Hood River Area Cities - which is the best? (Portland: homes, organic)

[troswalt]

My wife and I live in Portland and we're considering moving out to the Gorge. We want a bit more sunshine and we realize that isn't really the case in Hood River or White Salmon (I think it's 48 inches of rain/year in PDX and 37/year in Hood River or something). But we do want to be within two hours of Portland, and be within 30 minutes of a semi-organic grocery store/co-op/or other quality local food source (including a CSA's). Otherwise we'd probably consider bend as we love the high desert vibe but it feels somewhat isolated and a little too "ski town rich". We've considered Lyle (more sun on WA side of river), Moiser, The Dalles (better deals?), and would love any other recommendations and tips on the area.

[NWbyNW]

Hood River the town itself is rather touristy, but has a great recreational scene and a very nice historic downtown. It's not too far from Portland. Bingen and White Salmon seems nice. I particularly like White Salmon's downtown. There is a local grocer there as well, but it is a very small town in a rather isolated county. Same with nearby Stevenson in Skamania County.

While it might not be as sunny as you want, Stevenson has a neat downtown and is the only incorporated town in the county. Very small and rural, but right along the Columbia River. Some great land and homes around this area. Stevenson is about 40 minutes Hood River, and decently close to Vancouver's services and stores, about an hour through a stunning cliffside route and forest. The Carson Valley east of Stevenson is a popular area to settle, rural, but growing.

Mosier is a small community, not much there but a post office and closed down main . . . four way intersection. It's a cool location and a quick 15 minutes from Hood River.

Lyle is a small town, but there really is not much there to do. You have to drive to either The Dalles or Bingen to cross the river. There are a few small stores along Highway 14, but otherwise chain store shopping must be done in The Dalles, same with medical services. You are about 30 minutes from Hood River and about 30 minutes from The Dalles.

Here is a big alternative idea. You want considerably more sun? Look at Ellensburg area in Washington State. Within an hour and a half to Seattle. I know you wanted within 2hr to Portland, but Seattle would have the same services, but more. Ellensburg and the adjacent Yakima Valley have over 300 days of sunshine a year. There are many great river locations through here as well.