Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Us- outdoorsy, stay in bonfire on Friday nights, 4 kids, like to go to the occasional movie, out to eat at a family restaurant kind of people-mving from the East coast. Husband will be working in North Dakota and flying "home" which we hope is Idaho!
I have been to CDA and Sandpoint about 9 years ago..so I know about them already thanks..other areas
Here's what we are looking for
Small town no more than 30,000 people anywhere maybe down near Boise or Idaho Falls? Or other spots?
Good schools, we don't home school, I don't have the patience! lol...elem,middle and high schools
Conservative thinking ( we are liberal thinking in some things and can get along with all people) but if we had a choice less libs more conservs.
Hunting and fishing available, lakes, and although we know about the winters, maybe a spot that has some more sunny days than North Idaho, and a BIT warmer..lol
Safe!
Affordable property...acreage less than say 250k? Four/Five bedroom house?
Shopping, recreation for children within say 20 mints. or so. I'm not talking mall, but maybe a swimming pool, YMCA, movies, or bowling alley? Museum.you get the picture.
Finally within an hour or so of an airport
Ok, Thank you for your help...we have also looked at MN, Iowa, WItoo..we know spots over that way, just trying to find a safe, conservative leaning state with not a HUGE amount of winter within a 4-5 hour flight from ND. That has lots of trees and beauty! No asking for too much are we?
We welcome any other states suggestions too, I just LOVED Idaho when I was out there..so beautiful! Friendly people.
While Idaho Falls is larger than 30,000, it still feels like a small town.
It has all the amenities you mentioned. We have an especially good museum, The Museum of Idaho, which gets in exhibits that are only seen in large cities, an Art museum that offers children's art classes, and ARTI, a brand new civic live theater which offers acting classes. In addition, we have an Arts Center that has been around for almost 20 years, housed in a former grand palace movie theater which offers art exhibits and live performances year round; everything from musical acts, comedians, touring musicals, etc. perform there. We have had some major entertainment there since it opened.
This is a strongly family oriented town, and there's plenty here to do year round, especially for kids. We have a seasonal covered ice rink, many baseball fields, several indoor sports facilities, and a big sports program for intramural teams, both adults and children. We have lots of small neighborhood parks, some with facilities, and others with some picnic tables. We also have a big park with a good zoo, a rides area, several ball fields, etc. including a skateboard park.
It's sunnier here than in the north, but is most often a few degrees colder and/or hotter. I.F. is about 1000 feet higher than C d'A in elevation, and that make a difference. We also have more days with light breeze. While it's not windy all the time, having a dead calm day is rare here.
In the past, our winters have had a 10-year cycle that starts midway through a decade. 5 colder, snowier winters, then 5 milder more open winters. 3 out of the last 4 winters have been remarkably mild, often with temps around 40+ in February, and the previous winters have been all over the place, but only one has been Idaho cold. Normally, one should expect about 10 days of sub-zero temps in January-early February.
Halloweens have also been warmer by far than in the past. Most Halloweens of my childhood fell to freezing at night, but it's not so now. Our Novembers have been quite warm too.
There's a regional airport in the city limits.
District 91 schools are good, but in general, Idaho is just beginning to re-fund our education system after some big budget cuts and a series of failed experiments during the Great Recession. Your kids will have access to hi-speed computer lines at school, and some pretty good labs.
District 93, which includes all the folks who live outside the city limits, is all pretty good, but has become crowded in the high schools. A bond earlier this year for a new high school failed by only 18 votes, so there will be another bond election coming next year, I'm sure.
You'll find a home here in your price range. You may well find one less than what you are prepared to buy.
We have extensive medical services here , because we service a huge surrounding area. Our regional hospital is large, and there are specialists in all kinds of medicine here.
We have a big mall complex, 2 Wal-Mart superstores, and a Fred Meyer superstore, along with all the major chain stores and lots of locally owned stores as well.
You will find Idaho Falls is politically conservative and progressive as a city. It is very business-oriented here, always has been, and from our earliest beginnings, our people have always created a city that offers its residents a lot of amenities. We generate our own electricity, pump our own water from city-owned wells, and have a very efficient city-owned Sanitation Dept.
All have existed for 100 years- that's the way we do things in Idaho Falls.
I think you would fit right in, too. 4 children is not exceptional at all here.
wow! thank you very informative, maybe a smaller town on the outskirts of I.F. would work for us. We currently live in a town of 20k and it is really a great size. I am a bit concerned about the school systems you described. hmm something to think about. What about outside Boise too? Any nice small quaint towns over that way? I went on the Zoo's website last week and it is definitely a place I look forward to taking the kids too!
Please keep the suggestions coming!
wow! thank you very informative, maybe a smaller town on the outskirts of I.F. would work for us. We currently live in a town of 20k and it is really a great size. I am a bit concerned about the school systems you described. hmm something to think about. What about outside Boise too? Any nice small quaint towns over that way? I went on the Zoo's website last week and it is definitely a place I look forward to taking the kids too!
Please keep the suggestions coming!
Also another good part about Eastern Idaho, in and around IF. You are only two hours form Yellowstone NP, and all the other out door life there is to enjoy. The Snake River is another, of many, other rivers and streams, if you like Rafting or fishing.
Scott
wow! thank you very informative, maybe a smaller town on the outskirts of I.F. would work for us. We currently live in a town of 20k and it is really a great size. I am a bit concerned about the school systems you described. hmm something to think about. What about outside Boise too? Any nice small quaint towns over that way? I went on the Zoo's website last week and it is definitely a place I look forward to taking the kids too!
Please keep the suggestions coming!
Maybe Redburg, home of BYU-Idaho. I think you will want to post your questions on the Boise sub-forum about areas there. Your list is very specific for a small state like Idaho.
Rethink the three things that matter the most and let us know. Perhaps Lewiston has what you do and don't want. Otherwise, if you want to be in ID it's compromises, given your list.
School districts have open enrollment, at least for now. That means if the school has room your kids can go where you want, as long as you take them and pick them up.
I wouldn't write school off as quickly as you. There are Charter Schools, Private Schools and upper valley eastern ID parents ( Blackfoot, Idaho Falls both districts and Madison in Rexburg) are joining together to open a private high school.
You'll know what is best for your family, given all your needs.
the three things that matter most are : good schools, nice safe area with a quaint downtown, and access to an airport
We have the same set-up with our schools here, if you drive them they can go to any school. My husband will be working in ND so airport access is a plus.
I love big old houses on the outskirts of town, would be great to be able to walk into town with the crew. We live outside town now in the country but that works too.
the three things that matter most are : good schools, nice safe area with a quaint downtown, and access to an airport
We have the same set-up with our schools here, if you drive them they can go to any school. My husband will be working in ND so airport access is a plus.
I love big old houses on the outskirts of town, would be great to be able to walk into town with the crew. We live outside town now in the country but that works too.
Then look at Ammon or Iona etc. Look at Bonneville County on a map. Rigby in Jefferson County and Shelley in N. Bingham County aren't as big, but the same airport serves all.
Your options for airports are limited in ID. Boise, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Pocatello and Lewiston have the only commercial flights.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
