NEED ADVICE: Looking to relocate from Indiana to Boise (Lewiston: low crime, good schools)

[DerbyFever]

We're looking to relocate from Southern IN (just outside Louisville, KY) due to our 2-year old son's severe allergies. Never been to Boise, but it's one place we're strongly considering (along with northern Idaho near Couer D'Alene or Moscow, Boulder or Denver Colorado --considered Southern Oregon but would like more sunny days). We have 2 weeks vacation coming up soon & wd like to visit a couple places once we narrow our search.

HERE'S OUR WISH LIST: (in order)
1.) Low allergies (I suffer as well--Louisville, KY is current reigning allergy capital)
2.) Good schools
3.) Weather (want change of seasons with no prolonged extremes...I hate IN's scorching hot summers with high humidity, husband doesn't want weeks of snow on ground if we relocate)
4.) Landscape/Scenery (would like lush green with pretty mountain views...don't like extreme flat, barren/brown, or desert/canyon look)
5.) Access to water for powerboating (within hour, water warm enough in summer for skiing, decent size body of water)
6.) Family/kid-friendly place, low crime/safe, etc.

We are late 30's and like being close to city with amenities but not necessarily living "in" big city (outskirts is fine as long as meets other needs). We currently live in town with "small town" feel within 15 minutes of Louisville, KY, and like the benefit/comfort/safety factor of living in smaller town.

Would appreciate any & all suggestions so we may start planning our upcoming vacation. THANKS!!

[Sage of Sagle]

#3 rules out anything from Moscow north....sorry. We have snow on the ground from before Christmas to mid-March...sometimes mid-April. Spring 2008 we had snowpack in some areas until the second week of May. So "weather extremes" would rule out anything north of Lewiston (which is lower and warmer than Moscow).

[DerbyFever]

Thanks for your honesty, Sage. I was afraid that might be the case for Moscow even though the pictures look beautiful. Are you familiar with other places in ID that may fit our "wish list" (we realize we'll probably have to make some concessions along the way)? Boise looks very appealing though I've gotten a mixed feel from reading other posts about how brown/barren it may be. Also am not sure if there are any sizeable bodies of water for powerboating. Thanks again for the info., as this will help us keep our focus on southern ID and warmer places.

[gimme it]

I just spent a few days visiting Boise. I think it meets all of your needs, but I did seem to have allergies the entire time I was there. I'm not sure if it was me or whether allergies are a problem in Boise. By allergies, I mean that my eyes were watery and itchy, my nose was running and I used a lot of tissues. Otherwise, it's a really great place.

[Niners fan]

Originally Posted by DerbyFever

We're looking to relocate from Southern IN (just outside Louisville, KY) due to our 2-year old son's severe allergies. Never been to Boise, but it's one place we're strongly considering (along with northern Idaho near Couer D'Alene or Moscow, Boulder or Denver Colorado --considered Southern Oregon but would like more sunny days). We have 2 weeks vacation coming up soon & wd like to visit a couple places once we narrow our search.

HERE'S OUR WISH LIST: (in order)
1.) Low allergies (I suffer as well--Louisville, KY is current reigning allergy capital)
2.) Good schools
3.) Weather (want change of seasons with no prolonged extremes...I hate IN's scorching hot summers with high humidity, husband doesn't want weeks of snow on ground if we relocate)
4.) Landscape/Scenery (would like lush green with pretty mountain views...don't like extreme flat, barren/brown, or desert/canyon look)
5.) Access to water for powerboating (within hour, water warm enough in summer for skiing, decent size body of water)
6.) Family/kid-friendly place, low crime/safe, etc.

We are late 30's and like being close to city with amenities but not necessarily living "in" big city (outskirts is fine as long as meets other needs). We currently live in town with "small town" feel within 15 minutes of Louisville, KY, and like the benefit/comfort/safety factor of living in smaller town.

Would appreciate any & all suggestions so we may start planning our upcoming vacation. THANKS!!

I think Boise would meet most of your wish list, but not all.

1 - I know a lot of people with allergies here. I have even had a few issues and I didn't have any in California for the last 15 years I lived there. It is a dry climate, however, and I suspect your allergies might be less here than in Kentucky. Having lived in Houston I know my allergies were worse there than in the West.

2 - We have been happy with the schools here. I don't know how the test scores compare on a national average but we feel like our kids (four of them, grades 3-9) are getting a quality education. The teachers have been great and the kids have had an easy time making friends.

3 - We do get four seasons in Boise and the snow doesn't stick around for long.

4 - The area is not very green overall. The mountain views are beautiful but mostly brown. However, in the right spots there are quite a few trees. I like the seeing the farmland and the river and canals.

5 - There are plenty of areas to enjoy the water in the summer.

6 - There are plenty of activities to do in the area - lots of sports programs. Most areas are low-crime.

If you live in a small town near Boise you can get the best of both worlds. Having a university nearby you have the cultural event and sporting events. Plus, there is a minor league team for nearly every sport here.

Good luck. Hope that helps.

[truckingbronco]

once we narrow our search.

HERE'S OUR WISH LIST: (in order)
1.) Low allergies (I suffer as well--Louisville, KY is current reigning allergy capital) My allergies are worse here than anywhere I've ever lived. But different things get to different people. I'm very sensitive to sagebrush and Junipers and your son may not be.
2.) Good schools Can't speak to the exact schools but I know that certain areas of Boise have very good schools.
3.) Weather (want change of seasons with no prolonged extremes...I hate IN's scorching hot summers with high humidity, husband doesn't want weeks of snow on ground if we relocate) Boise probably fits this criteria but N. Idaho would not. They have long, gray, dark winters up there.
4.) Landscape/Scenery (would like lush green with pretty mountain views...don't like extreme flat, barren/brown, or desert/canyon look) I think Boise is brown and somewhat barren but I'm also an alpine person. Many people think Boise's mountains are great.
5.) Access to water for powerboating (within hour, water warm enough in summer for skiing, decent size body of water) All of those things are available during the summer months.
6.) Family/kid-friendly place, low crime/safe, etc.I don't have kids but this seems to be a very family friendly place and crime is very low (of course, there are trouble areas and random acts but do your research and you should be fine)

We are late 30's and like being close to city with amenities but not necessarily living "in" big city (outskirts is fine as long as meets other needs). We currently live in town with "small town" feel within 15 minutes of Louisville, KY, and like the benefit/comfort/safety factor of living in smaller town.

You can live anywhere in Boise and not feel like you're in a big city, yet still have several amenities. It is still somewhere between a city and a town.

Would appreciate any & all suggestions so we may start planning our upcoming vacation. THANKS!![/quote]

[gimme it]

For greenery, I was quite impressed with the Boise parks that I visited.

[boisefan88]

Allergies will be the problem, especially coming from more humid areas. It's not just the allergies, but there's weird effects with the combinations of altitude and dry weather.

For instance, I've lived here all my life, but I get cracks in the corners of my nostrils because it gets so dry here. You really have to make efforts to use moisturizers, especially during the winter.

Boise is also smack-dab in desert and canyon lands. Most of Southern Idaho is (at least where the population base is).

[DerbyFever]

Thanks to all--the info. you shared has been very helpful. We are in the process of booking our airline tix now and decided it's worth the extra $$ to fly into Portland, OR and visit several OR sites then drive to Boise where we will fly home. I think we'll get to see the best of all worlds and do so in the heat of the summer (to see how hot it is).

If anyone has any suggestions for driving routes, we're open for that since we're first timers and will be travelling with a 2 year old and my parents (late 70's). The itinerary includes Portland/Hood River, Bend, and Boise...also contemplating whether any addtl. OR cities along the I-5 would be worth visiting (Corvallis, Eugene, Grants Pass, Medford) though the itinerary is already pretty crammed.

[Torrie]

Take I84 heading east from Portland through the Gorge, it's absolutely beautiful! It'll be a little boring once you get out of the Gorge area but it's worth it just to see Multnomah Falls and the amazing scenery. It'll take about 8 hours if you make a couple of quick stops.