Looking to relocate to Northwest (Seattle, Spokane: ski resorts, low crime, homes)

[GreenPT]

My wife and I are looking for possible place to move to in the future, our wish list is:

- Near ski resorts
-Near lake for water skiing
-Moderate housing prices
-Low Crime
-Good schools
-Hiking,rock climbing, etc...
-poulation 50,000+ or near a larger city
-sunny but not desert

We are considering Washington, Oregeon, and Idaho. We are not very familiar with these areas but plan to visit this summer. Any suggetions that you may have would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Seattlemom]

I would recommend Snolqulamie Area or Issaquah. Both are easy commutes to the pass for skiigtn. They are in and around the moutains for hiking access as well as being an easy commute to Bellevue or Seattle for shopping or work.

Good Luck on your search!

[Prple]

Definately consider: Bellingham, Olympia and North Bend. Issaquah and Snoqualmie also, but they are more expensive. (Snoqualmie and North Bend are not sunny.) Olympia and Bellingham have great schools and are pretty affordable.

[FoxyKnox]

Seattle area water skiing is best on Lake Samammish, which means living on the "plateau" in Samammish/Issaquah is very convenient. American Lake on Ft. Lewis also is good, for that I'd live near Dupont/Steilacoom/Lacey/Olympia. Lake Tapps in Bonney Lake is also good for water skiing.All 3 of these get busy and choppy (but don't all good lakes?!)

Skiing at Snoqualmie Pass (decent slopes) is easily accessed from the Seattle area via I-90. The cities of Snoqualmie and North Bend are your best access (and yes, they do get sun). Issaquah and Snoqualmie are easily linked by I-90 and the commute to Seattle isn't too bad. Skiing at Crystal Mtn. (Great terrain, good snow--my favorite) is easily accessed from Seattle and Pierce County. Bonney Lake is kind of the gateway to skiing at Crystal.
Bellingham is the gateway to Mt. Baker (great skiing from what I'm told), but I don't know of lakes up there.
White Pass is more central WA, nearest big city is Yakima, they have great skiing. It's kind of a locals resort, not too crowded, great snow, and good terrain. I don't know too much about lakes in that area as well.

Spokane (E. WA) has lakes and access to skiing, but I just don't know anything about them.

In Oregon, Eugene offers Fern Ridge dam and a few smaller lakes for skiing. But the skiing is about 4 hours away.
Around Portland, I don't know of good water skiing lakes, but it's only about 2 hours from fabulous skiing at Mt. Hood's various resorts.
Mt. Bachelor in Bend is the best Oregon skiing around. Bend is a great, growing city. Being in central OR, it gets sun. Again, not sure of the lake status.

OK, I think I've tapped all my knowledge. You sound like my kind of people--always on some kind of board(s), no matter what season! Good luck on your quest for paradise!

[Prple]

Previous post has good points. I can tell you though that Snoqualmie does experience more fog, wind and snow than Issaquah or Seattle/Tacoma area. Views of the mountains are beautiful with lots of scenery, however often cloudy and not a place that I would consider "sunny".

[GreenPT]

Thanks for the info, I will do more research based on what you have told me

[CourtneyCooper]

Hi! Congrats on the upcoming move! Scary and exciting!
I like a lot of these suggestions, but I would also add the Seattle suburb Edmonds to that list and the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle. They are both the sunniest parts of the Seattle area and even though they are on the West side of Seattle and on the Puget Sound, they are also close to the area lakes, more moderately prices and ski areas are easily accessed!
Good luck!

[larrykcragun]

Have you considered Issaquah?

[larrykcragun]

I agree about Issaquah. We have lived here for 8 years. It is close to everything. Snoqualmie prices are a little less expensive, still close.

[SeattleExpert]

hi, as soon as i read your post i thought issaquah. (and i see it's come up several times as a suggestion). it's where my family relocated to from hawaii in 1989 when i was 12. my parents absolutely love it and will never leave (they recently decided to try to move closer to seattle and moved one mile away to another new neighborhood in issaquah) - it is an awesome self-contained city with every amenity you need. snoqualmie pass is about 1/2 hour east of issaquah, issaquah high and skyline high are great as well as eastside catholic. issaquah is made up of plateaus, mountains and valleys - hiking possibilities are endless - and i spent many of my days doing just that. mount si is my favorite first hike of the summer (4 miles each direction with amazing views from the top). lake sammamish is right in issaquah where there are multiple public boat launches, if you have one!

i am 30 now and live in the city on capitol hill. when i visit my parents (pretty much every weekend), i always find myself jealous of their newly paved streets - wide roads - paved sidewalks in front of their homes and neatly manicured lawns. i would feel safe walking around at 3:30 in the morning in issaquah. and it's only 15 minutes away from seattle (30-45 if you're in baaaaad rush hour traffic) - but honestly my parents never even need to come out here because they have every amenity at their fingertips.

i could go on forever about issaquah and truly from everything on your wishlist - it sounds like the exact place for you to be. Moderator cut: soliciting language removed

good luck to you!