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Vacation (with thoughts of possibly moving)-Which areas?
I've never visited Oregon, but would like to plan a trip, *maybe* in June or October. We are wanting to make this visit in part because we'd like to see if any of these places may be a place we would want to live some day.
I understand that every state has it's ups and downs. I'm not concerned with how hard it will be to get a job, because we wouldn't move unless we had landed jobs there anyway. We would be moving within a 20 mile radius of a VA outpatient clinic (this is where we the job would be at).
In general, we are freedom loving libertarians (think Ron Paul, Gary Johnson, etc[fiscal conservative, but support personal freedoms]) I love how Oregon has the Death with Dignity Act, late 20s, early 30s.
Would want to have access to outdoor activities all through the year. We live in a small city in Kentucky, and there is NOTHING to do here except eat or do drugs! I'd like to live somewhere I could ride a bicycle around--it's too mountainous here.
LOVE & respect animals!
We are atheists. We don't mind that other people are believers, but we don't want it shoved in our faces.
We usually keep to ourselves. No children as of yet, but may be interested in Montessori school if we do have children. I see that Maine and New Hampshire have more montessori school options than vermont.
We like zoos, aquariums, museums,science centers, but don't want to live in a big city (probably outskirts, or maybe 30 minutes or so)
I would want to have a pool (if possible) Not sure how many houses have pools there, as far as weather is concerned.
We may want to have a small vegetable garden.
Would like a place that's low on crime, not a lot of "projects", a place where it's normal for people to actually walk or ride bikes places.
Not the most important, but would like a place with a lot of air pollution, or better for people with allergies/asthma.
So if you could suggest a few places "around" any of these cities TO VISIT, which would they be?
***
Here are a list of cities with VA clinics:
*Burns
*Newport
*The Dalles
*West Linn
*Bend
*Brookings
*Eugene
*Hillsboro
*Klamath Falls
*La Grande
*North Bend
*Portland
*Salem
*Warrenton
Home swimming pools are a rarity here because they are usable, for all practical purposes, 3 months a year max. There are a few public pools and several athletic facilities that have swimming pools. If a swimming pool is a must-have I would look for family oriented athletic facilities. Membership in the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland will be closed for about another 3-4 years, and then it is a lottery, so scratch that off your list. Off the top of my head, in Portland, I know that the Riverplace Athletic Club has a pool as does the Mittleman Community Center.
The Oregon Zoo is in Portland as are museums and the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry. The other museums, except University facilities, are small community affairs.
I will try to group the towns you list:
On the Oregon coast:
*Newport
*Brookings
*North Bend
*Warrenton
Portland Metro: lots of medical employers, there may be biking info from cycling clubs/shops.
*West Linn
*Hillsboro
Remote:
*Burns
*The Dalles - likely to grow from technology facilities scouting the area,
*Bend - very popular vacation area all seasons. South of Bend is Sunriver with a couple swimming pools, homes connected with bicycle paths but what can be a brutal drive in the winter to Bend (about 20 miles).
*Eugene - home of the University of Oregon, strong medical community, bike paths.
*Klamath Falls - don't know
*La Grande - agricultural area
*Salem - one hour drive from Portland, not my cup of tea
It is rare to have a pool in Oregon and it is considered a "defect" when trying to sell a property. Most people spend their time at one of the natural rivers and natural swimming holes rather than have a pool.
Most of Oregon meets your criteria so then it is a matter of personal preference for living. I actually think the Portland area sounds most like what you are wanting.
Oregon doesn't have projects the way that the midwest does. We do have poor areas but nothing like they do over there. Oregon doesn't allow sprawl so poor areas tend to get gentrified every so often so nothing ever gets too run down, compared to say what you'd see in Chicago.
There is the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Wildlife Safari outside Roseburg, and the West Coast Safari Park in Bandon.
There are two (technically three,) Aquariums in Newport and one in Seaside.
Many towns have a history museum of some sort, Portland has the most museums overall. Portland also has the only Science Museum (OMSI.)
Bike friendly is going to be Portland, Ashland, Corvallis, Eugene and Bend is starting to become more friendly. Any other place is going to be you sharing the road with cars.
Anything outside the Willamette Valley is going to be more conservative and more religious, but very little in your face about it.
then swing by the VA hospital in Roseburg. I've heard of other folks getting jobs there. This is the VA hospital i go to for appointments, etc. Real friendly helpful folks thar.
Be aware that allergies and asthma are a real problem for some people in many areas of Oregon. It does not necessarily have anything to do with polution. The grass, tree and mold conditions can cause severe reactions for those who are prone to these conditions.
The Willamette Valley is especially prone to this.
I live (until the end of this week) within spitting distance of the Hillsboro VA clinic. The only swimming pools you're going to find will be in the numerous apartment complexes here. A metric ton of shopping (Tanasbourne area) is within walking distance - you can't swing a dead cat in this neighborhood without it hitting a Starbucks. Most of the jobs in this neighborhood are technical in nature (due to influence from Intel, which has several large campuses and one huge fab nearby).
There is a huge medical 'factory' nearby (Genentech) out on Evergreen Rd, out by the airport. Other than that? The VA clinic, the Providence Urgent Care Clinic, the new Kaiser Westside hospital (almost across the street from the VA clinic - it's due to open in late 2012-early 2013), and a few smaller private practice offices I likely missed... no problem finding medical companies - not sure of the jobs offhand, though the Kaiser will likely be hiring like mad towards the middle to end of this year due to the new hospital nearing construction.
Very metropolitan, and there is a large population of folks from many cultures (Indian, Latino, various Asian regions, you-name-it), most of whom will be highly educated, and will usually work in a technical capacity. As you get closer to Hillsboro proper, everything becomes more blue-collar in nature.
Best damned food in the area? A little Vietnamese noodle place called Pho Tango, on Imbrie Drive, near the Fred Meyer. You must eat there at least once in your life, and you will thank me when you do.
I think that's about how long people keep their pools open here, maybe a slightly over 3 months. I wouldn't be against going to a pool at a facility. We only have one here inside a YMCA but it is always way over crowded (the Y itself is very overcrowded).
I left off Roseburg because it isn't a clinic, but a hospital, and I haven't seen or heard anything about one in Medford yet, so thanks for pointing that out!
Also, I like the break-down you give for the places I listed! Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nell Plotts
Home swimming pools are a rarity here because they are usable, for all practical purposes, 3 months a year max.
The Oregon Zoo is in Portland as are museums and the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry. The other museums, except University facilities, are small community affairs.
I will try to group the towns you list:
On the Oregon coast:
*Newport
*Brookings
*North Bend
*Warrenton
Portland Metro: lots of medical employers, there may be biking info from cycling clubs/shops.
*West Linn
*Hillsboro
Remote:
*Burns
*The Dalles - likely to grow from technology facilities scouting the area,
*Bend - very popular vacation area all seasons. South of Bend is Sunriver with a couple swimming pools, homes connected with bicycle paths but what can be a brutal drive in the winter to Bend (about 20 miles).
*Eugene - home of the University of Oregon, strong medical community, bike paths.
*Klamath Falls - don't know
*La Grande - agricultural area
*Salem - one hour drive from Portland, not my cup of tea
I do have allergies to molds, especially. I have indoor/outdoor, and seasonal/year round allergies. I probably will never escape them. Out air pollution here is pretty bad though IMHO. Although not "allergic", things do aggravate my symptoms. We have coal/coke plants here and refineries and such all around the boundaries of our little city.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minervah
Be aware that allergies and asthma are a real problem for some people in many areas of Oregon. It does not necessarily have anything to do with polution. The grass, tree and mold conditions can cause severe reactions for those who are prone to these conditions.
The Willamette Valley is especially prone to this.
We wouldn't be living in an apartment. Well, I shouldn't say that. I suppose it is possible there would be a transition period where we may need to prior to finding a home. It would have to be pet friendly though lol.
Good thing about the technical jobs, as I'm in process of earning an IT degree.
I love the cultural mix you described. We don't have much diversity here where I live, though I've traveled enough to experience diversity at other places. Thanks for recommending food. We love food. I've never had Vietnamese but I do like some Japanese and Chinese (Americanized of course), so I'm not afraid to try new things.
Are there any Whole Foods Markets or similar groceries? Or are there any vegetarian or vegan places? If so, what area? I'm getting excited about planning a trip!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Random_Walk
I live (until the end of this week) within spitting distance of the Hillsboro VA clinic. The only swimming pools you're going to find will be in the numerous apartment complexes here. A metric ton of shopping (Tanasbourne area) is within walking distance - you can't swing a dead cat in this neighborhood without it hitting a Starbucks. Most of the jobs in this neighborhood are technical in nature (due to influence from Intel, which has several large campuses and one huge fab nearby).
There is a huge medical 'factory' nearby (Genentech) out on Evergreen Rd, out by the airport. Other than that? The VA clinic, the Providence Urgent Care Clinic, the new Kaiser Westside hospital (almost across the street from the VA clinic - it's due to open in late 2012-early 2013), and a few smaller private practice offices I likely missed... no problem finding medical companies - not sure of the jobs offhand, though the Kaiser will likely be hiring like mad towards the middle to end of this year due to the new hospital nearing construction.
Very metropolitan, and there is a large population of folks from many cultures (Indian, Latino, various Asian regions, you-name-it), most of whom will be highly educated, and will usually work in a technical capacity. As you get closer to Hillsboro proper, everything becomes more blue-collar in nature.
Best damned food in the area? A little Vietnamese noodle place called Pho Tango, on Imbrie Drive, near the Fred Meyer. You must eat there at least once in your life, and you will thank me when you do.
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