San Juan Islands/Bellingham area relocation suggestions (Seattle, Tacoma: hair salon, college)

[Talesin]

Hello everyone,

My wife and I will be relocating early next year to Washington, and we seek a rural area with access to "big city" amenities; Shopping, entertainment, hobbies, social events.

Doing our research, we prefer the more NorthWest areas of Washington State, particularly the Islands (Anacortes, Whidbey, Orca, etc.) and Bellingham/Fairhaven.

We are both live performance musicians, love great beer, and are intrigued by the many musical styles Washington offers.
Any favorite areas? And why?

All ideas or suggestions are welcome.
Thanks!

[Ruth4Truth]

If you want easy access to big city amenities, the San Juan Islands aren't for you. Long ferry rides are involved in getting to a city, any city. Those islands are more for people who want a quiet, bucolic environment with a sense of community.

Whidbey could be good. Bellingham, also, to some extent. The presence of Western WA U at least guarantees access to lecture series, concerts, and the like. There are also a variety of local music groups in B'ham.

Any reason you're not considering Seattle or its suburbs? Easier access to more amenities, there.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by Talesin

Hello everyone,

My wife and I will be relocating early next year to Washington, and we seek a rural area with access to "big city" amenities; Shopping, entertainment, hobbies, social events.

Doing our research, we prefer the more NorthWest areas of Washington State, particularly the Islands (Anacortes, Whidbey, Orca, etc.) and Bellingham/Fairhaven.

We are both live performance musicians, love great beer, and are intrigued by the many musical styles Washington offers.
Any favorite areas? And why?

All ideas or suggestions are welcome.
Thanks!

As far as beer goes, Bellingham is pretty beer obsessed. I think there are now five breweries in Bellingham, and they sell growlers of beer in unlikely places( hair salons, chocolate shops.) Bellingham itself isn't really rural, but it has places to perform, lots of music, and rural areas nearby( The area just south, like Bow/Bayview Edison is really pretty/rural, and 20 minutes from Bellingham.

If you're on the San Juans(Orcas) or Anacortes, big city amenities won't be easy to get to, but if you're on Whidbey not far from the Clinton ferry dock(and I'd include lovely Langley in there), it's not that much of an ordeal to get into Seattle, or at least Everett.

[CrazyDonkey]

Also look at the Olympia area in the South Sound. Also a college town (Evergreen) and the state capitol. Access to Mount Rainier, the Ocean Beaches, Hood Canal, and the Olympic Peninsula.

From Tacoma to Everett is now pretty much one metropolis (Pugetopolis).

[Talesin]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Any reason you're not considering Seattle or its suburbs? Easier access to more amenities, there.

Noise, congestion and crime.
We don't mind a 45-90 minute drive if we feel the need to go to a high end restaurant, catch a show a couple times a month, or do the tourist thing.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by Talesin

Doing our research, we prefer the more NorthWest areas of Washington State, particularly the Islands (Anacortes, Whidbey, Orca, etc.) and Bellingham/Fairhaven.

I agree with Ira. Given your interest list, Bellingham/Fairhaven would likely best offer all that you seek.

As Ruth mentioned, the SJI's (San Juan Islands including Orcas would likely feel very small and isolated to you). We have cousins on Orcas and visit them often. Although they love it there, they do mention that it can get tiring having your life revolve around the ferry schedule as well as having to go "off island" for a lot of things.

A couple of generalizations regarding the other places you mentioned. Anacortes has a large oil refinery and Whidbey has the NAS (Naval Air Station at Oak Harbor). These industries "flavor" those places to a moderate degree.

Bellingham has everthing on your list as well as being within easy reach of the "big city amenities" in Vancouver, BC to the north or Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia to the south.

[Talesin]

Awesome, Bellingham it is.

[katjonjj]

I hated Bellingham (too messy for me) and the Islands are not going to fit your needs. I'd choose Camano Island (no ferry there's a bridge) but it's not so close to a major city. Better yet would be on the coast in Edmonds or Mukilteo. It's like you are on an island but your aren't. Beautiful views and close to major cities.

[alliecatw]

katjonjj, What do you mean by Bellingham is "too messy"?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by katjonjj

I hated Bellingham (too messy for me) and the Islands are not going to fit your needs. I'd choose Camano Island (no ferry there's a bridge) but it's not so close to a major city. Better yet would be on the coast in Edmonds or Mukilteo. It's like you are on an island but your aren't. Beautiful views and close to major cities.

Edmonds is a nice little town within an easy drive of Seattle, and an easy ferry ride of the Kitsap Peninsula & onward to the Olympic Peninsula. Camano Island also isn't a bad idea.