Smaller Towns Around Seattle? (Snohomish, Port Orchard: apartments, condos, houses)

[CBaillo]

Hey guys. I don't know if this exists, but are there smaller towns around Seattle? I guess some intro is needed.

About a year and a half ago my family and I moved from CA to the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. In short, we love it here, but due to the fact that my mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer, we were looking into the possibility of moving back to the west coast to be closer, though we'd never go back to CA, because we hate CA. But WA and OR are great, because they are both an overnight drive away, for emergencies or a sub 3 hour flight.

We moved out here for lots of reasons but one of which we have been spoiled with in the time that we've been here: wide open living. We came from living on top of others in CA to now sitting on an acre of our own private property, in a town that has a population of 5000+. This town is extremely close knit, and we all help each other out when we need it w/ nothing in return expected. The schools are great, as I have a 5 year old in Kindergarten, and the teachers keep us in the loop over everything. Just the typical small town that we always envisioned raising our kids in.

Now, we hate the city and all, but given we are a family of 4 (wife, myself, a 5 year old, and a 3 mos old infant), we know that we have to be somewhat close to a city for medical needs, work, culture, dining, shopping, etc. For us here, we have Ithaca, which is only 10 miles away. We love it because we can LIVE in the country, but the city is close by for all our needs.

My question now is, is there anyplace like this near Seattle, still within a reasonable commute away? We would like to still actually live in a small town, and not on top of other neighbors, but with our own property of about 1/2 acre or more (rented or bought, doesnt matter).

We enjoy the hell out of the outdoors. I'm an avid fisherman, hunter, hiker, camper, etc...and so is my family.

Is there any hunting that goes on near SEattle, WA?

Also I love to snowboard, are there any places close to Seattle that one can snowboard?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by CBaillo

My question now is, is there anyplace like this near Seattle, still within a reasonable commute away? We would like to still actually live in a small town, and not on top of other neighbors, but with our own property of about 1/2 acre or more (rented or bought, doesnt matter).

You might check out North Bend or Snoqualmie. Beautiful mountain towns. But 10 minutes from Seattle? Not unless you fly a helicopter.

Traffic in the Seattle area is a nightmare. 10 minutes from Seattle means living less than a mile from Seattle. I used to have a commute of 18 miles. An average commute day was 40 minutes. But there were times it took 90 minutes or more.

Originally Posted by CBaillo

Also I love to snowboard, are there any places close to Seattle that one can snowboard?

There are ski areas near Seattle. But for GREAT skiing, everyone I knew went up to Whistler in BC.

Really though, visit before you move. Look before you leap. I spent almost 10 years living near Seattle, and I was SO happy to get outta there. I don't miss it at all. I liked the weather, the country was gorgeous, great coffee, nice people for the most part, but the crime, the traffic, and absolutely insane cost of living for a family finally drove us out.

[CBaillo]

thanks for your input, trust me, we look before we leap, as it took us our whole lives to finally up and move out of CA.

I really appreciate honest opinions from both the pro and con side.

[mitsuturbo]

If you want to live somewhere more rural with some space and whatnot, you're probably looking at being nearly an hour out from Seattle. (less time during non peak driving hours)

The suggestions mentioned already are pretty good. Also, i think some proximal communities worth mentioning might be Carnation and Duvall. Then on the other side of Seattle, maybe Southworth, or even Port Orchard. Those places are all about 40 minutes to an hour from Seattle, i believe, depending on traffic or a ferry ride.

As for snowboarding

Originally Posted by SkiWashington website

Mt. Baker Ski Area holds the world record for snowfall in the winter of 1998-1999 with 1,140 inches. They also have the most average annual snowfall of any ski area in North America, with 647 inches of average annual snowfall. Last year, the winter of 2007-2008, they had 786 inches of snowfall and 93 powder days.

• Baker was one of the first ski areas in North America (or the world for that matter) to “allow” snowboarding unrestricted and is the home of many world class snowboarders.

• Mt. Baker was founded in the winter of 1952-53. Duncan Howat has been the General Manager of Baker since 1968 and many of our core full-time staff have been at Baker 25 years or more.

• Mt. Baker hosts the longest running snowboarding event in the world, The Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom. February 2009 will be the 24th Banked Slalom.

I think you can be accomodated.

[CBaillo]

awesome, thanks so much for the info.

[noexcuseforignorance]

I have a tainted viewpoint. I love it here. There are plenty of neighborhoods where you aren't on top of yourself and plenty with a strong neighborhood feeling. I don't think you need to live a large distance away just to feel like you're not on top of people.

There is lots of hiking and fishing and snowboarding. If that's your primary goal, you can head further away from the Seattle core. Just realize that the city of Seattle was designed much better than what surrounds it. I live in the city, rarely spend more than 5 minutes in my car for anything and I can walk to a grocery store, hardware store, restaurants, bars, clothing stores, a lake, sports fields, churches, schools, etc. When you live outside of the city, instead of spending time seeing your friends and doing things, you spend time in your car...for everything.

Traffic in the Seattle area is a nightmare. 10 minutes from Seattle means living less than a mile from Seattle. I used to have a commute of 18 miles. An average commute day was 40 minutes. But there were times it took 90 minutes or more.

That horrible commute exists because people insist on living 18 miles away from where they work. Move closer to work or find a job that is closer. Alternatively, just get the bus. It will take you a fraction of time and you can get work done or read the paper on the way. People's refusal to do so is why you have this 'horrible commute'. By the way, Seattle is generally seen as the easiest city in the country to access services and get around.

[Sher Val]

"That horrible commute exists because people insist on living 18 miles away from where they work. Move closer to work or find a job that is closer."

Now that is just plain silly........ in this economy to tell someone to find a job that is closer to work isn't truly realistic or even a safe or sane plan. Not at this time anyway - especially someone with a family to support.
Also, if people didn't "insist" on living 18 (or more) miles away from their work in Seattle, then we would all live in apartments like the city areas of New York or something! When I watch a TV and it shows how all these people live in apartments, it's unbelievable to me!! How can you raise a child in an apartment their whole life? Everytime they go outside to play, do they have to walk on the 'streets on New York" and if so, then of course Mom or Dad or babysitter has to go with them every second. Living 18 or more miles from work allows us to live in generally safer areas, places with safe parks and local smaller police departments that know & patrol their communities, and children can actually go outside and play in their YARD, or ride their bicycle in their neighborhood, or go with their friends to one of the many local, clean parks to play a pick up game of baseball, football, soccer, etc.
In New York, what I see is these people who, according to their income, live their whole lives in some type of an apartment!! Small or perhaps a little bit bigger. Evidently apartments are so hard to come by, and lack affordability, they may stay in the same one for years, and years, and years!! What about putting your hands in dirt; growing a vegatable garden; a 'city' pea-patch (like Seattle has, etc) - how can anyone live their whole life in an apartment? I don't care if you can walk to the cleaners, the restaraunts, the bars, etc - you come home to an apartment where peopel live under you, over you and beside you. You can't pick your neighbors, as they say - what if you get a noisy or inconsiderate neighbor? At least in a suburban area you have a certain amount of yard to seperate you from a perhaps noisy neighbor.
Perhaps if they live alone or with just another adult mate I can see it, but not with children. What an unhealthy environment, to raise children in an apartment their whole life where they can't do the things described above. Weird. I'm sure there are many areas of greater New York where people live in 'regular' homes, but since most of the people I know who live in New York City don't even own a car, then the people who choose to live in an actual home must have to be awfully rich or must have a very, very long commute.

Traffic in Seattle certainly CAN be a nightmere, depending on the time of day. It's insanity in my opinion, to make everyone have to be at work at, say, 8 AM, and then make them be done with work at say, 5 PM so they can drive to & from work with almost every other person around! I applaud business owners who allow or actually, who INSIST on flexible work schedules, so that not every singel employee is driving to and from work at the same time. If more businesses did this, then we wouldn't have 1/2 the 'bad' traffic issues that we have now. Some days are much easier than others, of course. Flexible hour working is a plan that would truly help traffic pan out more evenly and easier. Public transit is a good thing too, but I admit that I have not used it hardly ever.
I and several of my friends and family have traveled to many other areas of the world; Honestly? In summer, there is almost no other area that is as beautiful and clean as Seattle. The sunshine will hit on the Cascade mountains to the east or shine on the Olympic Mountains to the west of Seattle, or perhaps on a clear day you'll see the unbeliveable view of Mt. Rainier to the South!! Part of the reason traffic can be hard is because we have a large and beautiful lake, Lake Washington, and there are only 2 bridges to cross it, or you can drive around it to the south or north. It's beautiful. In summer you can swim there, in winter you are within an hour + of the snowy mountain slopes to take your kids sledding or go skiiing or boarding. And with all our mountain ranges, we have hiking available to everyone from inexperienced, low level hikes, to very high, challenging hikes.
We have a Major league teams in; Baseball, Football, Soccer, & Hockey, (even some womens teams!) and we might have major league basketball, but I honestly forgot if we still have that team cuz I never watch basketball.
Seattle has many very nice areas in which to live. Pick your choice. Crime? The person above wrote about crime. I've never been victimized one time. But I am one who lives in 'the country', not inside the City limits of Seattle. I have about a 25 mile commute to the east, (Snohomish) and it takes me just under an hour each way.... sometimes less. We live on a 5 acre Ranch with horses and chickens and yet it only is a 5 mile drive to the closest town for grocery shopping, eating out, etc.
Seattle is a lovely place, honestly.

[sofia76]

Sher Val - I'm sorry, but I take issue with your "real home" comment. Just because apartment flats or row houses or condos or living in the city isn't your thing doesn't mean it's not a "real home."

Everyone has preferences. Thank goodness we live in a society where there are options.

[cmj912]

I had to add to sofia76's comment that there are plenty of very urban areas all over the world where families raise healthy, happy children in an environment with a very high quality of life - some with a higher quality of life index, on average, than the entire United States.

Urban versus rural - it is all about trade-offs - of which there are both pluses and minuses - for each choice.

[t.hopkins]

Your best bets are the Kitsap Peninsula (either a 30 or 65 minute ferry ride {+ drive and wait time} from downtown Seattle) or the Snoqualmie and Snohomish River valleys (30-40 minutes {w/o traffic} from downtown).