forks port angeles ? (Seattle, Sequim: for sale, apartments, living)

[summerandian]

Does anyone know anything about forks or port angeles, around the coast over there, or anywhere around there? Like how the housing is, and just a general feel for those areas?

[allforcats]

Forks is very wet, and Port Angeles is pretty dry.

Forks is in the rain forests which get up to 140 inches of rain per year. Forks used to be a logging town, but much of the logging has left town during the past couple of decades. It's fairly small, rather blue collar, and solid, with friendly people. Forks has an economy that's pretty much centered around the people who live there.
Here's the Forks Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.forkswa.com/

Port Angeles is in the rain shadow, getting about 16 inches of rain per year (Seattle gets about 32 inches). It has a few big-box stores but also a lot of mom 'n pop stores. The people are hard-working and friendly. Port Angeles' economy has a strong emphasis on tourists in the summer and retirees in the winter.
Here's the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.portangeles.org/

This is the local newspaper, and if you check the classifieds, advertising and articles, it will help you get a feel for those cities.
Peninsula Daily News
For housing, you might also want to try craigslist for the Olympic Peninsula:
craigslist: olympic peninsula classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

[Idunn]

Believe Forks, WA used to style itself the 'Logging Capitol of the World.' Maybe they still do, but business is way off since they cut down a good many of the trees. Now the economy is probably devolving into tourism. Located in one of the wetter areas of the Olympic Peninsula, which means lots of rain. If you like isolated, a great spot, as a long ways from anywhere. Housing is probably less expensive than Port Angeles, WA. Perhaps not yet the ideal place for a latte and croissant.

Port Angles offers more amenities, and a more reasonable drive to such places as Seattle, WA. Forks is better situated for visiting the Hoh rain forest, Port Angeles for direct access to Hurricane Ridge and the Park headquarters. If you look at a precipitation map:
Precipitation Map for Washington
you'll notice that while Port Angles is far drier than Forks, that not as much so as someplace such as Sequim, WA.

The Olympic Peninsula is beautiful, with a gem in Olympic National Park, it being designated 95% wilderness, running the gamut from alpine glaciers to temperate rain forest and pristine ocean beaches. As far as living there, due the relative isolation and limited market not as easy economically as other areas would be. But possibly worth it.

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by Idunn

Precipitation Map for Washington

Idunn, this is a great map! Very understandable -- of course, as long as one knows where places are, so opening Mapquest at the same time is a good idea. This even shows clearly that Whidbey and Fidalgo are in the rain shadow. Neat map!

I have a growing collection of WA weather maps! This is a great addition! Thank you.

[Forks Transplant]

Originally Posted by summerandian

Does anyone know anything about forks or port angeles, around the coast over there, or anywhere around there? Like how the housing is, and just a general feel for those areas?

Housing is very difficult to find in Forks. I typically send people to Port Angeles because there are more options for affordable housing and jobs in that area (larger area).