River/Mountain towns near Portland - which would you pick and why? (St. Helens: houses, employment)

[malachai23]

Just for fun - assuming you would ever want to live in a small town - if you were to pick one of these towns to live in (and assuming employment was not a factor), which would it be and why? All of these towns are small (some moreso than others), and I think they all have some similarities - a certain rugged Pacific NW feel.

Cascade Locks, OR
Sandy, OR
Boring, OR
St. Helens, OR
Scappoose, OR
Camas, WA
Washougal, WA
Stevenson, WA
Brightwood/Welches/Wemme/Zigzag, OR

[Wicked Felina]

Brightwood/Welches/Wemme/Zigzag, OR

They're on the mountain. Lots of winter snow and there're still a few of the old-timers around, those whose families have been on the Mountain for generations. I like that kind of history even though it's getting awfully crowded up there - but then what resort-type area isn't?

I am a big fan of woods, snow and cold weather!

[HonuMan]

St. Helens. I find it charming, there a reasonably priced houses in the area, Portland is easily accessible, and it's that much closer to the coast than Portland is. (I love the mountains, but I love the coast even more.)

[bennyboo<3seattle<3]

wheres vancouver? its bigger then all of these i choose vancouver idc if its not on the list

[Wicked Felina]

Originally Posted by bennyboo<3seattle<3

wheres vancouver? its bigger then all of these i choose vancouver idc if its not on the list

To each his own ~

[malachai23]

LOL Benny - I was going for very small and rugged - neither of which is Vancouver

[davefr]

Very interesting question.

"Rugged River Towns" in that order:
Stevenson, WA
Cascade Locks, OR
St. Helens, OR

No these are just Portland suburbs in varying degrees:
Scappoose, OR
Sandy, OR
Boring, OR
Camas, WA
Washougal, WA

Mountains but more touristy then rugged:
Brightwood/Welches/Wemme/Zigzag, OR

I'd also throw Clatskanie and Vernonia into the mix and maybe even Banks. I might even say that Vernonia has the mix of mountain, river, rugged and close to Portland all in one.

[Deezus]

Both Stevenson and Cascade Locks are very nice, but I wouldn't call them "rugged"..There are always tons of tourists when I visit either of them. That being said, of all the places on the list I'd pick Stevenson..It's got some decent restaurants, close to great hiking and kitesurfing and kayaking in the Gorge(and not too far to Mt Hood or Mt Adams) and it just feels laid back and friendly to me.

The Mt Hood towns(Brightwood, Zigzag, etc), I've always liked too--especially the areas up towards Lolo Pass road.

What about Estacada? It's at the outer edges of Portlandia, but it's a fairly rugged river town--although its got some weirder residents (and businesses) as well. The old Safari Club has changed hands, but its still got its taxidermed wildlife apparently.

[Xplorer]

Why is Hood River not on that list? I personally think Hood River trumps all those listed. I am a little biased, though.. I grew up there.

Oh and Cascade Locks is a ****-hole.

[malachai23]

Clatskanie and Vernonia - forgot about them! Haven't been to either of them in eons. Tell me more about Vernonia!!!

Estacada... yah... um, the Safari Club... I forgot all about that place. Scary. Very Scary.

I didn't put Hood River on the list because I knew everyone would pick it! I am already fairly familiar with it - so I thought maybe I could get some input on some other towns in the area that I don't know as much about. So yes, I agree - Hood River is a very nice town!