If you could live anywhere in WA or OR (Seattle: affordable houses, wedding)

[xtin]

..where would you pick?

We need a house between 200-300k and preferably near parks, outdoors type things. My husband is an avid runner and skier and Im a snowboarder at heart. We have a infant daughter so schools will eventually be a concern but we have a few years before that. We originally considered Seattle but its too rainy....reading about Tacoma is scaring me and Spokane is the same way. Is there any REALLY cool towns (not too big or small) with decent housing?
We live in the DC area and Im longing to move West. I LOVE it out there. My husband works for the Discovery Channel but telecommutes so proximity to work is not an issue. Im finishing my nursing degree (slowly) and right now Im a stay at home mom.

Its so overwhelming I dont know where to start!
http://www.****** pointed me to Bend, OR or Tacoma, WA but after reading here about those places, Im scared for my life and the well being of my family

Can anyone give me some thoughts? If you could live anywhere in the Northwest (WA, OR, ID) where would you pick and why ?

[mthomson]

You're from DC and Tacoma scares you? You're getting bad information! Tacoma is a nice city, for the most part. Personally, I'd avoid anything with an address of East Tacoma or South of 38th St, but even there there are some okay spots. If you're wanting to be close to skiing, look north (Mt. Vernon or Darrington). I don't know much about Oregon, but Bend was really nice when we were there for a wedding last year.

[xtin]

Originally Posted by mthomson

You're from DC and Tacoma scares you? You're getting bad information! Tacoma is a nice city, for the most part. Personally, I'd avoid anything with an address of East Tacoma or South of 38th St, but even there there are some okay spots. If you're wanting to be close to skiing, look north (Mt. Vernon or Darrington). I don't know much about Oregon, but Bend was really nice when we were there for a wedding last year.

Well, we live in Columbia, MD which has one of the highest income medians in the country. The good news is we have the best schools in the state and most of the country...the bad news is, you cant get more than 1500sf for less than half a million dollars. Plus our traffic is #2 after LA and Id like to experience life out West. I grew up in Florida and while Id never return that to that swamp, Maryland is growing annoying as well and my husband has lived here all of his life and would like a change.
How is Bellingham, Vancouver or Spokane? Pros and Cons?

[earls]

From what you mention in your post I would recommend Vancouver WA area. You are close to a airport that is a lot better than Seattle, You are not to far from Mt Hood for your skiing adventures, Vancouver has plenty of shopping and you can get to Portland with out a lot of trouble if you don't try during commute hours (Like wait till Saturday).
A lot of stores are opening up at the airport area and their is even access to good transportation. Both Vancouver and Portland have a lot of areas to run. If you want smaller cities you can move north of Vancouver like the Battle Ground area. If you decide to move to the country you should get back on this post and ask about things to look for in choosing property.

[StealthRabbit]

White Salmon for drier weather than Vancouver and still close to skiing and close enough to Portland for airport and Costco.

PDX is a very ez airport for travel to most of the US and specific destinations in Asia, and Europe

If you can handle the rain, Stevenson is nice, and closer to skiing.

But if you have the $$ Leavenworth would fit your bill (but it is quite a trip to the airport)

Bellingham is very nice too, ~ same rain as Vancouver, but a little colder, more expensive, and no quick escape to tax free shopping. But for inland water sports (sea Kayaking) it is good. Large Airport is not available, unless you drive to BC (rates are usually higher).

For future school needs, consider the San Juan Islands, commute and affordable houses would be a challenge.

Camas (east of Vancouver) has good rating for schools, but is in the rain zone


I think you might be happier on the east side of Cascades if rain could be a problem for your enjoyment. The westside folks just get used to doing everything in the rain. For some that comes easier than others. Depression / cocooning can be a problem, but there are lots of "outdoor" folks that are "wash&Wear"

[thirtysomething]

Camas (east of Vancouver) has good rating for schools, but is in the rain zone>>>>>>


What area(s) are you considering the rain-zone?

[CityGirl72]

I have used that Find your Spot website before

It actually put my old home town (Sacramento) listed as 4th! No wonder I miss that place.

[wannabeaTexan]

Originally Posted by xtin

..where would you pick?

We need a house between 200-300k and preferably near parks, outdoors type things. My husband is an avid runner and skier and Im a snowboarder at heart. We have a infant daughter so schools will eventually be a concern but we have a few years before that. We originally considered Seattle but its too rainy....reading about Tacoma is scaring me and Spokane is the same way. Is there any REALLY cool towns (not too big or small) with decent housing?
We live in the DC area and Im longing to move West. I LOVE it out there. My husband works for the Discovery Channel but telecommutes so proximity to work is not an issue. Im finishing my nursing degree (slowly) and right now Im a stay at home mom.

Its so overwhelming I dont know where to start!
http://www.****** pointed me to Bend, OR or Tacoma, WA but after reading here about those places, Im scared for my life and the well being of my family

Can anyone give me some thoughts? If you could live anywhere in the Northwest (WA, OR, ID) where would you pick and why ?

Tacoma is the same area as Seattle, climate-wise. Too rainy in Seattle is too rainy in Tacoma too.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by thirtysomething

Camas (east of Vancouver) has good rating for schools, but is in the rain zone>>>>>>


What area(s) are you considering the rain-zone?

anything on the we_tside of cascades (excluding Sequim)

or for some folks anything over 15-20"/yr or cloudy days over 30-50% of the entire yr. (It seems Portland and Seattle are usually pretty close to 280 days / yr of overcast, not always raining, but probable)

The OP stated that Seattle was Too Rainy, so... I used that comment to set the parameters of my framework for response.

There was a WA rain map (img) posted last yr that was a very good resource, but I can't find the link at the moment.

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by janb

(It seems Portland and Seattle are usually pretty close to 280 days / yr of overcast, not always raining, but probable)

The weather data do not support this statement unless you are including days that have any clouds at all (those are not overcast). Since the data show the Nov-Apr months as having and average of 30% of the available sunshine and the months Jul-Oct having 70% sunshine, it has to be considerably less than 280 days of overcast (280/365=77% overcast over the whole year). It is gloomy in the winter, but not THAT gloomy.