Is Grants Pass "odd"?

[TXknitter]

Also, backdrifter is right. GP is NOT racist. Some of the nicest people in the world and they welcome everybody!

[thwei]

You know, black isnt the only other race besides white. Don't be so close minded. Muchas Gracias is a resturant that is wellknown and well liked. Owned by Mexicans. No one cares. Good people, good food. The Chinese american place? Chinese. Good people, good food. To answer to OPs questions...

Originally Posted by TribalCat

I was reading a thread about Southern Oregon (I've forgotten which one), and the poster was talking about the different towns. He wrote that Grants Pass was "odd". Is it?

Here's my little list of odd questions:

Is it a liberal town? It really is inbetween. You have a lot of college kids going to SOU but a lot of Grants Pass' population is retirees and such. It depends on where you work, who you are around,
.
Are they tolerant of different spiritual traditions? No more or less tolerate than say.. San Francisico or Santa Barabara is with their christian residents. Lol, kidding. I think its obviously a christian based town, but they are good people, and wont try and chase you out of the town with pitchforks.

Are there any health food stores there? Farmer's Market! GNC, so on.

Is there a market for alternative medicine in GP? grants pass oregon alternative medicine - Google Search=

I'd say so.

What's going on with the closing of public libraries in that area? That seems scary to me. --

Does the temperature really reach 90 degrees, and for how long does it stay that high? Yes, It depends on the summer, really.. I know that sounds strange. I am orginally from Santa Barbara, CA, and I remember when I was a child it would rain every single winter for days on end starting around Halloween, but recently they have 80 degree Christmases. Much is the same for Grants Pass. Sometimes the July - August weather is hot and annoying, other times in the summer there are summer showers so its obviously much cooler. Air Conditioner is plus!

Is it dog-friendly? Are there hiking trails that dogs, horses and bicycles are allowed on nearby? There are so many parks and trails and areas for hiking. The name escapes me at the momeny, but there is that plateau right outside of town that schools take the kids to for hiking feild trips and they have lunch at the top! As for dogs, http://princesspetuniaspuppies.com/ makes a living selling dogs right in the heart of Jackson County. Very pro dog town.

Would it be hard to get around town on a bicycle? Nah.

Does it stay green year-round? Well most trees are evergreens there... You see the seasons change if thats of any help.

In the winter, do the roads get very icy, and are they well maintained? At times they do, and I'd say they are maintained alright. Everyone I know has a set of chains for their tires!

Are there any local Country music stations? Yes. Rock too!

Is there a seedy part of town, or areas that should be avoided?

Is a lot of new construction being built green? Not really no.

What is the terrain like? Is GP on the bottom of a valley or in the foothills, how close are the mountains, how forested is it? Grants Pass is mostly in a valley. The I-5 is the only easy way to get into the town as a tourist. Its got mountainy areas close by, and i soppose some of the town is on a hill, but no MOUNTAINSOMG. Lol. They are within a drive. There are a couple rivers flowing through the town. Boatnik is a huge thing there every year.

What kind of wildlife could I see there? Deer, Turkeys. A LOT OF DUCKS. People speak of bears but i dunno. Its a forest. Lotsa life.

I'll probably have more questions later

Grants Pass is A++. There are pros and cons to every city, and if you dont really like the smalltown feel then this place really isnt for you. My first experience in Grants Pass was a few years ago when I was in a car with my Fiancee and we were driving through a parking lot of a park and people were waving to us as we drove by. At first i thought my fiancee knew all these people, but no. They were just being super friendly people. as i said before, im from southern california so i'm use to being flipped off or ignored as I drive places. lol.

The town is really welcoming, but it seems difficult to find a job in the town. A lot of people I know live in Grants Pass but commute to Medford about a half hour away as Medford has a more "big city" feel and is close enough by. However, if you have any caregiving experience, then you may have a good chance of getting a job, as I stated before, a lot of retirees.

Rent is generally affordable so long as you can find a job, which is difficult in any place nowadays. They have a few good private schools to choose from, as well as good publiv schools and a community college, and the nearby university in Ashland where most of the art and culture is located. Its a 4 hour drive from Portland and a 6 hour drive from sacramento, and its conviniently located on the I-5, the vein of Oregon. Its also an easy drive to the coast, though I myself have never made the trip.

People are genuinely friendly, and very open arms about other people. Grants Pass has a fanstastic and relaxing feel to it. Everyone knows each other, people like each other. Thats all that really matters.

[Strongdad]

What is your definition of odd?

I'm a transplant from California, 20 years ago and I STILL think Grants Pass is odd!

We are talking apples and oranges, here. If I had the move to do all over again, I think I would still choose Grants Pass over the South bay area because it's just SO country-ish!! Call me odd, but the trees bring back the life in "life".

California skies look naked compared to the thick, dense forest look of the surrounding areas of G.P. The skies look full of green, tall majestic trees instead of blank nothingness or, worse, huge factories and buildings everywhere with no foilage in sight.

Grants Pass is a small town, and is growing ever so quickly. I agree with another poster that GP is a very very small version of Cali in parts, but there are just so many mountains, hills, trees and rain and snow and ice, that Cali has alot of work to do to come anywhere near GP
as far as the definite four seasons go. We have clear, precise seasons, with the most remarkable one in the fall. The winters can be bitter cold with plenty of snow.

There are lots of drugs. But HEY.... drugs are everywhere. No one is immune to living in an area without them, even in the richest places, you will find an abundance of them, unfortunelty.

Yes, the libraries are now re opened. I, for one, need the library as my spelling has little to be desired and even less my ambition to correct it.
The library reopened last June, I believe. My wife and I pay a fee which is voluntary to help keep it open.

If you don't like the rain.....you will be very unhappy here. I PROMISE>