Sun and Seasons?

[Fiddlehead]

I would also check out the La Grande / Baker City area as an area with definite seasons, and nice fall color from the aspens. Both towns are next to the Wallowa and Elkhorn Mtns. which are drop dead gorgeous. Great little towns, and affordable, but jobs would be the challenge there. Both can get cold at times, but coming from Michigan, you can handle it.

[WordFlowers]

Loved yr response and info about Susanville, CA; I am accustomed to very sunny even in winter, CO? but needing a high and lonesome fix (been this way since childhood, love the undiscovered places and that led me outta Beantown, MASS and coastal living I wasn't into to the Western Slopes of CO) Now CO is very pricey and still gorgeous and sunny but well, it's too popular. I like to feel like I have been in Utah and Rock Country,like I am alone with the wind and the sun on my face is the only one the sun has found for hundreds of miles.

Will I get that in the Lassen area? Love to wander and photograph and be alone with dog, what can you tell me about the area. I am kind of thinking visiting and living there just a few mos of the year. How is that area NO of Eagle Lake, pretty remote? That's where I would be.

Thanks again.

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by WordFlowers

Love to wander and photograph and be alone with dog, what can you tell me about the area.

While local ordinances vary, in general, California frowns on having dogs in county, state and federal parks and wild areas. Sometimes they are allowed on leashes, but are often prohibited entirely. Legal off-leash dog walking is generally confined to dedicated dog parks. When you live at the Oregon border as I do, you quickly notice a major downward shift in dog-friendliness when crossing to the California side of the border.

[echocity]

That's western Oregon. In Eastern Oregon it is dry and hot during the summer and in the Columbia Basin, it usually only gets really cold when a storm moves up the Columbia. We have lots of fall color and the springs are fabulous. There are good places to eat. In fact the Plateau Restaurant at the Wild Horse Gaming Resort was just named one of the best places in the state to eat in Gerry Franks Oregonian Column. Pendleton has Hamleys, Rafaels (usually in Best places in the NW to eat) and Stetsons and Hermiston has Farmer's Kitchen and Umatilla Desert River Inn. There are also good places to eat in Tri-Cities, WA and Walla Walla WA. There Safeways, Fiesta Foods in Hermiston and Costco, WinnCo and Yokes in the Tri-cities for supermarkets and a large Mall in Tri-Cities called Columbia Center

[skinem]

Now, "lots of fall color" around Echo? Really? I liked it there, but if you're out of town, you're not going to see a lot of color. My wife and I used to joke when we'd pass a particular ranch that had ONE big maple..."Look, it must be fall...THE tree is changing!" I guess there are some weeds in amongst the brown grass that do turn kind of a red or rust color.

Don't get me wrong, I like EO a lot, but I think saying there's a LOT of fall color, especially when compared to many other places, is a stretch.

I think you're dead on with the rest of the post, though!

You gotta be the mayor or city manager...

[Chrysaliswriter]

Husband and I spent 8 days at the coast this past summer using our vacation plan to book in at Newport. It rained every day, was in the mid-to-high 50's, windy, foggy every morning, and the sun peeked out twice in those 8 days. I felt chilled to the bone, it made walking on the beach or even in town not very much fun. (I have severe arthritis even in my feet!). In 6 yrs. back in Oregon *(my home state) I have developed severe osteoarthritis, with every injury to my joints I've ever had in great pain. Our trip to Klamath Falls last month for 6 days was delightful. It was cold at night (mid-to-high 30's) but didn't "feel" cold! We were surprised by thought it might be due to higher altitude, lower humidity, etc. 39 degrees one morning felt more like 59 in Portland area! It was barely chilly to us. We had a great time, no aches or pains, and thought for sure we'd be in for some discomfort. We rented a chalet, turned the heat off - even at night - as the place retained heat so well and there was no "damp" feeling! Although we did get some rain, it was just completely different in the feel. It would clear off - and the sun would come out! Awesome scenery and lots of wildlife - so close up and personal. 8 deer in our rear yard - 2 babies and 6 adults - 10 ft. from us, grazing and watching us watching them. Lots of gorgeous bird life and the California quail families we'd grown to love living in Utah and having them breeding up in the junipers on the back of our property there. It was a great get-a-way and it made up for the 8 days of cold/wind/rain the end of July and first part of August at the Oregon coast! Ironically, you have to book about a year ahead, or you don't get a spot! We held high hopes for good weather so we could enjoy our visit a bit more!