Alaskan looking at Idaho for retirement

[shades_of_idaho]

We are in Midvale about 20 miles up the highway from Weiser. Love it up here Also Weiser was nice. Agree it is a great place. I happen to know of two places for sale. One is a 19 1/2 acre bare land and the other is a 17. Both pieces close to city of Midvale but not in the city. Neither piece is remote. One borders the highway the other the airport. We have an airport that houses one plane. LOL A few others drop in once in awhile.

Airport cam and it is closed for the winter. LOL

RNS Midvale Hill Cam

Midvale hill cam. We are having a storm today.

http://birice.vaisala.com/photos/02A...DAD47_cam1.jpg

Neither of these pieces of land are mine. I am not advertising them just FYI.

I can fill you in on Midvale. We also lived in Weiser and I loved it. My husband wanted to come back up this way. Closer to ride his snowmobile.

[dallen0427]

thanks to everyone for the information. I'm going to check the areas mentioned out.

I've seen gangs mentioned on and off in S. Idaho. Not sure how prevalent this is, or if this is something that is starting to occur. We have gangs in the Anchorage area, but for the most part, those areas out of the bad area of the city, and certainly the surrounding areas never see or feel their presence. I'm guessing sort of similar in ID.

I like the sign for Weiser ID. Thats my kind of town.

[rangerider45]

Originally Posted by dallen0427

Thanks. Weiser (in pictures I've found) reminds me a lot of the Ellensburg WA area, which was a very nice place to live. I'll take a look at finding something in that area.

We live north of Boise, Idaho in the Boise Mountains near Idaho City, Idaho. It's in Ponderosa Pine mountain country, but still near the Snake River Plain and Boise's Treasure Valley. It's about 45 minutes from St. Lukes Hospital and other medical facilities. Idaho City has a Community Health Center, Dentist and EMTs. It's a small community of less than 1000 folks and is an old gold boom town established in 1862. At one time it was the largest city in the northwest.

The rough part of winter lasts from late November about Thanksgiving to March with lots of sunshine filled days and very little wind. In the summer the temp usually stays in the upper 80s with a few days in the upper 90s. It's 8 to 10 degrees cooler up in the mountains around Idaho City than in Boise, Nampa, Weiser, etc. Also, in the mountains the evenings/nights cool off much more than in the valley. We use wood heat and never need air conditioning in our house.

Lots of wildlife & hunting fishing, ATV trails, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing and good horse country. Ya know, they say Idaho & Alaska are sister states?

Anyway, another place for you to consider as I think it has the best of both city and rural living, weather, outdoors scenery and activities.

If interested write me for more info...
Charlie

Idaho City link:
Idaho City Events and Information Center*–*Idaho City Events and Information Center

Boise Nat'l forest link:
Boise National Forest - Home

[cdajane]

I agree with the person suggesting North Idaho. Email me privately for more info.

[salulu]

Cambridge is also an awesome location...not too far from Midvale. Close to fishing, hunting, back country, rafting, skiing, etc. . I know of a five acre piece with stable, shop, bunkhouse, garden area with small orchard, gorgeous landscaping and unlimited views across the valley...own septic and well. Winters can be cold, but they don't last forever and the spring, summer and fall are absolutely glorious. It's on five acres that are NOT in a subdivision...elbow room and pasture for a couple of horses, but not overwhelming.

Let me know if you're interested in pics.

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by dallen0427

Thanks for the input.

I think I'm generally drawn to the more arid climate of southern ID because I grew up in E. WA. More familiarity and comfort zone thing. We are looking at buying vacant land in the 20+ acre range, and building the house ourselves out of pocket. Although not neccessary for me now, I'm thinking that being near (within a reasonable driving distance anyways) an area with better/bigger medical services etc is going to be important as I get older.

I think to me, a nice piece of land, away from the noise and hustle, but not so remote that it takes me the better part of a day to get to and from better services. I guess we have the benefit of time at this point, but I also know that land values today (for a buyer) allow much more opportunity than they did in the recent past, and probably the not so distant future.

Southeast Idaho- the corridor that runs south and north from Preston in the south to Ashton in the north, is a lot more green than southwest Idaho. While both areas are dry, I think S.E. Idaho is more like E. Washington, but with much more spectacular scenery. I live in idaho Falls, which is about in the center of the area, and it is warmer here than in Ashton or Preston, but a few degrees colder than Pocatello, the other large population center. This is due to Poky being in a hole; elevation makes for temp differences here.

S.E. Idaho gets most of it's weather from due west most times. The mountains- the Tetons and the others- tend to bend the fronts into a hook shape, which creates much of the moisture we get here but not over in the western half. The weather also tends to be a bit more temperate than over on the eastern side of the divide, which gets most of it's weather from the north. W. Montana dries up quicker than E. Idaho.

This is big horse country, and the cowboy culture is stronger here than in the Boise area and northward. If you are planning to come and look the state over, try to check out both ends of the state, and don't forget Boise and the middle. Idaho is actually 2 states divided by a bunch of mountains.

[lovecda]

Weiser is a nice area for some seclusion and finding acreage, and it's just a quick 1/2 hour trip down 95 to Ontario for city amenities. My first thought for central Idaho was the New Meadows area. It's somewhat north of the Payette/Weiser area, but it definitely experiences all four seasons and has lots of good land, but it is further away from a larger city than Weiser is. Other areas I'd suggest taking a look at if you're willing to go a little further south than Weiser would be Parma and Marsing. Lots of independent farmers/ranchers in those areas.

[wdg57]

My wife and I live in Ak too. We bought a home last winter in Middleton, Id. We used to live in the New Meadows area. After I retire I don't want to live anywhere I would need a snow blower.

[3~Shepherds]

Originally Posted by wdg57

My wife and I live in Ak too. We bought a home last winter in Middleton, Id. We used to live in the New Meadows area. After I retire I don't want to live anywhere I would need a snow blower.

What a wonderful thought!! We see people pull out of McCall and say the same...... One guy put a snow plow on the front of his truck and said, he was going to drive until someone asked "what the hell is that."

[janab]

Look into the central part of ID around Grangeville, Kooskia, Kamiah, etc. A great alternative to AK living and scenery. The winters are winters but mild.