HELP!!! Need to raise my 3 year old in the best place! Mt. Vernon? Bothel? Whidbey Island?Bellevue? (Seattle: real estate, crime)

[wythors]

From your description of yourself, Skagit county (where Mt. Vernon is) or Oak Harbor/Whidbey Island would be perfect places for you. The area is very conservative and quite "small-towny". I lived in La Conner, about midway between Mt. Vernon and Oak Harbor, for several years. You might want to look at Anacortes. It doesn't have the problems with the migrant workers that Mt. V does and doesn't have the huge military presence (read "lots of young adult males away from home for the first time") that Oak Harbor does, and either city is easily accessible from there. It also happens to be located in one of the most beautiful spots in Washington and has a good, well-supported school district and significantly less wet weather than the Seattle area.

[Logan's Dad]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

Are you ready for 4 weeks of summer, and months of grey and drizzle?

This may sound weird, but that sounds AWESOME! I have always loved rainy weather! I actually feel more energized and "happier" when it is like that. I guess living in a place where it is extremely hot in summer can make you feel that way.

I mean RIDICULOUSLY hot! From May through September it is between 85- (as high as) 110degrees

[Logan's Dad]

Originally Posted by wythors

From your description of yourself, Skagit county (where Mt. Vernon is) or Oak Harbor/Whidbey Island would be perfect places for you. The area is very conservative and quite "small-towny". I lived in La Conner, about midway between Mt. Vernon and Oak Harbor, for several years. You might want to look at Anacortes. It doesn't have the problems with the migrant workers that Mt. V does and doesn't have the huge military presence (read "lots of young adult males away from home for the first time") that Oak Harbor does, and either city is easily accessible from there. It also happens to be located in one of the most beautiful spots in Washington and has a good, well-supported school district and significantly less wet weather than the Seattle area.

Thanks a lot for all the details! When you say beautiful spots do you mean the beautiful trees and greenery that is associated with Washington?

[wythors]

Yes. Skagit and Island counties are absolutely gorgeous.

[KirbyJRT]

Originally Posted by Logan's Dad

Your angry, sarcastic response is completely uneccesary. If you didn't have any constructive ideas, why didn't you just move along and not comment at all.

You're right. Good luck with your move.

[Logan's Dad]

Originally Posted by wythors

Yes. Skagit and Island counties are absolutely gorgeous.

Great to hear. I am hoping to get the opportunity to check it out if I am called for an interview at Skagit College

[brightcopperkettles]

I definitely vote for Whidbey Island. Oak Harbor is the largest city but not my favorite; I love Coupeville, Langley, and Freeland, which are south of Oak Harbor but within easy driving distance of Oak Harbor. The island is absolutely beautiful; we used to live there, but I got "islanditis" or something; I didn't like waiting for a ferry to go somewhere. :-)

Here are some links you might enjoy:
http://www.captainwhidbey.com/

http://www.whidbeysfinest.com/destinations/destinations_index.htm (broken link)

And you HAVE to see Deception Pass; it's breathtaking.

Really Whidbey Island is gorgeous, and I think you would do very well there. If you don't want to live any further south than Oak Harbor, you must visit Coupeville (go have lunch at the Captain Whidbey Inn), then another day have lunch in Langley and see the antiques there (YES, for SALE!) from all over Europe as well as America.

Welcome to WA...oh, and leave your umbrella at home... and just get rained on like the rest of us... :-)

[Logan's Dad]

Originally Posted by brightcopperkettles

I definitely vote for Whidbey Island. Oak Harbor is the largest city but not my favorite; I love Coupeville, Langley, and Freeland, which are south of Oak Harbor but within easy driving distance of Oak Harbor. The island is absolutely beautiful; we used to live there, but I got "islanditis" or something; I didn't like waiting for a ferry to go somewhere. :-)

Here are some links you might enjoy:
http://www.captainwhidbey.com/

http://www.whidbeysfinest.com/destin...ions_index.htm

And you HAVE to see Deception Pass; it's breathtaking.

Really Whidbey Island is gorgeous, and I think you would do very well there. If you don't want to live any further south than Oak Harbor, you must visit Coupeville (go have lunch at the Captain Whidbey Inn), then another day have lunch in Langley and see the antiques there (YES, for SALE!) from all over Europe as well as America.

Welcome to WA...oh, and leave your umbrella at home... and just get rained on like the rest of us... :-)

Wow! Thanks so much for the great info!

[Logan's Dad]

How hot does it get in these cities in the summer?

Mount Vernon?

Whidbey Island?

Bothell?

Anacortes?

Marysville?

[wythors]

Skagit and Island counties are a little bit cooler and dryer than Snohomish and King counties. When I lived up there, it rarely got warmer than the high 80's, and then only for a few days a year. Summer temps are usually upper 70's to the low 80's, but again, the summer is not that long here, usually late June through mid August. When you get down towards the King/Snohomish county line, things are just a tad warmer, but not much. The Seattle all time high record is 100. The hottest days of summer may see mid 90's, but it's rare.