Moving to Oregon - best towns along the coast?? (Eugene: spring break, for sale)

[rissypieces]

Hi everyone,

My fiance and I are planning on moving to Oregon in the next couple of years. Both of us love the ocean and slightly cooler weather. We really, really, want to find somewhere along the coast that is a good fit. We want something that has plenty of shopping but that's not too touristy. I like Seaside, but I think the tourism would be too much. I was just there in August and it was really busy; is it like that year-round?

We are twenty-somethings, looking to start a family in the next few years as well so we don't want to be anywhere too small. An area with a good hospital and schools would be ideal. Can anyone suggest what some of the best options for us would be?

Thanks so much!

[tiffela74]

Hummmmmm....well, maybe Lincoln City or Newport....possibly Astoria. I havent been there for a couple years, but Ive heard its the New Growth area for the Oregon coast.
I live in Coos Bay and love it here, but youre not going to find a whole lot of shopping. We have the standards, such as Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyers, BiMart, WalMart, plus several little unique places. There is a mall here, you can look up Pony Village Mall on the internet and see what stores we have.
Lincoln City has the advantage in shopping due to the outlet mall. YUMMMMMY! I do love that place. But see, I just go up there 2x a year and spend a weekend w/friends. That way I get my shopping fix in plus a fun weekend. Its not a long trip up, only about 2hrs. Or you can do the same time frame trip and go to Eugene. PLenty of shopping there.
But, again, if you dont want to do the drive and need easier/constant access,Lincoln City/Newport would be a good fit for you. I personally adore it there too. Beautiful area.
Astoria is so close to Seaside. Again, i havent been there in a few years, but it was great when I was last there. And as for tourists, well, the Astoria Seafood and Wine tasting festival is pretty huge, (well worth it too! IMO) and Ive heard about cruise ships going through there,.....maybe id best shut up now and let someone in Astoria help you out there. Seaside, look out during spring break! its THE place to go for the teen/young adult crowd during those weeks!
might want to spend some time in each town before you make a major move to the coast. See it during our rainy months too. Id recommend renting before buying (just like I would for ANY move, ANY where)
Best of luck to you!!
Tiffany

[spike klobas]

tillamook is small shopping is over the hill or down to lincoln city. other wise tourism is the ruin of larger towns on the coast. we have lived here 3 years full time after the portland area. we like it ! the fair is great and it is a friendly place. so much to do out side. there are some great buys on newer houses in netarts. I have one for sale or rent in Cape meares . see craigs list crows nest.

[Steve97415]

I can't overemphasize how unusual it would be for a couple just starting out to try and move to the coast. There's a reason why most people who live on the coast are retired. Coastal real estate is very expensive and economic opportunities are dismal. The "don't want to be anywhere too small" criterion isn't realistic either. The only city on the coast with a population size over 10,000 is Coos Bay with a population of 15,000.
The coast isn't more than an hour's drive from Salem, Corvallis, Eugene or other mainstream valley communities that have (er...make that "had" and "will have in the future") a sound economic base. You say that you're young, yet you have the ambitions of a life that requires a lot of money: moving to the Oregon coast, starting a family in the near future...sounds like what you need first and foremost is a reality check.
My suggestion for your best options is as follows. If you have a job where you are, any job at all that let's you keep your head above water KEEP IT...for now. If you don't have a job right now, move to an area with single-digit unemployment. Oregon has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
Our country is in the midst of the gravest financial crisis in 70 years and things are going to get even worse before they get better. This is a fact that somehow doesn't seem to register with a lot of starry-eyed Generation-Y kids with big dreams. This is not the time to be making discretionary geographic moves. If you have half the brain God gave a salamander, you'll put your baby-making aspirations on the back burner as well. Times are going to get tough and in times like these reasonable people postpone decisions that will magnify their financial burdens.

[davefr]

Originally Posted by Steve97415

I can't overemphasize how unusual it would be for a couple just starting out to try and move to the coast. There's a reason why most people who live on the coast are retired. Coastal real estate is very expensive and economic opportunities are dismal. The "don't want to be anywhere too small" criterion isn't realistic either. The only city on the coast with a population size over 10,000 is Coos Bay with a population of 15,000.
The coast isn't more than an hour's drive from Salem, Corvallis, Eugene or other mainstream valley communities that have (er...make that "had" and "will have in the future") a sound economic base. You say that you're young, yet you have the ambitions of a life that requires a lot of money: moving to the Oregon coast, starting a family in the near future...sounds like what you need first and foremost is a reality check.
My suggestion for your best options is as follows. If you have a job where you are, any job at all that let's you keep your head above water KEEP IT...for now. If you don't have a job right now, move to an area with single-digit unemployment. Oregon has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
Our country is in the midst of the gravest financial crisis in 70 years and things are going to get even worse before they get better. This is a fact that somehow doesn't seem to register with a lot of starry-eyed Generation-Y kids with big dreams. This is not the time to be making discretionary geographic moves. If you have half the brain God gave a salamander, you'll put your baby-making aspirations on the back burner as well. Times are going to get tough and in times like these reasonable people postpone decisions that will magnify their financial burdens.

+1. In the best of times jobs on the coast are primarily minimum wage and there's plenty of demand for them. Right now there are none!!

Seek a career wherever you can find one. You shouldn't pick a career location from a tourism brochure.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

You'll be hard pressed to find non touristy towns on the Oregon coast. However, Coos Bay is probably the least of them.

[Fighter 1]

Originally Posted by davefr

+1. In the best of times jobs on the coast are primarily minimum wage and there's plenty of demand for them. Right now there are none!!

Seek a career wherever you can find one. You shouldn't pick a career location from a tourism brochure.

Did anyone notice that this post was 1 1/2 yrs old ??? like i just did .

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by Fighter 1

Did anyone notice that this post was 1 1/2 yrs old ??? like i just did .

Good point. I did not notice. I've been preaching to a phantom poster!

[prairierose]

It happens quite often that people resurrect old posts, but usually the topics are still timely and the replies will help someone else.