I hear great things about Walla Walla (Seattle, Wenatchee: sales, real estate)

[Balco9]

They have one of the best college's in the U.S.
A growing enconomy and winerys.
Low crime...
Any locals have feedback???

[mustang34]

The downtown is really nice.
Also it's near the state border so you can easily avoid the WA sales tax

[Rhiannon29]

I lived in Walla Walla for a year and I didn't like it too much.

The job opportunities are nil unless you are a college professor or a prison guard (the state prison is there). If you're a writer, there may be some opp. at the daily newspaper.

I was really surprised that for a small town, the people seem really cliquish. It was hard getting to know people.

There are no amenities. If you need to do any major shopping of any kind that Wal-Mart can't accommodate, prepare to drive an hour to Tri-Cities, Wa. Also, there are a few nice restaurants in town, but they have odd hours and are a little pricey for what you get. And overall, it just got boring after a while trying to find new things to do.

The wineries really overinflated the housing prices something awful. They were building $600,000 condos near downtown, which is crazy for a town of less than 50,000 people!

Lastly, the scenery was boring. The blue mountains are okay, but there aren't any trees. And its too hot in the summer, even though its a dry heat. They also get this crazy, end of the world wind storms.

The upside of Walla Walla is that there a lot more sunshine there than on the other side of the cascades. Their downtown is very cute and looks nice. It was also refreshing to have a shorter commute while I lived there, too. There is a little bit of crime, but nothing major. Overall, its a safe town to live in. There is a meth problem, though, but that can be anywhere and its not like meth addicts are overrunning the streets.

Rhiannon

[MichaelinWA]

I guess. But I wouldn't exactly call Milton-Freeman a shopping mecca.

The post above mine made quite a bit of sense, based on my couple of visits to Walla Walla. It seemed a little dull and isolated to me, but I can see why many people would like it there, though. It does have its charms.

Originally Posted by mustang34

The downtown is really nice.
Also it's near the state border so you can easily avoid the WA sales tax

[Balco9]

I'm sure Walla Wlla is charming small city with great wineries...
I agree real estate is way over-valued for the job market there.
Wal-Mart? Honestly i have no idea to why people shop there.
They treat their employee's terrible, customer service is bad,
and price's aren't any better than anywhere else, Target for example.
Just my two cent.
Wal-mart also brings cookie cutter's and drives down housing prices.
To me it's an eye sore.

[Rhiannon29]

Originally Posted by Balco9

I'm sure Walla Wlla is charming small city with great wineries...
I agree real estate is way over-valued for the job market there.
Wal-Mart? Honestly i have no idea to why people shop there.
They treat their employee's terrible, customer service is bad,
and price's aren't any better than anywhere else, Target for example.
Just my two cent.
Wal-mart also brings cookie cutter's and drives down housing prices.
To me it's an eye sore.

I whole-heartedly agree about wal-mart. But its the only place to shop for inexpensive clothes, groceries (its a super walmart) and toiletries. The closest Target is an hour away. There is a "mall" there, but its 98 percent deserted, like three stores open for business. Before I left, I heard that someone bought it and was going to redo it all, but local politics are holding it up. There seems to be a bit of tension between Walla Walla and College Place, the town right next to it (also in Wa). Both the Wal-mart and Home Depot are in College Place, after facing opposition to building within Walla Walla.

I think WW is charming, if you're visiting, but will get boring fast if you're living there. That was a funny comment about milton-freewater; there is most definitely no shopping there to speak of. M-F does have some nice trails to hike, though.

[D. Malone]

I have lived here over a decade.

There is a great developed YMCA for individual and family health, workouts, and Pools.

There is a great Bike track, and skate park.

Pioneer park was designed by the same person who created central park in New York City. The gazebo is a beautiful center piece of the park, and can hold the Walla Walla symphony for the performances during 4th of July celebrations.

The same park also holds a nice aviary with two different ponds, and there are five ponds in the park.

There have been many sculptures added to the downtown area, and one in the pioneer park, and these have received mixed reviews.

Art shows are often coupled with wine tasting, and this has opened opportunities for artists. Walla Walla is also home to The Foundry which also hosts art shows and casts art in bronze for local artists and art projects globally.

there is also quite an option when it comes to theater, with private owned theater downtown, the long standing community "Little Theater", and Whitman College theater, and the Walla Walla College theater, there are also production at Walla Walla University.

Granted there is a large retired population. With the Whitman college, the large Walla Walla Community College and the Walla Walla University, i think the Walla Walla State Prison industry impact is a balanced off a bit.

The Downtown open farmers market event continues to grow and bring more life and interest to downtown, with live music and local wares.

Also the Light parade in December is great, and well i could go on and on. Coming up will be the hot air balloon festival in May, and that is really fabulous.

There are tours of the historic homes, and Walla Walla has huge trees through town, and is called "The City of Trees".

Changes continue to be made that make Walla Walla better place to live.

[dantesinferno]

It's interesting to read other people's impressions of Walla Walla: I've lived here for seven years; prior to that I lived here for three years in the early 1990s. The town has lost some of its uniqueness in the past decade as it attempts to become a destination for vinophiles. Many of the small, independently owned businesses have closed shop and been replaced by the homogeneity of national chain stores and restaurants. The city itself has not changed much in population over the course of the past few decades: there is a significant retired community and a large hispanic population.
For someone looking to move here the choice would depend on what you're looking for and what you have to bring. If you are looking for a small, isolated*, rural town with a sense of pretentiousness---than Walla Walla fits the bill. There is a great class divide in Walla Walla: there are the people in town who own everything and/or run everything and there is everyone else. If you are monied and educated (especially if you're in the medical profession or education) you'll find your niche. If you're just starting out, don't have money, or are unskilled---Walla Walla won't be inviting. There are few job opportunities outside of the aforementioned medical fields and education: the house prices are high especially compared to nearby Tri-Cities.
Having grown up in Seattle I love the weather in Walla Walla. There are four distinct seasons: cold winters (usually with only one major snowfall which never lasts more than five days), beautiful (but short) springs and falls, and long, hot summers. If you like farmland, rolling hills, creeks, and distant mountains then you'll appreciate the geography.
*A note: Walla Walla is 4-5 hours drive from the major cities of Portland and Seattle. If you're looking for "rural" but closer to a metropolitan area I'd suggest the Skagit Valley (Burlington, Mt. Vernon) or the Cascade foothills (Duvall, Black Diamond, Enumclaw) in Western Washington. Wenatchee would also be a better bet---it's the same size as Walla Walla, the weather is similar, it has more shopping opportunities, and a stronger tourist base.

[zzzion]

There was a time that Walla Walla was similar to Wenatchee, check out the stats Wenatchee is twice as big. Take a trip there it might will suprise you.

Wenatchee has blown up, much more so than Walla Walla.