Need expert on mountains (the cascades especially) for picky relocater (Seattle: sex offenders, live)
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Or is that your opinion as to what a 'traditional' western AMERICAN mountain town is supposed to look like? The only thing that's missing is the Ricola guy with his horn. The town is what it is -- if you like it, good for you. But to try to claim that it isn't a German/Swiss knock-off just shows your flailing bias. If it isn't that, what is it? Bavarian? Czech? Austrian? They tried to look like that part of the world, and they pulled it off -- IMO ruining the town in the process. Why you'd argue the point as to what it looks like is beyond me. It's like you're looking to pick a fight, but chose the wrong field of battle.
See? This is how I know that you haven't visited the town. You wouldn't be asking this question because you would know the answer. Why? Because the answer is stuffed down your throat the moment you come into Leavenworth... Its a "Bavarian" village. It's decreed that anything built in Leavenworth's "city" limit must be styled in a Bavarian style. They have Bavarian celebrations and they take pride in their Bavarian sausages (Müchen House is on the money). And they always advertise it as a Bavarian getaway. And it didn't ruin a town in process... it saved and revitalized it. And you would know all this by simple research or reading brochures about it. I have a hard time believing anyone who visited Leavenworth could come out and either forget or blithely call it "Faux Swiss".
I have no flailing bias and I've lost no battle... You see, I actually live here and know my state. You don't. So, enjoy all the time and the sun you have left in Phoenix and when you do finally move here... in Oct I think you've mentioned? Come visit Leavenworth... you're just in time for Oktoberfest.
[IMG] IMG_2235 by inkydory, on Flickr[/IMG]
The clouds cover the heights of it, but I think still shows impressively. (Don't mind the construction, I'm sure they're done with it now.)
Because the answer is stuffed down your throat the moment you come into Leavenworth... Its a "Bavarian" village.
OH MY GOD, SOMEONE ALERT THE PRESSES -- I CALLED IT A SWISS KNOCK-OFF WHEN IT WAS BAVARIAN.
Have you ever looked at a map? Bavaria and Switzerland are within fifty miles of each other -- they share a maritime border across Lake Constance. They're both mountainous; their people both speak German; their houses and buildings look the same. Through a trick of history, they might be the same country.
You're picking nits. You might not want to cop to that, but it's painfully obvious that's what you're doing. Far be it from you to respond to my greater point -- that taking a traditional, western railroad whistle stop and bastardizing it into a European knockoff seems downright shameful. No; no -- it's important, instead, to **** and moan about whether or not I got my German-speaking Americanized rip-offs right. Did I insult everyone living in Leavenworth by calling it faux Swiss? Good.
Quote:
I have no flailing bias and I've lost no battle.
Bull. It's one thing after another with you Washington folks. The moment somebody raises a critique about your state, it's time to blast on those bugles, mount up the cavalry and ride like the devil himself is at your back to defend the homeland. And don't try and tell me that isn't precisely what this was about; I insulted Leavenworth (I did -- but not for the reason you're inflamed over. I think it looks cheap and amateurish; you're in a hissy because I didn't associate it with the correct 'brand' of Eurotrash) and you decided to parry in the one arena that didn't actually matter, knowing, of course, that you couldn't prevail elsewhere.
I don't know if I've ever seen this particular brand of parochialism slathered on so thick regarding any state in the union -- not even the Texas folks were this hard-up about it. The state is what it is -- it has its good parts and it has its bad, same as any other. Its residents' almost universal inability to come to terms with criticism is baffling (although, I admit, infinitely pleasurable given the reactions said criticism produces).
Quote:
You see, I actually live here and know my state. You don't.
Actually, I'd bet money I know more about it than you do. There's no way I can prove that, of course, but since I'm smarter than you are, the natural extension of that is to conclude that I know more. About everything. Tough, huh?
The real problem is, you don't want to accept that someone can glance at a few pictures and pass absolute judgment -- which is exactly what I did. I don't need to visit Leavenworth to think it looks ridiculous; same as I don't need to visit Somalia and get kidnapped by pirates to know they're there, or take a submarine down to inspect the Titanic just to make sure it is, indeed, sunk and resting in two pieces on the ocean floor. There is no need for me to waste the time visiting Leavenworth when I know it looks tacky -- hard as that is for you to comprehend. I'm glad that fact apparently sticks in your craw, though -- it pleases me deeply.
Last edited by ShrikeArghast; 06-04-2012 at 01:30 AM..
Ok, Shrike... You obviously have issues with "WA folks" and you're still thinking about/planning on moving here. I don't know why you're getting soo wounded up for, but obviously you'd fit well here (... or NOT). I don't care. Knock yourself out.
All I did was make a comment that you obviously haven't visited Leavenworth... which you still haven't confirmed nor denied.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShrikeArghast
OH MY GOD, SOMEONE ALERT THE PRESSES -- I CALLED IT A SWISS KNOCK-OFF WHEN IT WAS BAVARIAN.
Have you ever looked at a map? Bavaria and Switzerland are within a hundred miles of each other. They're both mountainous; their people both speak German; their houses and buildings look the same. Through a trick of history, they might be the same country.
You're picking nits. You might not want to cop to that, but it's painfully obvious that's what you're doing. Far be it from you to respond to my greater point -- that taking a traditional, western railroad town and bastardizing it into a European knockoff seems downright shameful. No; no -- it's important, instead, to **** and moan about whether or not I got my German-speaking Americanized rip-offs right. Did I insult everyone living in Leavenworth by calling it faux Swiss? Good.
Bull. It's one thing after another with you Washington folks. The moment somebody raises a critique about your state, it's time to blast on those bugles, mount up the cavalry and ride like the devil himself is at your back to defend the homeland. And don't try and tell me that isn't precisely what this was about; I insulted Leavenworth (I did -- but not for the reason you're inflamed over. I think it looks cheap and amateurish; you're in a hissy because I didn't associate it with the correct 'brand' of Eurotrash) and you decided to parry in the one arena that didn't actually matter, knowing, of course, that you couldn't win elsewhere.
I don't know if I've ever seen this particular brand of parochialism slathered on so thick regarding any state in the union -- not even the Texas folks were this hard-up about it. The state is what it is -- it has its good parts and it has its bad, same as any other. Its residents' almost universal inability to come to terms with criticism is baffling (although, I admit, infinitely pleasurable given the reactions said criticism produces).
Actually, I'd bet money I know more about it than you do. There's no way I can prove that, of course, but since I'm smarter than you are, the natural extension of that is to conclude that I know more. About everything. Tough, huh?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShrikeArghast
The real problem is, you don't want to accept that someone can glance at a few pictures and pass absolute judgment -- which is exactly what I did. I don't need to visit Leavenworth to think it looks ridiculous; same as I don't need to visit Somalia and get kidnapped by pirates to know they're there, or take a submarine down to inspect the Titanic just to make sure it is, indeed, sunk and resting in two pieces on the ocean floor. There is no need for me to waste the time visiting Leavenworth when I know it looks tacky -- hard as that is for you to comprehend. I'm glad that fact apparently sticks in your craw, though -- it pleases me deeply.
Aha! See! You haven't visited Leavenworth. Pity... (though I do agree that it's tacky... but it's fun kind of tacky)
Last edited by Inkpoe; 06-04-2012 at 01:29 AM..
Reason: Added new quote after poster's edit
The second comment I made in this thread already mentioned my original thread:
"thank you so much very refreshing to have someone reply as I've asked.I did in fact look into Colorado and that was my original destination for this summer (here's my Colorado thread: Need Colorado Expert for picky rural relocation advice) but someone told me I'd only find the kind of photos I specified in my images in Washington so I came here."
...I'm not sure why so many people seem to not read at least what the OP has to say before posting...
Anyhow the photos I've seen of Washington are in fact much more what I am looking for...I may pass through Colorado on the way briefly to double check first hand as it looks like I'm going to be renting a car to travel from New York. The scary thing is that I had my plans for Colorado mostly arranged and now that my destination has changed to Washington I'm nervous I won't have enough time allocated to visit all the places I'd potentially want to move to...so I'm VERY greatful to anyone who can tell me which specific places I should or shouldn't miss on my route.
Last edited by gemcraver; 06-04-2012 at 09:04 AM..
Anyhow the photos I've seen of Washington are in fact much more what I am looking for...I may pass through Colorado on the way briefly to double check first hand as it looks like I'm going to be renting a car to travel from New York. The scary thing is that I had my plans for Colorado mostly arranged and now that my destination has changed to Washington I'm nervous I won't have enough time allocated to visit all the places I'd potentially want to move to...so I'm VERY greatful to anyone who can tell me which specific places I should or shouldn't miss on my route.
Towns to miss:
Skykomish
Index
Gold Bar
Sultan
Concrete
They are severely depressed and declining towns. A bit too far from civilization. The first 4, a lot of people usually just pass these towns on the way to Stevens Pass. Its also good for weekend trips for the rest of the state's residents.
Towns to check out (as they have some economy and/or aren't too far from bigger towns):
Monroe
Leavenworth/Peshastin/Cashmere
Wenatchee
Ellensburg
Issaquah/Snoqualmie/North Bend
Bellingham area
Towns to consider (but probably wouldn't fit due to distance/economy):
Sedro-Wooley
Mt. Vernon
Port Angeles
Darrington
Cle Elum
If it weren't for the economy downfall, Cle Elum definitely would be your best bet. It pretty much remains the only mountain town that had so much money pumped into into it. We're talking about on the scale of a billion dollars. If the economy went back up, I'm sure Suncadia Resorts would back to life and reach its potential.
I don't mind harsh temperatures but I am opposed to places where a devastating natural disaster(such as severe tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.) is likely.
I just wanted to point out that Washington is part of the "Ring of Fire." So there is the potential for Volcanoes and Earthquakes. Not to mention the occasional landslide.
For that kind of views the cascades will not have enough variety of height for you, I suggest taking the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge, then drive on to Port Angeles, left on Race Street and into the Olympic National Park. What you want is available from the Hurricane Ridge area, and it would be the Olympic Mountains, not the Cascades. Known as the Swiss Alps of the U.S.
This picture is in Darrington and looks pretty perfect...
Darrington isn't a very nice town though it does have nice mountains nearby. Could only find one place open for lunch.
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