Small Town Feel w/ in 45 mins. of Children's Hospital? (Seattle: middle-class, for rent)

[marchesefam]

Hi all!

Hoping you can help... We currently live in the greater Phoenix,
Arizona area and we are looking to relocate.

A little about us:
We are in our early 30's, the parents of a special needs (heart
defect) daughter who is adopted. We are looking for the idyllic
"quaint" area. I grew up outside of San Francisco but went to high
school in Sheboygan, WI and my husband grew up in Jackson Hole,
Wyoming. We like the smaller communities and we're looking for a small
town feel with some amenities. I'd like a community where one can get
involved, one with good schools, a middle-class cost of living, and
very safe. My daughter will require numerous heart surgeries over the
course of her life, so we're looking at the top 25 pediatric
cardiology facilities and searching a 45 mile radius around the area.

In Arizona, kids can't do sports in the summer because of the heat. No
kids play outside, and after 5 years in my current home, I still don't
know most of my neighbors. I'd like a town where kids play outside,
the neighbors know one another, the town goes to the high school
football games.

My husband is a claims adjuster for a large insurance company and
works from home, so we're very flexible. I am a stay-at-home mother,
so being able to do things with my child is important.

I enjoy a milder climate, but I'm flexible.

I appreciate your help!

[KikiMonster]

You don't say your price range but I have a few suggestions...... FWIW, I love Children's Hospital in Seattle--truly a wonderful place and great facility.

I am really only familiar with the Eastside, which is across Lake Washington and a overall great place to live.. I would look at the following towns:

Issaquah
Kirkland
Redmond
Woodinville
Fall City
Newcastle
Bothell
Snoqualmie/Snoqualmie Ridge

I think those are all good options..... You don't need to be more than 15 miles away from Children's in Seattle to find a great town.....

[marchesefam]

I would like to stay under 300k for a home, or under 1900/month for rent. I've been to Snoqualmie- but only to hike the Falls. Is it as gloomy as people say? I vacationed there in August of 2001 and remember it being super sunny and gorgeous, but maybe it was a one-off?

[tobester]

The under 300K for a home would probably put you much farther than 45 minutes from Children's. All of the Eastside neighborhoods mentioned would probably be 450K or more. For less than 300K, you'd need to be way north or way south of Seattl proper.

[VeronikaW]

You can get a new home in Maple Valley for under $300K, and that area has everything you're looking for.