Portland and other cities with greenery (house, neighborhood, buy)

[Theatre nut]

We love the Portland area for its lush green forest settings and cooler summers. However we are a hiking family and we are concerned that the rain will keep us indoors too much. We are trying to escape the heat in the summers. Don't mind rain but how to parents deal with the rain and little kids wanting to play outside a lot. Are there any other cities or states that aren't humid that have the lush green of Portland that don't have as much rain? Also must be an area large enough to have at least two performing arts theatres in town or close by.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by Theatre nut

We love the Portland area for its lush green forest settings and cooler summers. However we are a hiking family and we are concerned that the rain will keep us indoors too much. We are trying to escape the heat in the summers. Don't mind rain but how to parents deal with the rain and little kids wanting to play outside a lot. Are there any other cities or states that aren't humid that have the lush green of Portland that don't have as much rain? Also must be an area large enough to have at least two performing arts theatres in town or close by.

Portland has more close by hiking than any other city anywhere. Rain is what makes Oregon's lush green forest, green. If you are worried about the rain, then maybe you should consider moving to Arizona and doing your hiking on a barren landscape, in 120 degree heat, under the hot Arizona sun. You need to decide what is most important to you.

BTW I see kids play outside 365 days a year in Oregon. Try to get kids to play outside when the temperature is 120 degrees.

[Theatre nut]

Haha so true! Our summers get up to 110 here and I hate it. We love the rain, we just aren't used to a ton of it. Glad to hear kids play outside all year long. I think it will just be an adjustment for us. In a good way.

[Silverfall]

You buy raincoats and good waterproof hiking boots. Kids don't care about the rain as much as parents tend to care about mud.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

You buy raincoats and good waterproof hiking boots. Kids don't care about the rain as much as parents tend to care about mud.

Yeah, adults wear hats, but kids just lose them. Hoodie raincoats are the way to go.

[Harpaint]

Find a house with a daylight basement. They make good mudrooms as well as a place for kids to play.

[Theatre nut]

Awesome! Thanks for all the tips! My kids actually love the cold as do we. It will be adjustment but a good one from the blistering summer heat.

[HRW]

Forget the rain, consider the grey skies for 8-9 months a year. Literally no sunshine. This winter in Portland there was a snowstorm of about 4", followed by several days of rain that froze on top of the snow. City has no snow removal equipment. In our neighborhood, which has a walkscore of 90+, we could walk no further than 50' from our house. There is a reason why the university mascot is the "ducks"

[Minervah]

Since you did ask about other cities maybe you should post this in CD's General forum. But while I'm here, I can recommend my city of Cleveland's outlying areas. There's the Emerald Necklace, that rings the city with beautiful state parks that include hiking trials and gardens. Cleveland is called Forrest City and there's a reason.

Winters are cold, though, so that might be a deal breaker.

[Theatre nut]

Originally Posted by HRW

Forget the rain, consider the grey skies for 8-9 months a year. Literally no sunshine. This winter in Portland there was a snowstorm of about 4", followed by several days of rain that froze on top of the snow. City has no snow removal equipment. In our neighborhood, which has a walkscore of 90+, we could walk no further than 50' from our house. There is a reason why the university mascot is the "ducks"

Yes grey skies is something we are totally not used down here. I like gloomy weather but then again we have constant sun so that might be why