Questions about Spokane (Seattle, South Hill, Cheney: scorpions, elementary school, taxes)

[Pcghost]

CDA is literally in the foothills of the Idaho mountains. Spokane lies in a valley stretching from those mountains to the West (The Spokane Valley). As such we in Spokane are blessed by being missed by probably 30-40% of the storms that wallop North Idaho every winter. It really isn't that noticable (the sun difference) as we all hang out and camp,fish,bike in the same areas. North Idaho is the playground of Eastern Washington residents, with some of the best fishing, and camping in the Northwest.

[coldswan]

Hi to all who are contemplating the move to Spokane. I went down there from March 8-11 and had a really nice time. The weather was very pleasant for early March. I went for a walk at 7:30am at 49F with just a light jacket (coming from Alaska that is huge!). I was in Spokane Valley area (Veradale) and there is a nice mountain range surrounding the whole area. Not huge like the Chugach range in Anchorage, but who needs those big cold things anyway! It is very easy to navigate the highway into downtown. All exits are marked clearly and I even came back from the North part of town on my own in the dark without a hitch! The malls are nice in the Valley and downtown. People seem very nice and helpful. The airport is small and easy to get around (for those who hate big airports). It does have a downtown "city" crowd but most of the time I did get that it has more of a small town feel. I loved that you can drive to Coeur d' Alene just down the highway! I explored the North side, South Hill (very cool houses), all around the Valley and out to overly crowded Liberty Lake (houses piled on top of each other). Some very different types of homes and neighborhoods all around the city. From very old to brand new! Thank you so much to WendyK for spending the day with me and showing me the good and the bad of the city. No sugar coating here! There are run down areas but I think over all it seemed like a pleasant enough city to live in or around. That's just my take on it, hope it is helpful!

[photogoddess]

Coldswan: Thanks for the honest apraisal of Spokane through the eyes of a visitor. I wasn't too excited about Spokane to begin with, but I think alot of it had to do with the time of year-late winter (no snow), cold and overcast. I am sure no city or town is going to look too inviting in those conditions. I am excited to be in Spokane as the weather gets warm and things are in bloom. The city itself does have some run down places,but what city doesn't? My hubby and I have found an area there that we both like-Shadle, and it seems to have what we need, good high school, close to downtown, and the area seems like a quiet one, good for families. From the little I have seen, it also has better housing prices but it has some of the older houses that maintain some character (something I did not find in some of the other areas we were looking into, with the exception of SH) Shadle is a good fit for us, and Spokane has alot of neighborhoods that are a good fit depending on what you are looking for. I just might end up being one of those people who intitially disliked Spokane, but end up loving it and defending it to those who try to focus just on the negative. I do think Spokane looks like it has "given up" in some areas, and I hope that the city and its residents take more pride in its overall appearance because Spokane does have the potential to regain some of the appeal it had during the world's fair in the 70's. The city really does have some beautiful places and good people!

[mes3fils]

Well, our visit is coming up, April 2-10.

My 14.5yr old son is coming with dh and I. What types activities are there that we could take him to....so he also has a nice time? Dh and I are going to see if it's a place we'd want to live, but need to give ds a good time too.

He likes skateboarding (kinda), rock music, surfing (we live in FL) and playing the guitar. And, girls of course.

Is there a place we could go ice skating?

What about sports bars around Liberty Lake area? Where ds could get in too.

We are going to take him to 49 degrees north to snowboard one day, as it's free ski week!

One more ? Is it going to be spring break in Spokane during our visit?

Thanks, please address all ?'s if possible!

[coldswan]

Hi All, can any local folks tell me which school districts will be offering Full Day kindergarten by Fall 2007 in and around Spokane? Thanks.

[D'yer Mak'er]

I haven't visited the forum in a couple of months, and whoa! This thread about Spokane seems to have taken some unfortunate turns. Sorry to see the chaos. I was just thinking about this thread the other morning as I was driving into Spokane at about 5am on a Sunday morning. It was really fun to see the city before it was fully awake, all quiet and still, lovely old brick buildings rising up all around I-90. In the past couple of months I have only grown more fond of Spokane, despite some uncomfortable moments downtown when my personal space was a bit invaded by some overly persistant homeless men. I'm still a little scared of that, and there's a guy with a yellow bicycle who really intimidates me. I'm thinking of checking with the PD to see if there's a class on how to deal with that sort of situation better.

Anyways, I hope everyone is enjoying the cusp of spring ... I am delighting in the many flowery surprises around my yard: crocuses, daffodils, tulips, etc. I'm looking forward to landscaping as the weather permits. Can anyone recommend a really great nursery in the area?

[photogoddess]

I hope mes3 is having a good experience with Spokane. I for one, cannot wait to hear if they liked it...After all the searching online, there really is nothing like seeing it in person. They will be there at a good time too, not so dreary and overcast.
coldswan: have you checked their websites to see if they offer full day K? My kiddo is long past that age so I can't be of more help.
Dyer: I will be pretty new to the area too and we will have a yard!! If you find a good nursery please post! I saw a few while driving around, but they looked sort of small. There is one right across the street from Wolf's hats, small but looked promising from across the street.

[skitow]

Hi everyone! I got an e-mail from the forum administator that this thread had new posts since I posted a long time back. What a cat and dog fight!! It seems like a few people try to find fault with a dead bug on their windshield. Good God! Get a life! You can't run down a city if you don't have a solid knowledge of it. If you havn't lived there for a length of time, your angry posts don't hold water. Quoting stats doesn't mean crap. Mes3fils seems like a very sweet person to me. I would love to have a neighbor like that. D'yer Mak'er. I sure agree with you about the chaos this thread has become. In CA where I live, Mountain view, I get approached 3 out of 5 times I go out from the drunks and drug users. If they don't back off, they will get a nasty taste of pepper spray. If you feel you are in danger, do whatever it takes to protect yourself. Photogoddess, you also seem like sweet person. With you and Mes3fils as neighbors, life would be nice. I'm not forgetting you, D'yer Mak'er. Your all good people. Now for Washinton native, sorry, no hope for you. You hate all. Best to all the NICE people on this thread. Stay safe,skitow

[commstar]

spokane tries to be real city but often fails. this says it all for me. the beautiful davenport hotel has been remodeled in an african theme. over the bell counter there is a large stained glass picture of a tiger. a tiger.

tigers do not live in africa. they live in asia. lions live in africa.

my point? no one picked up on that before they installed that picture.

thats my spokane.

[KidBlue]

Thanks for all the great info. on the Spokane area threads. I'm still leaning a little more to retiring on the western side (Shelton/Olympia) but Spokane is looking better and better. WendyK sent me some pictures of homes on acreage outside Spokane and they were all so beautiful. From other pictures of the area, I thought it was all grassland. I love Ponderosa pines!

But I just had to write because whoever said that the most blue area in the nation was anywhere in WA state has NEVER been to San Francisco. You have no idea.......