High Rockies vs N. Idaho vs. Wyoming

[HighlandsMT]

Thank you again for all the comments from everyone! I've opted for N. Idaho for my next move.

[mountainrose]

I lived in Northern Idaho for 9 years, and although there is more moisture and access to water, most people don't realize how GRAY it is all winter. Totally the opposite of CO which is mostly sunny days in the winter. From October to the end of May in N Idaho, it is like living in a gray cotton ball. Even Seattle gets more cloud breaks. I remember one fourth of July when it snowed.
But generally the summers are fantastic. People just aren't prepared for the AMOUNT of gray skies. Prozac sells well there...

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by mountainrose

I lived in Northern Idaho for 9 years, and although there is more moisture and access to water, most people don't realize how GRAY it is all winter. Totally the opposite of CO which is mostly sunny days in the winter. From October to the end of May in N Idaho, it is like living in a gray cotton ball. Even Seattle gets more cloud breaks. I remember one fourth of July when it snowed.
But generally the summers are fantastic. People just aren't prepared for the AMOUNT of gray skies. Prozac sells well there...

That seems to be the issue with the beautiful green parts of the country.

And I love Northern California because it's green and humid enough so that it's not the desert, without the long grey winters.

[nmoky]

Depends how you define the best scenery. Do you want green mountains, lakes, rugged snow capped peaks, or red sandstone cliffs? I lean towards rugged mountain peaks, so along those lines consider NW MT. Both northern ID and MT are very cloudy in the winter but are georgeous in the summer! Lots of beautiful lakes as well. Glacier Nat'l Park is spectacular. Huge glacier carved U-shaped valleys. Start here: Glacier National Park - Glacier National Park Webcams (U.S. National Park Service) St Ignatius and Hamilton are beatiful little towns. The Tetons, Beartooths, and Wind River range are spectacular rugged mountains. The Sawtooth mountains north of Sun Valley, ID near Stanley, ID are very rugged and beautiful. The mountains around Silverton and Durango, CO are also beautiful. For more desert type places, there's Zion Nat'l Park, the Grand Canyon, and Sedona, AZ. The Cascades of WA and OR also have great scenery. Best scenery of all is probably Alaska (but that is not for most people). Just google (under the image tab) the above locations.