Moving to Washington and looking for a cold cloudy small town (Bremerton: homes, prices)

[missy watts]

I love Olympia (schools, community and proximity to water as well as employment opportunites-relative) and Port Angeles (problem w/ employment possibly). There are a hundred great little towns though.....check out this board for more school info.

You can check out the standardized WASL scores at Washington State Report Card but this test is scheduled to be replaced in 2010, and many do not believe it is an accurate portrayal of our schools' success.

[StealthRabbit]

A 'cool' and very little town with a very good school is Trout Lake, WA (Near White Salmon).
or to be closer to a 'bigger' town...Camas, over the hill and adjoining is Vancouver. and 10 min to PDX

For more rain, and smaller towns, you can head up the Gorge to Skamania, North Bonneville, Stevenson, Carson, Home Valley. If you want to be drier and near a 'happening' place; White Salmon (Across from Hood River, OR)

use this map and hunt for towns in purple zone (100+ inches of rain/yr) That ought to cover it!
http://www.classbrain.com/artstate/p...tion_map.shtml

I just emptied another 5 gallon pail full of rain....

And yes... don't depend on WASL scores, some districts spend 80% of there school year tutoring for the test, not learning core materials. Many great WA teachers have left the system due to not being able to teach anymore.

[Sobefobik]

I agree. Camas is a cool town. The only problem with it is the pulp mills right in town! Sometimes it stinks soo bad! Another town to consider going through the gorge is Stevenson. You might also look at Hood River. It's in Oregon but definately worth considering.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Sobefobik

I agree. Camas is a cool town. The only problem with it is the pulp mills right in town! Sometimes it stinks soo bad! ...

That seems to have been brought under control, I had a property a couple doors upwind from the mill and didn't have a problem, except twice in 7 yrs. (It was sold in 2008 ). The mill is not gonna be around much longer, has really cut back. It is EZ to be 'up-wind' or north from the mill (a good part of Camas) and not have a smell problem. I would not get a place directly above and to the west of the mill.

Stevenson is good and friendly town, but schools and meth can be a problem. You can mitigate that by being involved with your kids, but I don't think HS age would be a good time to have kids there. Hood River is a great choice, a tad spendy, and landlocked, so prices are holding steady.

[tankratt]

Originally Posted by KAILANI

Ok, I'll brag about my town for once!!!

If you like rain, check out Port Angeles!
Beautifully located in the heart of the Olympic National Park. Only a 1 1/2 hr drive to Seattle and a short ferry ride to Victoria, B.C.

(do I sound like a commercial!!)

OK. forget about the rain, our summers here are great!!! Sunny and 70's!!

Hiking, camping, fishing, etc etc etc....

I love P.A. If I could find a way to keep my job I would love to move there. You are lucky to live in a great place like P.A. Kailani

[Tangy]

We went through it on vacation and it is so lovely. Would be a dream to live there.

Originally Posted by KAILANI

Ok, I'll brag about my town for once!!!

If you like rain, check out Port Angeles!
Beautifully located in the heart of the Olympic National Park. Only a 1 1/2 hr drive to Seattle and a short ferry ride to Victoria, B.C.

(do I sound like a commercial!!)

OK. forget about the rain, our summers here are great!!! Sunny and 70's!!

Hiking, camping, fishing, etc etc etc....

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by janb

A 'cool' and very little town with a very good school is Trout Lake, WA (Near White Salmon).

Trout Lake is seriously dinky. Last I remember the high school typically had just enough for a basketball team, and sent its kids to WS for other sports. Although at least they probably still have a high school, which is more than one can say for Wishram these days if I understand correctly. Not that I'd want to live in The Hole to begin with.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

Trout Lake is seriously dinky. ...

It (TL) has transformed to a different stature than Wishram. It is home to Celestial Seasoning, many organic farms, retirees, and many very wealthy telecommuters / boardheads / custom craftsmen / mountaineers.

But is still seriously dinky It has an awesome school and very strong community support (Since there is nothing else in town). Worth going to the summer art show, and Huckleberry Pancake feed

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by janb

It (TL) has transformed to a different stature than Wishram. It is home to Celestial Seasoning, many organic farms, retirees, and many very wealthy telecommuters / boardheads / custom craftsmen / mountaineers.

I remember it as being known for the Trout Lake Tavern. That sounds like quite a change. Sounds like it has overtaken Glenwood, which used to be the slightly larger of the two as I recall. But I think Glenwood might have been more dependent on timber. As for Wishram, I suppose it could reinvent itself as a sailboarding place if it had the will. Last time I was there I certainly didn't see much evidence of will.

[StealthRabbit]

Glenwood is another SMALL cool (as in temp) town, but... there is a serious battle over land rights (tribal vs. private) School / economy / real estate all suffering. Shade Tree Inn still makes a decent breakfast, and is a good place to stop enroute to Goldendale.

BZ Corners is another nice cool small town in southern WA, but I think Stevenson may be more to the OP taste. Can't beat the swimming pool at HS, it is the gem of the town. (as well as Walking Man Brew Pub)