What is Kalispell, MT Like?
 

Hi Fodorites,

I'm close to booking a vrbo property for a week near Kalispell, MT in June. I have visited GNP a couple times before, but am going to scope out Kalispell as a future relo possibility. I realize June is a bit early for MT, but I prefer to go early and hope to avoid forest fires ruining my vacation.

I've researched a bit and it seems there is plenty to see and do around the area for a week. Does anyone have some recommendations? I like photography, kayaking, hiking and horsebackriding. Of course good food and art too.

I'm hoping kurief sees this and has some insight for me.

Grazie!

I think it would be a great place for a relo. Lots to see and do. We really enjoyed the little downtown area and wanted to see more of Flathead lake but torrential rain moved in. The airport is convenient and we liked everything we saw.

http://www.discoverkalispell.com/day-trips-tours/

http://www.discoverkalispell.com/outdoor-activities/

Thanks starrs! Good to know.

While in the area, also check out the towns of Whitefish and Columbia Falls. DW and I really enjoyed the Meadow Lake Resort near Columbia Falls. The van from Meadow Lake picked us up from the train station in Whitefish.
Someone from the Kalispell airport came out and picked us up with our rental car.
We drove the rental car up as far as the Lake McDonald Lodge. While there, I took photos along the lake shore to match a famous Ansel Adams photo.
Find out where flights into Kalispell come from. You might have better luck flying into Spokane and riding the Empire Builder overnight to Whitefish.
You could also fly into Spokane and rent the car there and check out the lake at Coeur de Alene ID on the way to Montana.

I retired here in Kalispell!! Nuf said:)

I was thinking that John should definitely see this because I'm pretty sure he lives in the area. :)

I think the best part of the Flathead is the lake. It's beautiful! There's also great skiing in the winter and boating and cherries in the summer. We try to get over to the Flathead every fall when the tamaracks are turning yellow. We usually stay in Whitefish, though. We're headed over for skiing and staying in Whitefish in two weeks.

John will have the best advice for you! It seems like Kalispell has really grown over the last ten years or so.

Thanks! I've seen that Kalispell is growing, but it does look like employment ops are fairly limited. The literature says the largest employer is the medical center, followed by the timber industry.....

I'll be driving up from Utah so no complications with flying or trains and the place I've booked is between Whitefish and Kalispell.

John, I'm used to a dry mountain climate and I know MT is a bit more humid than UT. I can't find weather data anywhere that includes humidity averages. What would you say? Temps look fine to me. I currently live in Park City so I like the 4 seasons, high altitude (and I know Kalispell is lower) and own a 4x4 to get around.

I'm curious about the utilities. It seems most homes (not in the city) do not have access to natural gas. Population density not worth the pipeline cost? Most homes heated by electric supplemented by wood stoves? Is electricity inexpensive in MT? I can contact the utilities when I'm there checking things out.

Kureiff, I know you have mentioned limited emp ops where you live. Are you still thinking about moving away? Are there other MT towns I should consider? I've seen Livingston and would probably not be interested there.

Love the Paradise Valley, but no jobs there except for tourism.

I would love to hear more from you both!

Thanks, Dayle

As a former state employee for 35+ years (PA), I would look for employment with the state of MT. http://statecareers.mt.gov/
Since I retired about 10 years ago, I worked for 3 summers as a fire lookout for the USFS. I do have an application in to the Forest Service for a lookout job this year. I'm hoping to hear from them within the next month.
Maybe you could work for a ski resort in the winter and at Meadow Lake all summer.

DAYLE: For complete weather information go to WWW.Weatherspark.com ,type in Kalispell and click on averages

Forgot to mention the BIGGEST drawback. We have only 151 days of sunshine a year which includes full days of sun or partial days of sun, per weather bureau

Dayle, for me, I'd be looking at Helena (government agencies). John is right on about the lack of sun in Kalispell. I live on the other side of the Front, and we have a lot of sun. But the trade-off for sun is more wind. The wind drives me crazy, especially in the spring.

I lived in Missoula for three years and loved it...no wind but air inversions in the winter. I grew up near Bozeman and Helena. Bozeman is great, and it has grown significantly in the last twenty years. I'd check out Bozeman, Helena, Missoula and Kalispell. I live in Great Falls and my husband and I love the community. It's not as 'cool' as some of the other towns, but it has been great place for us to live.

Whoa! Only 151 days of sun? That is a big drawback for me. I had no idea! Thanks John for that link. Accuweather and Weather.com didn't show humidity as far as I could find.

Thanks kureiff, I'll expand my research to Helena and Bozeman. I'm making this a combo vacation/research trip and I have 2 weeks which should be enough to get a good idea of whether or not I'd like to live in these places.

I hear you about the wind, my most unfavorite type of weather. Living on the east side of the Wasatch, although at a higher altitude, we get some wind in the spring too. Nothing too much or too frequent thankfully.

tom, since I live in a ski resort town (and worked at Snowbird during my post college ski bum year) I know what those jobs pay. Not possible, unless I win the lottery :-) and can afford to work for fun. I'm going to be working for many years to come.

John, I just spent some time on that weather site and it's really great. Thanks again!