We may be relocating to Great Falls, MT. I have never been in Montana before and have tried to look up as much information as I can from the internet. We now live near Ft. Wayne, IN. I love the snow so the winters wouldn't be a problem.

I was just wondering if anyone can tell me of any towns, (population around 8,000 or so) that would be called... a "cute little town" near Great Falls. I don't like big towns, but like to be close enough to them to be able to shop.

What is there to do in Great Falls and is it close to the mountains? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Rebecca

The bad news is you are not in the prettiest part of the state but the good news is you are very close. You will be almost half way between two spectacular national parks--Glacier and Yellowstone. You will be close to great skiing, fishing, rafting, hunting, canoeing, camping, etc.

If you are an outdoors person, you will be in a GREAT place.

Having been to both Ft. Wayne and Great Falls, I think you're making an interesting change of lifestyle. You will be within a short drive to the Rockies, but Great Falls itself sits in what I would call "buffalo country". It's actually short-grass prairie, with buttes, rolling hills and big views. There are some awesome National Wildlife areas in the area and one of my favorites is Freezout Lake, which hosts tens of thousands of migrating geese, tundra swans, ducks and other migrating birds in the fall. I don't know about cute little towns -- maybe we can get some help from a local. In general, I find many cities and towns in this area of the American west to be a little more stark-looking. They generally have far less trees, so they are more exposed. They also appear to be less rigorously zoned, compared to cities further east or closer to the west coast. It's much different than Ft. Wayne, but it is a trade that I would be willing to make. Incidentally, Great Falls is less than one-third the size and there is far less suburbia surrounding it, too. Good luck!

Is there anyone from the Great Falls area out there?

Can you tell me why it would be a nice place to live? What are the most desireable areas to live? Are there good shopping areas or do you have to travel to another town?
Any help would be appreciated.
Rebecca

Well, it has been years since I lived in Great Falls but....it is a nice town full of very nice people. The town is easy to navigate but it is on the prairie. I sometimes think that you have to have grown up on the prairie to love it. On the plus, you don't have to be far from town to see the Northern Lights and to experience a prairie night where you see nothing but the sky. The prairie has its own beauty. I love it but many don't appreciate it.

Near Conrad and Shelby there are the river coulees and you can walk there and often pick up fossils right from the ground. And Indian artifacts. Close to the Cdn. border are the Sweetgrass Hills. Lots of hiking and exploring there.

Nearby are the Belt Mtns. And Belt MT. Picturesque for sure. It is an easy drive to the Rockies and east Glacier, Many Glacier and Waterton in Alberta. Be sure to take the drive through Choteau to to East Glacier. Choteau is a really neat little town and the drive is lovely, IMHO.

The main shopping in Great Falls is along 10th Ave. You can pretty much buy whatever you want. Lots of people travel to Lethbridge, AB though to shop because of the advantage in exchange.

email me if you want some further information.

You will find Montana quite different than IN I am sure. Montana is a culture unto its own, people are very laid back, mostly polite and helpful but almost seem to be from another century. I mean that as a compliment not as a slam.