Looking to relocate to Idaho. (Boise, Pocatello: best cities, home, job market)

[off2ID]

My family is considering a move to Idaho. I am wanting to get some recent information about the best cities/towns. I am a dental hygienist and my husband is a general contractor so work is important. Also we have three children 17, 13 and 4. We love the outdoors: dirtbikes, hiking, water sports, snow...We are planning a trip in July and would like some ideas of places to see. From what I have seen I am a little more partial to the northern area, but completely open for any advice good and bad.

Thanks!

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Im partial to N. Idaho myself, and it sounds like it would fit you and your family.. I would look at Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls/Hayden/Rathdrum which is kind of like one large city, and you would also be close to work in Spokane.. I would also look further north to Sandpoint, and also South to St. Maries, Plummer, Worley etc. There are lots of great places to live in Idaho, but those are my favorites. Hope this helps.

BTW I notice your in Temecula.. My wife works there.. Good choice on looking at Id.

[off2ID]

Thanks Trace,
Do you travel back and forth from CA to ID? We have been in the Temecula area most of our lives before it got so crowded. We still like it but are discouraged by CA all together. Our youngest is our only son and we want him to experience the outdoors with freedom. We are pretty excited for our trip. What is the best route to CDA from CA? We are wanting to do some river rafting along the way. We will be driving (RV). I agree with being able to work in Spokane as a dental hygienist. Does anyone know if there is a good job market for Hygienists?
Thanks for the input!

[Dwatted Wabbit]

There are probably 10 dentist's offices just in the Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, just south of I-90 on state 95.

This is a good time to buy, of course. Market here is not as under as many, but there's lots available near schools, stores, etc.

Welcome.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by off2ID

Thanks Trace,
Do you travel back and forth from CA to ID? We have been in the Temecula area most of our lives before it got so crowded. We still like it but are discouraged by CA all together. Our youngest is our only son and we want him to experience the outdoors with freedom. We are pretty excited for our trip. What is the best route to CDA from CA? We are wanting to do some river rafting along the way. We will be driving (RV). I agree with being able to work in Spokane as a dental hygienist. Does anyone know if there is a good job market for Hygienists?
Thanks for the input!

Off2ID,
We have property north of Coeur d'Alene, and we've been driving from SoCal to NID every summer for the past 3 years, trying out different routes. We've gone the fastest route up I-5 past Mt. Shasta to 97 through OR, then along the Columbia River to Kennewick, then up 395 to 90 through Spokane, WA, and you can make that trip in 2 1/2 days. I'd recommend taking your time, though--there's so much to see along the way, once you get past Sacramento. You can vary the trip and go up I-5 all the way to Portland and stop at Grant's Pass on the way for some river rafting, then go east from Portland on 80 to Kennewick etc. A somewhat slower, but much more spectacular trip is 395 (through Bishop) to Reno, and from there across Nevada on 95/80, then north on 95 through Boise and Lewiston. There's river rafting at Riggins on 95, and several other places in the area (Hell's Canyon?). We went rafting (just one of those tourist rides) at Grant's Pass, which was a lot of fun, but pretty basic if you're really into white water rafting, I guess. Others can be of more help here that I can, I'm sure.
You could also consider going home by way of Missoula, head south on 93 back into ID along the Salmon River, and drive through Pocatello and Vegas down I-15 back to Temecula. Either way, you're in for some fantastic scenery. Do Google Earth and Mapquest. Have a great trip!

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Hey Off2ID... I have travelled the routes CFF mentioned and they are good routes and you can make good time. I think my preferred route and one that would work well for you all things considered is this.. 15 to Vegas and about 20 miles outside of Vegas I hit the 93 all the way to Twin Falls. There I get on the 84 west and just after Boise I get on the 95 or the 55 to the 95 all the way to N. Idaho. like CFF said Riggins is a great little rafting town. If nothing else though I would take the 95 up through Idaho.. It is an amazing drive and the scenery is incredible. If you bypass the 95 going through Wa. or Mt. you will miss alot of cool stuff.
I think it might be a bit further but the sooner you get out of Cali. the gas prices go down quite a bit. Also travelling the 93 you can pretty much go as fast as you want EXCEPT in the little towns along the way.. You REALLY want to follow the speed limits in those little bergs
The roads are good although it can be very remote in places, but there are plenty of gas stations and stuff along the way.

You could not be looking at a better place to raise your son.. My biggest regret is I wasnt able to do this YEARS ago and finish raising my son there.. We did OK here, but it would have been unreal for him there with all the outdoors activities.. We home schooled him through the public system and he graduated top of his class and was able to get a couple years of college classes under his belt before graduating HS... Now he is almost 19 and looking forward to moving, but I just wish it had been when he was much younger. Good luck! and I hope this helped some..

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Hey Trace, I think we'll try to go up 93 to 95 when we go back to NID in June. Thanks for the tip!

[GypsyLaura]

We are also thinking of Idaho. Either the Meridian area, Pocatello or Salmon.
Sigh.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

OK, everybody who's thinking of Idaho, dig out your Josh Ritter CD, "The Animal Years," and play the "Idaho" track!

[off2ID]

GypsyLaura,
Why the sigh?

I am enjoying all of the information, this forum is great!
Making it hard to wait until July!
Thanks