Moving to Washington and looking for a cold cloudy small town (Seattle: neighborhoods, cinema)

[ellie11]

Me and my husband want to move to Washington sometime in the next year. We are currently living in central ca and hate the summer heat and bad air quality. We want somewhere that is cold and cloudy. Also, we are wanting to start a family in the near future so we are looking for someplace relatively small with good schools. [SIZE=3] Any suggestions?[/SIZE]

[Sobefobik]

Bremerton
Poulsbo
Gig Harbor
Ellensburg
North Bend
Enumclaw
Puyallup
Wenatchee
Long Beach
Forks
Leavenworth
Olympia
Lacey
Bellingham
Belfair
Everett

You may also try Oregon. They have some great places to live there as well.

[Fat Freddy]

If you are concerned about good schools, you had better do your research.

Many towns in Washington, including some on that list, are in dire budgetary straits and are making severe cutbacks in both programs and staff.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by ellie11

Me and my husband want to move to Washington sometime in the next year. We are currently living in central ca and hate the summer heat and bad air quality. We want somewhere that is cold and cloudy. Also, we are wanting to start a family in the near future so we are looking for someplace relatively small with good schools. [SIZE=3] Any suggestions?[/SIZE]

That describes most places west of the Cascades that are not on reservations. (My mother used to teach on a reservation in western WA, and the school situation was simply tragic.) Other than that, you'll probably be okay. Your best bet is to find an annual rainfall chart for western WA, decide how soaked you want to get, and start looking in the ideal drench band.

[rkcarguy]

Originally Posted by Fat Freddy

If you are concerned about good schools, you had better do your research.

Many towns in Washington, including some on that list, are in dire budgetary straits and are making severe cutbacks in both programs and staff.

They are all getting cutback it seems if you do a little research online. Our "re-elected" govenor does a real good job at making sure Seattle gets it's aestetic upgrades despite voter disapproval, then is laying off teachers, cutting funding and pinching pennies everywhere it's really needed like for expanding sewage treatment plants that are over capacity...

[mthomson]

Check out Gig Harbor...good schools (will be experiencing cuts, but still good) and cloudy at times, though it's not the gloom that so many like to play.

[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....

[Ira500]

North Bend is cold, cloudy, snows more than Seattle, pretty nearby towns, and a cool old vibrant downtown.

[longlostmango]

I substitute teach and would recommend Shoreline and Edmonds! Highline elementary schools are also ok but the middle and secondary schools are not AT ALL!

Shorecrest High School in Shoreline school district is one of the best public schools in the country, in my opinion. Very diverse student body, excellent standards, absolutely electric school spirit ( I think they actually won a national competition), fantastic community service program, mature kids: very respectful & clued up -- just overall a wonderful, dynamic school, from their academics to their arts! I have subbed in many schools and this one is amazing. Also Dwight from The Office went here ...

[longlostmango]

Also, it's all cold and cloudy up here so think you will find what you're looking for!

I live in Edmonds, by the water and we are one hour door-to-door to the ski slopes, 3 hours to downtown Vancouver, BC., 5-6 hours to the Oregon coast.

The best thing about this area is all the water! Lovely lakes in the the middle of the city and virtually everywhere is within a few miles of the Puget Sound. With amazing views of the mountains on both sides of the city.

Unless you really are excited by suburbia, I would avold Bellevue/Redmond/Lake Sammamaish -- Microsoftlandia. Otherwise you can live 20 miles out of downtown Seattle and literally be there in 20-25 minutes on I-5 on an average morning commute, which I used to do every day. The nature is beautiful around here so I would recommend living outside the city, although all the neighborhoods are great and West Seattle is a real gem.

You'd have to hear from somebody who lives in Seattle School District but from what I hear it's a bit of a mess -- no longer kids going to their local neighborhood schools but being bussed all over the city (which I think is not uncommon in many US cities these days.) One of the things I love most about living in Edmonds is the community schools. All my daughter's friends live within a certain radius of her elementary school and the parents and local businesses are very supportive.

We also have a great little downtown with a cinema, bakery, coffe shops, an independent bookstore, restaurants, a French bistro, a wine bar, great farmer's market in the summer, beaches, a ferry terminal, a scuba dive park (!?) and a lovely library with a great roof which has amazing views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains, which we go roller skating on regularly ... also, no late fees! All within walking distance of eachother.

Kind of hard to find information or photos about this place online, though. But best of luck in your relocation! We love it here but do miss the sun sometimes!