Is Grants Pass "odd"? (Green, Rogue River: hotels, new construction, closing)

[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?

Are they tolerant of different spiritual traditions?

Are there any health food stores there?

Is there a market for alternative medicine in GP?

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?

Is it dog-friendly? Are there hiking trails that dogs, horses and bicycles are allowed on nearby?

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

Does it stay green year-round?

In the winter, do the roads get very icy, and are they well maintained?

Are there any local Country music stations?

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

Is a lot of new construction being built green?

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?

What kind of wildlife could I see there?

I'll probably have more questions later

[ConeyIsBabe]

Those are all very good questions and my suggestion is that you visit Grants Pass for at least a week, preferably MORE and see for yourself!! The Motel6 has very reasonable rates and there are many other options for hotels/motels and some accomodations are right on the Rogue River, for fishing. Of course you would have to visit in all seasons to experience them. It does go above 90 degrees in the summer and occasionally above 100 degrees for a couple of uncomfortable days. It does get icy (black ice) in the winter and one muse drive very cautiously in the mornings but when the sun is high, the frost melts. I came from a HUGE large city (Miami Florida) and the small town atmosphere and low stress level of GP is a welcome relief. There are many retirees in GP and good jobs are scarce.

[orygun]

Yes, I guess it is odd as it sounds like you define. A nice odd I think.

Yes, I would say GP is liberal. Tolerant of different spiritualities, yes. Few people seem to actually follow regular religious paths. Should be no shortage of health food stores anywhere in Oregon. Definitely an area for alternative medicine. Don't know about libraries closing. Probably a funding issue. Oregon is going broke. The temp definitely reaches 90 degrees I would say on a regular basis. Should be no shortage of trails for all kinds of activities. Stays brown all summer. Green the rest of the year. Roads get black ice easily in the winter. Valley setting with beautiful mountains very close by. Plenty of trees. Sharp curves wherever you drive. Can flood in the winter. Maybe that will help.

[John Cova]

All the public libraries in Grants Pass and the county are closed. Does that give you a clue about the area.

[TribalCat]

Thanks for the info Orygun!

[freedom]

Originally Posted by John Cova

All the public libraries in Grants Pass and the county are closed. Does that give you a clue about the area.

Did you mean in the county. Cuzzzzz, the County govt. is still there everyday.
Don't know that they are able to do much, but they are there.

The area is fantastic, the gov's are as disfunctional as every other place in this country. Gov't doesn't have any answers, you know that.......

[bobmulk]

Oregon is NOT going broke. As for the library funding issue, the voters decided not to pass the funding levy. My understanding from reading up on the issue is that they had too many libraries for the population base and it was not feasible economically to fund them--not for every little burg that existed. They are currently working on a plan to be more realistic in how they fund the libraries and the people are working on that. The problem was more typical of government not listening to the people. Now the people are getting involved and things will be corrected.

[norm]

bobmulk,

How far do the people in Grant's Pass have to travel to get to a library? One of my important criteria is to have a library close by.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by norm

bobmulk,

How far do the people in Grant's Pass have to travel to get to a library? One of my important criteria is to have a library close by.

If you own a computer, and are hooked to the world wide web, it is as close as you are to your keyboard.

[TribalCat]

To me, reading online is VERY different from picking up a book and enjoying the way it feels and the way the paper smells. I hate shopping as a rule, but put me in a bookstore, and I'm in heaven, it's a sensory overload. There's just something about physically turning the pages and totally engrossing yourself in the story. I guess part of it is that I spend so much time online as it is, I'd rather go elsewhere for my entertainment. I don't think e-books will ever totally replace paper hard copies of books. There are too many of us bookaholics and bookophiles around

It's very sad to see libraries closing.