Where is the greenest/most beautiful area? (Seattle, Kent: transplants, employment)

[cinhawaii]

I know this is going to sound dumb, but Im in love with the city in "Men in Trees"! I know its actually filmed in Canada, but I was wondering if any of the places in northern WA are comperable. I want a place that rains alot, but also snows. I am prefer a small town feel, with a liberal mindset, but with at least some of the options of a bigger city (ok mainly I need a target (or something close to it) near by decent shopping a and restaraunts) I am working on my masters now, but when I finish I will eventaully working in corrections, so it needs to be somehwere near a prison. Any suggestions?

[mayfair]

Monroe has a prison, is a small town with shopping, is green, rainy and on the way to the mountains for winter snow. It also snows there more often than down near the Sound. You might like it!

[Xenobion]

One of the greenest places in the world is the Hoh National Rainforest in the Olympic Mountains.

Flickr Photo Download: Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington State, USA

Apparently there is a prison in Forks.

Olympic Corrections Center - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But a better choice would be Clallum Bay for its prison and the fact its near Port Angeles and Port Townsend.

Clallam Bay Corrections Center - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These of course are all on the Olympic Peninsula where is only sometimes snows and its not North Washington.

Bellingham is probably for you as it is fairly Liberal and near Mount Baker which gets ridiculous amounts of snow.

[sean98125]

Clallam Bay is probably your best bet for the combination you're looking for, though you won't get much snow.


If you don't mind a bit of a commute, you could look at someplace like Carbonado or the rural area near Enumclaw or Eatonville and drive to the big King County jail in Kent.

[cinhawaii]

I don't need tons of snow, just some. I am in HI now, and Los Angeles before that so I have never lived in snow, so any snow at all would be new for me. I just love the rain, the ocean, and beautiful green areas. I love it here in Hawaii, but I want a change. How are the public schools in these areas? DO people ever have a hard time with single moms?

[cinhawaii]

Also, is all of WA as socially progressive as Seattle? Would a vegetarian be able to eat in these cities you have been suggesting? What are the people like?

[cinhawaii]

I have more to add. Can someone please tell me a bit about living in Forks? Does it snow/get super cold? I seems beautiful. Also do are people ahrd on transplants from Cali? I live in HI now, and being a haole here makes it difficult. I know Im from Los Angeles, but I left because I dont like it. That said, I dont want to be where Im not wanted. I know this is going to sound dumb, but Im in love with the city in "Men in Trees"! I know its actually filmed in Canada, but I was wondering if any of the places in northern WA are comperable. I want a place that rains alot, but also snows. I am prefer a small town feel, with a liberal mindset (I like Seattle's progressive thinking) and with at least some of the options of a bigger city (ok mainly I need a target (or something close to it) near by decent shopping and restaraunts) I am working on my masters now, but when I finish I will eventaully working in corrections, so it needs to be somehwere near a prison. Any suggestions? Also, how do vegetarians fare?

[pauhawaii]

I read your thread....I grew up in Grays Harbor, Wa State....just down from the Forks....there is a new prison outside of Aberdeen, WA....& the climate is almost exactly the same as the Forks....prices are good there....living is good there....from Aberdeen....you can go approx 20miles to deep sea fishing at the quaint little town of Westport WA.....or go the opposite direction to go to Ocean Shores....where there is a Casino...restaurants galore...it is a summer resort area....but also....can dig clams on the beach should you choose....!!! But the closeness of the prison would allow you employment that would not be far from where you live....!!!
Also check out....Westport, WA.....Cosmopolis, WA....Hoquiam, WA....they are all within driving distance to the prison....small town environments....yet they have a Wal Mart.....in Aberdeen...what more does one need to survive ???
I live Hawaii also....I am looking to relocate to Eastern WA...where I also have spent alot of time.....it is even more affordable....& with even smaller towns.....which is what I want....!!

[abby wabb]

HA! i know exactly what you're looking for. i live there, actully. try southern washington, in the columbia river gorge. stevenson, WA, zip code 98648. it is the most beautiful place iv ever been to, and iv been to hawaii. i grew up in this tiny town, very close knit, liberal leanings. about a half an hour away from portland. plus its on the border so it gives you some benefits of both washington and oregon. im a vegetarian, and i survive well here. it rains ALL THE TIME, but the elevation changes are so drastic that we get mass amounts of snow as well. you also might try hood river, OR which is about a half an hour east of stevenson. farther from portland, its a very touristy town at the bottom of mt. hood. if you have kids, its school system is great to. neither town has any problems at all with single mothers. they're not out of the ordinary, and they're all friends its green all the time, every season. we're a mountanious green region nessled in the cascade mountain range. it really is perfect for what you're looking foor. lots of housing options, great community, many benefits!

[Xenobion]

Specifically regarding your Vegetarians comment you naturally find less exclusively based vegetarian based cuisine the more you leave the Seattle-Metro area. That being said I think several vegetarian option type eateries exist in the area in question in medium sized cities like Port Angeles, Grey's Harbor, Port Townsend, ect. Also since Washington grows a lot of its own food you can easily find fresh veggies much much much easier than you would in Hawaii.

Also to help you understand Washington compared to many other states is that the natural beauty of the area is captured even in the Metro Area. You could potentially have a job near or around Seattle and be able to live in say an area like North Bend, WA and be right in the green foothills of the Cascades. What makes Washington amazing is not just the green trees that exist but when you complement them with the Puget Sound waterways, the Olympics in the background, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, or in general the cascades surrounding you that will be taken aback by.

Look and see!

North Bend - Only 30 Min from Seattle

http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=20922927&size=o

Bellingham, WA

Flickr Photo Download: Mt Baker and Bellingham

Mt. Rainier (Can Be Seen Anywhere From Seattle to Lacey, WA.

Mt. Rainier on Flickr - Photo Sharing!