature (Driftless). I would have suggested Viroqua as spot-on what you say you're looking for. The Driftless is a "blue" voting region, unlike the northwoods.

But if you're sold on up north, well, that's the top 1/3 of the state, so you might want to narrow that down a bit. The issue there is there are really no "liberal" towns in the northwoods. There are fairly liberal college towns like Stevens Point just south of the northwoods (and there are tons of woodsy activities all around Point) that might work. Or moneyed vacation cities like Hayward, or Minocqua, or Eagle River or maybe even Bayfield? You could also try Door County, but with many of these places you will definitely run into problems finding a job or affording a good spot to live even with a decent job. Waupaca/Wautoma region might also be another, closer option.