Best non-cookie cutter places in WA for outdoors enthusiast (Seattle: real estate, buying a house)

[alvanos]

Hi all,

I'm contemplating a move to WA. Not too serious yet, just thinking. But if I did, I'd be looking to live in a place with lots of rolling hills, lots of green and lots of trees. I'd like to be in an area with good space between homes, not your typical cookie-cutter neighborhoods where very house looks the same; something with a cabin-like feel (but doesn't need to be an actual cabin). Would love to be on a heavily wooded lot, with lots of access to mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking nearby. Economy is a nice to have, but I can work remote for my current job, so not required. So I'd like to hear about the ideal places meeting my description regardless of economy.

Tx!
Adam

[M3 Mitch]

Offhand, Ellensburg is not super green but it's not cookie-cutter, or how about Rosslyn (town proper, not that resort thingamabob built next to it) or Levinworth?

Last 2 choices will have fairly serious snow in winter.

General area of Spokane might work too, but be aware they got really serious snow last year.

To get what you want you'll probably be buying a house on an acreage from an individual rather than a canned house in a canned subdivision...

[StealthRabbit]

Stevenson, Carson, White Salmon, Trout Lake

Morton, Packwood

Cashmere, Leavenworth

Coleville, Kettle Falls

Port Angeles, Sequim

Concrete, Deming

And a bunch of places in between.

Do you want the dry side (East of Cascades) or the we_t side?

(do you like to do your above mentioned activities in the drizzle, or do you prefer wet?... where you coming from?)

Do you want white water kayaking, lakes, or salt water?

Will you need high speed internet connectivity? (Some of us in techy WA are stuck with 'pay-by-the-byte' dial up... living in a National Scenic Area... no towers, no dishes, no cable, definately no netflix or utube)

[nwcountrygal]

That was my point I was gonna make... Many places in WA doesn't have coverage... that are out there.

where I live no cell phone works... only "ONE" phone company to supply me with a medium DSL that they rape you for in payment and tends to work when it wants ..no cable - no high speed available -- Sat internet is also a option. Check out the area you are deciding on if internet or cell is important..

Tons of places you need to have a idea of what you are looking for..... Leavenworth has great Kayaking friends live there funky tourist town but has great locals.. and snow.. Ashford base of Mt Rainier also great place... less snow... and again tons of other great spots....

[yukiko11]

I am assuming you or a member of your family need to work.
I am going to suggest my area. Plot from Everett North to Stanwood and then West until you run out of land. Most of the homes here are on at least 1/2 acre and many are on 2-5 acres. There is a mixed bag of mobile homes, to plain stick built homes to really spectacular homes. I live West of Arlington where there are 7 lakes so there are a lot of lake front properties and also properties on the Puget Sound. In Stanwood, 10 miles north there are a lot of old cottages and farmhouses with a lot of character and if you go west to Camano, you have a lot of houses that share beaches where you can dig clams and fish. There are very few planned communities in this area. However, real estate and rents are not cheap.
If you want to know what this costs look up a site called NW Real Estate. It has all the MLS listings for all the counties in WA Look in Snohomish County and Island County.
When you go back to the I-5 corrider, you will find huge amounts of shopping, Casino, and entertainment opportunities. When you go east of I-5 you will find fishing. biking, hiking, and river and winter sports.
This is definately worth your investigation as it is all only 30 miles north of Seattle and easily less than a one hour commute to a professional job.