Artistic Small town with less Pollution more amenities? (Portland, Ashland: gardening, air pollution)

[artlovinghome]

Hi, I am a single Mom with a toddler looking for a place that feels like home. I was raised in California but spent the last 8 years in Florida.

I am looking for mild winters ( I am a winter weather wimp), performing art/film culture, good education, trees. I love historic buildings and would like as long of a gardening season as possible. Any ideas?

I found some environmental information that shows despite Portland being environmentally active they still have some of the worst air pollution levels along with almost all of Washington County but the cities I was looking into are North Plains, Sherwood, Forest Grove and down south I was looking into Ashland. I found that Brookings and Tillamook have virtually no ground or air pollution but also virtually no amenties or cultural activities.

So far Oregon seems best but Nevada City also seems to have low pollution levels and artistic community. I like Colorado but it was very cold. All help appreciated!

[Rosa canina]

You might want to look at Yachats on the Oregon coast and Silverton in the Willamette Valley.

[Larry Caldwell]

Mount Angel

[ConeyIsBabe]

If you could afford it, you might like Ashland, except it is located at a high elevation and winters can be very cold & icy!