Moving to Redstone Arsenal from Washington (Huntsville, Guntersville: crime, home, camping)

[WashingtonAtHeart]

My husband is in the Army and we are going to be stationed at Redstone Arsenal and I was wondering what it is like. Now I am from Washington, home of the green... and I am worried we won't like it! We like to do a lot of outdoor things like camp, fish, swim.... is there anything like that to do? What is the crime like? Here where we live (Everett, WA) it is not too bad but not great either.

[Keeper]

Huntsville is surrounded what we call mountains. Check out the city-data link Alabama Bigger Cities (over 6000 residents). Also check out the announcements at the top of this forum for pictures of the area taken by our posters.

Now.. having been to Seattle, I will warn you it gets much warmer here in the summer. Highs in the 90s is normal even low 100s can happen.

Camping swimming and fishing are all activities enjoyed around here. Lake Guntersville is a 65,000 acre lake. Bass fishing tournaments are held there several times a year.

What else can we tell you?

[WashingtonAtHeart]

This is going to sound really girly...but what are the spiders and other insects like? I am terrified of spiders and I hear they are big down there!!
What is the humidity like? I am not used to any at all. Seattle area is NOT humid.

[Southlander]

I won't lie...there are spiders. I'm not afraid of them (and I'm a girl), but I keep a can of spider spray handy. Most won't hurt you. I've seen a brown recluse or two, but if you're aware of the conditions they like, you can eliminate those. We also have ants...mosquitoes...crickets...snakes. You learn how to keep them away.
And yes, it is VERY humid here - think 90, 99 per cent in the summer. You learn how to deal with the heat and humidity...get out and do your work or running around in the morning or evening and lay low during the afternoon in the a/c. But hey - the humidity is SO good for your complexion!
Look back at the top of this forum, and there is a "sticky" entitled "Helpful Links." That will give you a good picture of the area. You can also contact the chambers of commerce in the area to send you literature.
North Alabama folks love camping and all those outdoor activities, so you're in good shape there. And you should visit the Alabama beaches...they are beautiful, sandy, warm.
Welcome, and good luck!

[MsMuir]

Originally Posted by WashingtonAtHeart

This is going to sound really girly...but what are the spiders and other insects like? I am terrified of spiders and I hear they are big down there!!
What is the humidity like? I am not used to any at all. Seattle area is NOT humid.

HI....I'm from Central Coast of CA...Monterey Bay area and have been to Everertt many times...it's beautiful there! We moved to FL and lasted only 2 years....the humidity is just horrible and plenty of bugs! Hated it!

We moved here to the Huntsville area last summer and I have to say, yes it is hot and humid here....more so then in WA, however, it's nothing like FL! We LOVE this area...it has 4 seasons and we're really appreciating it! There's plenty of water around to enjoy your water sports and the people are GREAT! Never been to a more friendly place in my life!

As far as spiders go, I haven't seen any, but that's not to say they're not here. Fact is I haven't seen many bugs at all...but, again it's possible there are some. Remember, this is the south...guess it all depends WHERE you live. Maybe in the more rural areas you'll find more insects.....but you should come for a visit....I think you'll be
wonderfully surprised!

[Reactionary]

The humidity is stifling. It is sticky and soul draining hot in the summer. But that's what AC and swimming pools and rivers and lakes are for - and we've got plenty of those.

IIRC we get more rain than Seattle, even with the drought.

Plenty of hiking / camping in parks and wilderness areas (probably a dozen large parks within an hour or so).

Re: crime - theft is higher here than many places (because it's a relatively affluent area). We just had a record year for murder (22) - but stay away from drugs and you won't get shot. Crime is pretty much localized to 'bad' areas...

Note that HSV is supportive of the military. You will be very welcome and respected here.

[NicoleC]

The spiders are not particularly big in N. AL. The area really only has two spiders of concern, the brown recluse and the black widow. Either bite is only very, very rarely deadly, is only rarely of concern at all, and some people have no reaction at all. But their bites can be dangerous for children, the elderly and other ill people. A person having a reaction to a poisonous spider bite does needs medical attention, but it's not a trip to the emergency room unless you are in anaphylactic shock from it, which is extremely rare. Neither spider is aggressive and will only bite if provoked or injured (like you squishing them.)

The black widow looks far scarier but is less dangerous and easier to avoid. You will KNOW one when you see it. And most places in the US have these spiders, not just the South. Just use gloves when sticking your hands in dark places and turning over rocks and stuff outside. Black widows usually stay outside and even when you can't see them, their webs are obvious: they are messy affairs. Black widow bites are quite painful.

The brown recluse is much more rare, but also more dangerous and very hard to identify since there are many look-alike spiders. They are also much smaller, and likewise form messy webs, and their bite is painless. (There may be itchiness and pain later -- hours later.) They like undisturbed man-made places like old shoes in the back of the closet. With a little care, like shaking out shoes you haven't worn in a while before putting them on and not leaving piles of laundry around, they are also easily avoided. However because of their relative danger, they are about the only thing pest control places actually wrap the building and tent for here, and then only in large infestations.

But the scariest spider sight in the area is totally harmless! A regular, common brown female garden spider carrying babies on her back in the fall is a shocking a creepy sight and she looks HUGE. But like most spiders, they want nothing to do with you and will run away.

There are a few snakes of concern and the yellow jackets, but most critters are pretty harmless unless you go mess with them.

[WashingtonAtHeart]

Sounds not too bad! We have all of those spiders here, so it would be nothing different!! I just am SOO ready to get out of Western Washington. All it does here is rain, rain, rain!!!! I am ready for a little nice weather once in a while. I have never lived outside of Washington (22yrs old), and am really looking forward to the new adventures of another place. Thanks for all of the inputs!

[bethletters]

The one thing that is a problem for us here in rural Al is the fire ants. Avoid the mounds and you won't have a problem. Otherwise, you won't have a problem here, something for everyone to enjoy!

[msaprilmay]

I lived on Lake Guntersville most of my life and then relocated to Huntsville during my undergrad. There is plenty to offer for nature lovers and the wildlife (insects) is very tame. There are so many beautiful state parks and "off the beaten path" locations to see...I havn't seen half of what north Alabama has to offer.
I did find that Huntsville was a little bit limiting in regards to "night life". But, I was pleasantly surprised with the unique combiniation of diversity and southern charm that it offered. I had many discussions with students and professors who were extremely pleased with their choice to relocate to Huntsville, AL.