Moving to Washington (Seattle, Bellingham, Burlington: middle-class, sale, to rent)

[smithmom]

I would like to move to Washington with my children (11, 8, and 6), I would like a snowy small town were we can hike a lot and is close enough to the beach. Please help.

[allforcats]

Hi smithmom! Washington is a very large state, with lots of variety in climates, population densities, resources, scenery, economic possibilities. There are countless small, snowy towns in both western and eastern Washington. There are many towns and cities near salt-water shorelines in western Washington. A few such shoreline locations have a bit of snow once or twice a year and the snow melts in a day or two, because in western Washington close to the Pacific (means "peaceful") Ocean's maritime climate is gentle and mild, rarely below freezing, lightly breezy but rarely windy, and not hot or very humid.

So --- how about a snowy city or town near a large lake? This land was formed by glaciers gouging great troughs in the land, and so we have lots of lakes in both western and eastern WA. We have two chains of high north-south mountains which receive and hold lots of snow each long winter, so we also have lots of rivers, streams and creeks from the snow runoff. Eastern WA will give you a fairly dry and sunny climate, hot summers and cold winters; western WA will give you a moist climate, therefore lush greenery and mild temps all year.

Hiking, and dozens of other outdoor activities, are ways of life for most people here, all year 'round.

There are two considerations which are of the highest importance: quality of schools, and the location of your job.

People keep relocating here, and the number and width of roads has not kept up with the numbers of people who think they should drive in single-occupant cars to and from work every day, especially in the Seattle area. So in western WA commuting times, either by public transportation or by car, can be extremely long. Therefore, it's critical that you locate your home near your job. In eastern WA, there is considerably less availability of public transportation.

I am not knowledgeable about the eastern WA school districts, but there are many really excellent school districts up and down western WA, and there are also some truly excellent individual schools within other not-great school districts. When you know the location of your job, then you can choose an area to live in that coincides with your school district choice and affords you a humane commute.

What are your children's specific wants and needs in terms of school programs, extracurricular activities and interests?
How important to you is the quality of the schools your children will attend?
What is your housing and living budget?
Do you plan to rent or to buy a home here?
Do you have a car, or do you plan to use only public transportation?
How far are you willing to live from resources, such as doctors, hospitals, grocery shopping, movies, restaurants, cultural experiences, etc.?
How much do you love the idea of 8 months of drizzle and clouds, or hot summers and cold winters?

If you fill in the details, we can have a better idea about what to suggest that fits your family.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by smithmom

I would like to move to Washington with my children (11, 8, and 6), I would like a snowy small town were we can hike a lot and is close enough to the beach. Please help.

Can't be done. None of the really snowy parts are close to the beach. You'll have to decide which is more important, and which you're willing to drive a few hours to raech.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

Can't be done. None of the really snowy parts are close to the beach. You'll have to decide which is more important, and which you're willing to drive a few hours to raech.

True. If you want snow in the winter, you're going to have to live a ways up in the mountains, which is going to put you quite a ways from the beach. If you want to be close to the beach, you won't ever have much snow.

Unless you are really well off financially (upper middle-class to rich), honestly, you sure don't want to move to the metro-mess of eastern Puget Sound. Too expensive, overcrowded schools, overpriced real estage, bad traffic, and high crime.

If you want a snow small town close to water, you ought to check out the upper Midwest or New England instead.

[Captn]

They are right about having to chose between snowy and beach but I notice you are from a hot state. My wife and I just bought on Whidbey island after looking around the area for 3 years. We are from Nevada. I like "decorative snow". A sprinkle over bushes for a couple weeks and I'm about done with it. Basicly, if you want to stay in western Wa then the further from shore the more snow because the elevation rises as you go into the Cascade mountains. We have a place in Concrete wa that is 90 minutes from the shore and is buried in feet of snow all winter. My advice, rent a place around Mt Vernon / Burlington. A good compromise area with a little of everything.

[WendyK]

you could live in eastern WA and have lots of snow but your beach would have to be at a lake, not the ocean.

[AlexaNW]

Most towns in Western Washington don't get too much snow...this year being the big exception (going on 2 weeks of white in a row...). Eastern Washington has way more snow, but the ocean is a wee bit far

I keep coming back to recommending Bellingham (deep down I want to live there, it just doesn't work job-wise for us...). You may not have snow around the house all the time, but Mount Baker is really close, and you're right on the water...

Check out this shot that I just came across on someone's site...is that what you're looking for?

Mount Baker, Bellingham, Washington, USA, Elevation 10,778 feet...Cascade Volcanic Arc on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[smithmom]

Thanks to all for the advice.


ALLFORCATS,
The schools are very important-my oldest child is VERY school oriented and wants to attend Harvard (which I'll have to sale a kidney to pay for) so good schools are a must. I would really like snow, we do not see any where we live now and I do not mind the drizzle and clouds. My current income level is around 42K so that might limit my choices, I intend to buy a house, I own a car, I would like to be near a hospital and grocery store but I don't mind to drive for the shopping, movies, restaurants, etc. I really just want my kids to have a connection with people, to grow up in a good community, and when they go off to college or get married, or get released from prison(just joking or maybe not) they can feel like they have a stable place to come home to. And I realize that I can make anyplace that we live stable and I have a very sappy-50's movie style train of thinking but it's what I would like for them. Please don't laugh at me. Thanks for any additional advice you can offer.

[allforcats]

smithmom, please see the DM I just sent to you. Thanks.

[Whidbey]

Friend moved from Pittsburgh to Coupeville...

tells all his friends Coupeville is like going back in time fifty years. A lot of folks are from here, stay here or return after college. Very family oriented, but, we're a bit of a drive from the snow. People take the ski bus to Mt. Baker or Stephens Pass, or drive there.

My kids are elementary age. I do know Coupeville High school kids have gone to National History Day finals and won--and the town hosts parties, barn dances, etc. to help pay for their trips there. Drama clubs & girls volleyball team well respected too. Kiwanis, Lions & Soroptomist groups, in addition to other clubs, routinely provide scholarships for kids with good grades. Kids going to Ivy League schools from here? I simply don't know, sorry.

We're not a perfect match. Like folks said, snow & beach don't match, though most every place allows a day trip in either direction.