checking out different states to possibly move to (Boulder, Cascade: good schools, live in)

[WAgirl]

Im currently in graduate school to become a professional counselor, so after Im finished in a little less than three years, Im considering many different states to move to but would like some advice on which states would be best. I have two children, so good schools would be important but also, we all three like lakes and mountains, and trees. I would like to move to a town that is around 30,000 people or more but not over 60,000 or so. We like snow but not half the year and hoping for a place that does not get below zero even in the winter. I know this is a lot to hope for but so far I have been to Oregon and like it and have lived there previously and live in WA state now and like it but want a change. Does anyone know of a place that is similar to the above? Im hoping to find a place that is somewhere on the Western side or northwest, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana or something. I was thinking about Montana but hear it is extremely cold during winter and that it snows 6 months out of the year or more. If anyone has ideas, please let me know.

[ElkHunter]

You can probably take Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota off your list as all 4 of those states have MANY days each year that are well below zero. We're not talking 4 or 5 either, but in excess of 30 days of sub-zero weather with a few days that will exceed -30. Shirt sleeve weather vary's from 3 to 4 months a year, the rest of the time you'll be bundled up.

[Mt-7]

Yep, check out our weather alert threads...

[Reziac]

If you're in western Washington, you can get quite a lot of change, without MT's extreme weather, just by moving somewhere east of the Cascades. Any of the area from Spokane to Richland, perhaps. And of course you can move the other direction for the same effect.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Sandpoint, Idaho! And you can do a long weekend road trip from Western WA and see for yourself. Visit the Idaho forum and read some of the many threads about the Sandpoint area.

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by WAgirl

Im currently in graduate school to become a professional counselor, so after Im finished in a little less than three years, Im considering many different states to move to but would like some advice on which states would be best. I have two children, so good schools would be important but also, we all three like lakes and mountains, and trees. I would like to move to a town that is around 30,000 people or more but not over 60,000 or so. We like snow but not half the year and hoping for a place that does not get below zero even in the winter. I know this is a lot to hope for but so far I have been to Oregon and like it and have lived there previously and live in WA state now and like it but want a change. Does anyone know of a place that is similar to the above? Im hoping to find a place that is somewhere on the Western side or northwest, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana or something. I was thinking about Montana but hear it is extremely cold during winter and that it snows 6 months out of the year or more. If anyone has ideas, please let me know.

...........Check out Broomfield and Loveland Colorado. Having lived in Colorado for many years (15), (prior to Montana), IMO these two cities meet your criteria for :size, trees, minimal snow, mountains, lakes, very few below zero nights (maybe 2 or 3 ), good schools and........you'd be very close to Boulder, Colorado, where God knows......half the people who live there need "counseling"

[Threerun]

Boy ain't that the truth.. Loveland is prime hunting grounds for a counselor. Bring your couch, hang a shingle and go to town!

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

...........Check out Broomfield and Loveland Colorado. Having lived in Colorado for many years (15), (prior to Montana), IMO these two cities meet your criteria for :size, trees, minimal snow, mountains, lakes, very few below zero nights (maybe 2 or 3 ), good schools and........you'd be very close to Boulder, Colorado, where God knows......half the people who live there need "counseling"

That's because there are more whiny liberal Californians in Boulder than there are here. Lets hope they stay there! Weird thing about those types... They go to visit a place, think of what they would like to "change" and then demand and whine and cry and beg until they get their way.

[nature's cathedral]

Why not stay in WA, OR, or Northern CA?

[Jbechtel]

Washington and Oregon then are your best bets, where your at now.. Anywhere in the intermoutain west you'll find some sub-zero weather. Even in Colorado.