Where to Live in the Pacific Northwest? (Seattle, Spokane: sales, apartment)

[JBHoren]

Enough. I'm relocating. Today makes four years since I left Israel and landed in South Florida. Enough time to realize that cold(er) weather, cloudy skies, changing seasons, and coffee shops (among other things) are what I crave.

So, I'm flying into Portland, OR and then driving way south to Grants Pass, for the last week in July. I have a cousin who lives there. However, I've been reading a number of postings on the Oregon forum, and have come to find-out that Grants Pass (and most of Southern Oregon) is:

* In the "Banana Belt", with temperatures soaring to 105+ for a week-or-more during the summer.
* Local services have-been/are-being curtailed, due to a lack of Federal/State/local funding (libraries closed, county sheriff's departments due to close).
* Meth-labs galore, with crime rampant (theft, etc.)

Feh! Not "my kinda town". And so I ask you, "Where to live in the Pacific Northwest?"

A small apartment in-town would be best, 'cuz I miss walking and mass-transit a lot. Ditch the car. Gimme a local JCC or YMCA with good workout facilities, and I'm happy; a nearby public library (and a county-wide public library system, with easy inter-library loans), and I'm there.

Suggestions? First-hand (or accurate hearsay) knowledge is gold.

BTW: I spent 1/1972 through 1/1974 in Alaska (Army Infantry), so wintry weather and fir trees speak my language.

Jonathan

[Ira500]

fir trees speak my language.
Fir trees speak Hebrew?

Jonathan, there are plenty of places in Washington that might suit your needs...Olympia, North Tacoma, Seattle, Bellingham...

[poogie777]

Hi Jonathan, I can't help but suggest Bellingham. Walking trails throughout the city, great library, coffee shops galoure, plenty of fir trees, though, I'm not sure they speak, low crime, a wonderful YMCA, and city trans. Bellingham is a laid back town, hippie-ish, plenty of things to do all year around, and embraces diversity.

[sean98125]

Check out Portland while you are there.

[M3 Mitch]

Offhand, Seattle in general. They have decent in-town busses, most employers will give you a subsidy on a monthly bus pass.

For fir trees and snowy weather, though, Levinworth, or Wenachee, but, depending on what you do for a living, not owning a car at all might not work there.

Same for Roslyn - depending on your work, you may not be able to avoid a car, but there is the new resort going in there, you might find a condo in it, it's a town and not a city so probably not what you are looking for.

I know less about Portland but will mention that Amtrak runs from Portland to I think Chicago - if you are into that sort of thing.

Not as cloudy in the summer but will get you into the conifers and snowy winter is Spokane -

[kdostwhidbey]

I would check out Corvallis Or. It has a major university library, a coffee shop on every corner (and not all of them Starbucks), a beautifle river front, and loads of good restaurants. I moved up here north of Seattle and it is nice, but I miss Corvallis, and most of all something that I took for granted is the amount of live music around the area. I will move back when I can.

[levibluewa]

Grants Pass, Roseburg, Medford area -- did anyone mention that its rather red-neck.

Portland - Eugene much better, I think, I'm sure someone will chime in!

As far as Washington is concerned, southern WA and eastern side of the state more red-neckish -- Seattle area and north to the border seems to be more "progressive-liberal".

Also, someone mentioned Leavenworth, Wenatchee. Eastern side of the Cascades. Climate is similar to that of southern Oregon, dryer with warm-hot summers, and colder-snowier winters.

[StealthRabbit]

Sounds like you would be most at home in Portland, Eugene, or Corvallis.
OR is ok if you can handle the income tax (Very low taxable threshold then, + 9%) AND you don't need school $$. (no kids) Prop taxes are pretty high too, but no sales tax.

If you have significant income, WA is better (no income tax) but you may want to rent, as property taxes are very high (mine are $33/day, for a place I built for under $120k). If you have enough income, taxes are not an issue... but if you are unemployed...or retired...
For WA, some older established parts of Seattle, Tacoma, or Olympia would do, but are expensive. Bellingham would be a good, but a more remote choice (from your cousin in Grants Pass). But very handy to Vancouver BC ! (which is nice)

[GameHog9]

Originally Posted by levibluewa

Grants Pass, Roseburg, Medford area -- did anyone mention that its rather red-neck.

Portland - Eugene much better, I think, I'm sure someone will chime in!

As far as Washington is concerned, southern WA and eastern side of the state more red-neckish -- Seattle area and north to the border seems to be more "progressive-liberal".

Also, someone mentioned Leavenworth, Wenatchee. Eastern side of the Cascades. Climate is similar to that of southern Oregon, dryer with warm-hot summers, and colder-snowier winters.

Eastern WA is redneck

Of course... :|

Please dont make generalizations

Were not all rednecks

[laylarenee]

I grew up in Bend- It is beautiful! 300 days of sunshine a year they say...tons of lakes, rivers, outdoor stuff..... The town has grown a lot- everything that one could need is there, and the people are nice

Bend Oregon rocks!