High Desert Communities/weather in Sisters? (Portland, Bend: college, airport, pine)

[Storyhr]

Hi. I just spent a week writing in Kahneeta before the crowds really descended upon the area.

I loved the weather in the high desert and the dramatic landscape.

I'm thinking about relocating and would love to find a community that would offer warm weather and stunning scenery without the crowds. A nice small town would be great. Someplace within an hour or two of the airport would be a bonus.

Any suggestions? Is Sisters high desert? Thanks!

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by Storyhr

Hi. I just spent a week writing in Kahneeta before the crowds really descended upon the area.

I loved the weather in the high desert and the dramatic landscape.

I'm thinking about relocating and would love to find a community that would offer warm weather and stunning scenery without the crowds. A nice small town would be great. Someplace within an hour or two of the airport would be a bonus.

Any suggestions? Is Sisters high desert? Thanks!

If you don't like crowds, Sisters is not for you. While it can be quiet-ish in the off season, once tourist season starts, Sisters is jammed. Often it's jammed with fun things - music festival, art festivals, book festivals - but it's very much a tourist town in summer. Sisters is more dry mountain than high desert, although it's on the high desert side.

For smaller communities, you might try Terrebonne (within view of Smith Rocks but not too close so you are out of the climber/hiker traffic), Prineville, Redmond (now that the bypass is in) and snowy La Pine to the south.

If by "airport" you mean PDX, then your best bet is Hood River in Oregon or White Salmon in Washington. Just on the edge of the wet/dry divide, not high enough to be high desert, but still within a couple hours of PDX. The Dalles, further out, is thoroughly on the dry side of the divide.

[Storyhr]

Dear PNW,
Thanks so much! I'll check out your suggestions... as far as the airport goes, I'm wondering if Bend is adequate?
Also, are there any towns in central Oregon that might have a strong art community or a nice level of cultural activities?
Cheers,

[cheapmerlot]

You can fly out of Redmond to connections to most anywhere. Redmond's 20 min from Sisters or Bend..a little more or less from quite a few other little towns around like Terrebonne, Tumalo, Prineville, etc.

[skinem]

Don't know exactly what you mean by "warm weather"--it's kind of relative and subjective, depending upon what you're used to.
Keep in mind that most of central Oregon is relatively high elevation and does get cold in the winter.
I would add Culver to the list along with Terrebonne, Tumalo, Prineville, Redmond, heck even Madras...they are still close enough to Bend for the "cultural" activities--such as they are!

If you prefer dry, and even more remote, you may consider LaGrande, Oregon. It is a college town, mild weather, pretty town and views. However, it's about 3 and a half hours from Portland.

[Bendite]

Originally Posted by Storyhr

Dear PNW,
Thanks so much! I'll check out your suggestions... as far as the airport goes, I'm wondering if Bend is adequate?
Also, are there any towns in central Oregon that might have a strong art community or a nice level of cultural activities?

Cheers,

Sisters and Bend are likely going to be highest in arts and cultural activities

Alaska/Horizon offers the most flights out of Redmond with some provided by United and others. It's a small airport but there are flights to Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and other cities for connections. United flies direct to Denver in summer months. Typically the fares are a bit more expensive than if you flew out of Portland