Boise Vs Bend OR (Donnelly: ski resort, buying a home, job market)

[bluejaye]

I'm looking to get out of freezing cold Chicago and have it narrowed down to Boise or Bend Oregon...for now, I'm looking to move Jan 1st so I will be there for winter. Can anyone compare the two. I love all outdoor activities (hiking, biking, climbing, kitesurfing, snowboarding etc) and like to be outside whenever possible. I'm not worried about job market or buying a home.

Mostly weather and activities, from what I can tell the two seem very comparable am I missing anything? I'm 29 and moving with my boyfriend who is 34, easy going people.

[Torrie]

I've vacationed in Bend, but haven't lived there. Bend had more of a resort feel to me compared to Boise, so you will feel the influx of tourists. Both will offer an abundance of outdoor activity so they're probably equal in that regards. Because Bend is more of a resort community my guess is the cost of living could be more expensive?

Average snowfall for Boise is 21.4 inches, not sure what Bend experiences.

[bluejaye]

Thanks Torrie for the info, would you say Boise has easy access to trails and mt bike areas?

[Torrie]

Yes. A couple of years ago, Boise was voted Best Mountain Bike Trails in the country.....can't remember which Magazine that came from......but it was some Mountain Biking Publication. Also, if you want to get out of the city, there's suppose to be some dynamite trails up at Tamarack(Donnelly, Idaho), which is about 2.5 hours away.

[stingraynm]

You definitely will find plenty of outdoor activities in both places. Also, the climates are fairly similar. Both will have cold winters, but not near as cold as the Great Lakes cities (just got back to Albuquerque from visiting my sister in DeKalb, IL for Thanksgiving... waiting for my lungs to expel the congestion from mildew in a COLD basement... two pulmonary irritants I never miss).

Two things you'll want to assess: (1) lower elevations and surrounding terrain make for a significantly warmer average temperature in the Inland Northwest and (2) Boise is a city while Bend is a town. Your outdoor recreation options will be numerous and you'll have a well-centered origin in either locale.

[Need2Leave]

Originally Posted by bluejaye

I'm looking to get out of freezing cold Chicago and have it narrowed down to Boise or Bend Oregon...for now, I'm looking to move Jan 1st so I will be there for winter. Can anyone compare the two. I love all outdoor activities (hiking, biking, climbing, kitesurfing, snowboarding etc) and like to be outside whenever possible. I'm not worried about job market or buying a home.

Mostly weather and activities, from what I can tell the two seem very comparable am I missing anything? I'm 29 and moving with my boyfriend who is 34, easy going people.

You're right, they are very comperable. Both have outdoor sports galore close to town, Bend is smaller, thus the outdoors stuff is closer. Boise will be cheaper, as we have been discovered by the entire state of california and have built enough subdivisions to accomidate everyone. The first wave of californians that discovered Bend decided to make it expensive, thus keeping their fellow statesmen relegated to redmond, madras and prineville.

The biggest difference for the outdoors person: Bachelor vs. Bogus Basin, wich ski hill do you want within 30 min. of the front door... World class, or well... Bogus.

If money is no object and a smaller town w/tourists is ok go Bend, wanna keep some of your money and enjoy similar activities Boise is for you.

[bluejaye]

Ha it is funny that you say that about Bogus Vs Bachelor, I was just comparing the two and I never knew how amazing bachelor skiing is supposed to be!

[Need2Leave]

Originally Posted by bluejaye

Ha it is funny that you say that about Bogus Vs Bachelor, I was just comparing the two and I never knew how amazing bachelor skiing is supposed to be!

A little background... I worked at bogus a couple seasons, did a bit too much skiing, seen a few mountains and all I can say about Bachelor is wow. On a busy day the lift lines were nothing, the snow... perfect (west side cascade cement meets east side fluff... in abundance), most runs hit the fall line... it's a great day on the mountain, but a bit spendy... Bogus... it's local, it's super cheap, good runs can be had by all, but it's no Bachelor

[bluejaye]

Can anyone compare Bachelor, to a ski resort in Colorado, I have skied almost everywhere there.

[goozer]

I think the choice between Boise or Bend boils down to what your future plans are. They both offer fantastic outdoor recreation, as several posters noted. If you are simply looking to bum around for a year and live the good life, I would definitely choose Bend. It is a resort town that shouldn't be a difficult place to find a bartending job or something similar to give you some pocket money for a year. On the other hand, Boise is a good-sized city with all the industry (jobs!) and culture that comes along with it. If you are looking for an outdoorsy place to settle down long term, I think Boise would be the better (and safer) bet.