Active semi-retirement location within 3 hours of Seattle? (Spokane, Vancouver: real estate, rent)

[laminmd]

My husband and I both turn 50 soon and have one child in college and one in high school. Our youngest will be in college 3 years from now, and we want to relocate the summer before that to Washington state, somewhere within a 3-hour drive of Seattle so we can take advantage of its cultural amenities for a weekend now and then. We are moving after 25+ years in the DC metro area and are sick of crowded suburbs, high prices, bad traffic, and the whole rat race mentality of large East Coast cities. But, we would not do well stuck out in the back end of nowhere or in an overly religious conservative, uneducated, or intolerant community. My husband likes desert climates with endless sunshine and blue skies, however they are a bit too dry for me. I have to be near some form of water and at least a bit of green. We are interested in buying or starting some sort of tourist-related business in a beautiful location where we can hike and bike and stay active in our fifties and hopefully beyond. We have a steady source of income and won't need a high-paid job but do need to supplement our existing income. We can afford a higher-priced home than your typical couple but we are not interested in wealth or living in a "wealthy retirement community." We are attracted by certain things we've learned about the Olympic peninsula, Whidbey Island, and the area of up and coming wineries and vineyards near Lake Chelan and Wenatchee (Columbia Cascade?). Other possible towns I've been investigating include Leavenworth and Cashmere and Ellensburg. Any and all advice that might help us is welcome, especially from people with direct knowledge of these places. Thanks in advance for all sincere and diplomatic feedback.

[MichaelinWA]

I'm sure it's already on your Olympic Peninsula radar, but Sequim comes to mind as a possibility, particularly with your husband's preference for warmer, sunnier weather.

It's certainly a popular relocation destination for Seattle-area retirees.

[Ira500]

Port Townsend? Near Sequim but hipper, with cool old buildings and an arts community.

[StealthRabbit]

I like the idea of Pt Townsend, but... considering your husband's needs... I would also look at Cashmere and Chelan.
(coming from a prairie kid who has been 'stuck' on the we_t side for 25 yrs, i.e. climate similar to the peninsula)

[laminmd]

Thanks for feedback. I'm concerned that "sunny" as an adjective applied to Sequim is a bit of a stretch and my husband can't tolerate weeks of gray skies, even if there is very little actual rain. I guess we're more attracted by Pt Townsend than by Sequim, but it's probably even less likely we'd see sun there during the rainy season than in Sequim. On the other hand, I worry that being out on the east, dry side of the Cascades, while the weather will be sunnier, might be a bit too far from Seattle for us to actually make it there very often. And how "nice" is Ellensburg really as the closest "city" to Wenatchee, Cashmere, Leavenworth, Chelan, etc?

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by laminmd

On the other hand, I worry that being out on the east, dry side of the Cascades, while the weather will be sunnier, might be a bit too far from Seattle for us to actually make it there very often.

Given your "within 3 hours of Seattle" desire, you could be in Yakima or even out to Grandview and still be within that 3 hour driving window. That region is very much sun drenched and Yakima is big enough to have ammenities, shopping etc. without having to endure the months on end of winter gray that regions west of the Cascades offer.

I'm not necessarily recommending Yakima (unless your husband talks you in to that semi-arid living after all!), rather just using it as an example but... you would have easy access to White Pass, Chinook Pass and Mt. Rainier which would provide beautiful hiking and perhaps the tourist-related business option you seek. Also great fruit in Yakima this time of year! Their wineries are up and coming as well. Anyway, another thought for you!

[xboxmas]

Originally Posted by Dendrite

Given your "within 3 hours of Seattle" desire, you could be in Yakima or even out to Grandview and still be within that 3 hour driving window. That region is very much sun drenched and Yakima is big enough to have ammenities, shopping etc. without having to endure the months on end of winter gray that regions west of the Cascades offer.

I'm not necessarily recommending Yakima (unless your husband talks you in to that semi-arid living after all!), rather just using it as an example but... you would have easy access to White Pass, Chinook Pass and Mt. Rainier which would provide beautiful hiking and perhaps the tourist-related business option you seek. Also great fruit in Yakima this time of year! Their wineries are up and coming as well. Anyway, another thought for you!

Please note though that even the east side of the state isn't all sunny and dry year round. November-March is snow, rain, grey skies, fog and freezing temperatures. It certainly isn't a hot climate that part of the year. However, in the summer you will be begging for a cold climate...it is 90+ for most of the summer with many days hitting the 100s...

[AzDreamer]

Originally Posted by laminmd

how "nice" is Ellensburg really as the closest "city" to Wenatchee, Cashmere, Leavenworth, Chelan, etc?

I like Ellensburg a lot, and since it's a college town there is more going on there than most other towns mentioned.

[509]

Originally Posted by laminmd

My husband and I both turn 50 soon and have one child in college and one in high school. Our youngest will be in college 3 years from now, and we want to relocate the summer before that to Washington state, somewhere within a 3-hour drive of Seattle so we can take advantage of its cultural amenities for a weekend now and then. We are moving after 25+ years in the DC metro area and are sick of crowded suburbs, high prices, bad traffic, and the whole rat race mentality of large East Coast cities. But, we would not do well stuck out in the back end of nowhere or in an overly religious conservative, uneducated, or intolerant community. My husband likes desert climates with endless sunshine and blue skies, however they are a bit too dry for me. I.

I would go back to square one and rethink Seattle.

Vancouver, BC, Portland, Oregon and Spokane, Washington are all much nicer urban areas than Seattle. Seattle's problem is that it is dependent on the automobile. Just like Los Angeles. The downtown is crowded, dirty, and noisy. Seattle is also very intolerant, but on the left side of the poliltical spectrum.

If you find religious conservatives obnoxious just think what a rabid left-wing environmentalist can be like if they disapprove of your lifestyle choices!! Uneducated folks that have common sense are much easier to live with than educated folks without common sense. The lack of diversity in Seattle is a concern. Sure there are other "people" living in the area, but everybody is segregated into their neighborhoods based on class and income. Last time the state sent money to "highly diverse" school districts Seattle did not make the cut. All the money went to eastern Washington. However, these are not the perceptions of Seattle residents, but they live in their own comfortable little world viewed through their rose colored sunglasses.

My choices for a quality urban experience is Vancouver, BC followed by Portland, Oregon. I lived in Vancouver and it is a world class city.

Portland is a great urban center for people with feet and are not afraid to use them. Great walking city. Great downtown, with local rather than chain stores. Good food. Entertainment offerings are on par with Seattle. Actually better once you get below the most popular stuff. I have traveled to Portland on business for 30 years. If we want a city fix we still drive six hours to Portland rather than three to Seattle. It is still a great city to visit.

Spokane is a much smaller urban area. But again, downtown is geared to people not cars. We lived outside of Spokane for a few years. Nice thing is that everything is so easy....no lines. An urban area that does not feel urban. Lots of entertainment for adults, much less so for the 20's crowd.

I would start by checking the internet for alternative newspapers that will give you a sense of what is going on in those cities. The main papers are all "white bread". Fly out and rent a car, and spend a week in the downtown area of each of those cities.

Even east of the Cascades sunshine is a rare commodity in winter. That has been the major disappointment in living in eastern Washington. But we are still here after 32 years, but frankly we are looking at real estate in the southwest.

[skinem]

The only thing I would add to what folks are telling you about east side/central WA is that even in the desert or semi-arid areas, you're never far from water--and usually some green!