Looking for info on Walla Walla or Clarkston (Seattle, Spokane: housing, work)

[Vincent Silva]

Hello everyone,
We're from N.M. and in a few years are looking to relocate to either the Lewiston (ID) Clarkston (WA) area. My wife is originally from Milton-Freewater near Walla Walla. She's lived down here in the desert and its close to 100 degrees right now as I'm typing this here in Alamogordo. I'm from here but since visiting the Washington State area..I fell in love with it. Especially the water they have compared to us. The only water we have comes in the form of dust. C-: Any info would be appreciated.
Hot and Dry down here,
Vincent

[bookielady]

I have lived in Yakima, wa. for the past 30+ years, but I was raised in Milton-
Freewater. In fact, I will be moving back to M-F as soon as I can sell my home.
My mother still lives there and is widowed. I feel that it is time for her to have
someone there. There isn't much in M-F, but Walla Walla is a beautiful town,
They have saved their old buildings and the downtown is very vital, unlike Yakima. The weather is very mild there, summers are not really hot, not humid, and the winters are mild. Few hours drive to Spokane, Seattle, or
Portland if you need a big city to visit once in a while.

[okeon]

I have lived in Clarkston my whole life, as with any city it has its pros and cons. I don't know if you have children, but the schools here are pretty average, and it is a pretty safe community, that is what I like! Crime rate is really low and housing is affordable, it would be the perfect place to retire. There is not anything for kids to do around here, so the kids/teens turn to drugs, there is definatly a meth problem here as with many other places. If you like the small town feel then this would be a great town for you. Summers here get really hot and the winters get really cold. Good luck with your choice!

[rainbird]

I lived in the Tri Cities about 25 years ago, not far from either city. Been to both Walla Walla and Clarkston. As I best recall Clarkston is a little more on the dry side. WW has some substantial farming in the surrounding area and more recently has also become know as a primo wine growing region. Its a nice looking turn of the century (1900 century) type town, actually reminded me a little bit of a midwestern town. We had some friends that lived there, about the only thing I heard on the negative side was that it was pretty tight knit, eg if you didn't grow up there you had a hard time fitting in. I don't know as much about Clarkston. Both are in very pretty areas.

[Roxie77]

I lived in Lewiston a few years back. The area is very pretty, but a previous poster is correct, not much for the younger croud. And a HUGE drug problem. However, we liked the area and are not far away in Spokane now. I think its a great place, especially the scenery.

[silverfox]

Hi Vincent,

Well I'm getting back to you like I said I would, as we have just returned from our trip to the Clarkston/Lewiston area along with some others. Drove 1400 miles all together.
Could talk about many things for this area but the bottom line for us was
P-U. Between the Pulp and paper processing plant in Lewiston and the fairly recent Composting plant on the Lewiston side the air quality was so bad the day we were there that we couldn't stand it. It smelled like Rotten eggs mixed with an out-house. I know some of the locals say it only lasts for a short while at a time, depending on the wind, but it was awful for the 4 hrs. we were in town, and so we went to the high plateau in Lewiston to Walmart to get away from it. Dammed if I,m going to plunk down my hard earned money to live in that enviroment.
We also went thru Walla Walla on the way to Bend Oregon, and found it quite interesting and it seemed to be a nice place. Didn't take the time to really check it out though, so we are planning to go back again and spend some time there to see if it would work for us.
Bend Oregon was a beautiful place with much to see and do, and my wife was ready to go home and pack until we got into checking out the home prices. It is the 6th fastest growing city in America right now so that explains it. If you can come up with $400,000 to $600,000 for you new digs, then that would be a great place to live. I felt the traffic was already becomming a problem, and in a few years I think many residents will be tearing their hair out just to get around.
Sorry I could'nt give you a positive report on Clarkston/Lewiston but I cannot tell a lie. Air and water quality are important issues to me, and I will not put myself and my wife in an area living like a Bottom Dweller sucking in all the pollutants. The area reminds me of Longview Washington where they have many of the same long term living conditions. Happen to know some people that are long term residents with Many Cancers Etc.
Hope this info is useful for you. Let me know what if anything you know or find out about Walla Walla.
Thanks

Silverfox.

[Vincent Silva]

Thanks everyone for the pro and cons of the thread I started. Thanks especially to Silverfox for the air quality of Lewiston. My father-n-law is heading that way around August via Appleton WI, where he's at now. I guess we'll just have to play it by ear or should I say Nose
Thanks again,
Vincent