Best Towns in Washington?

[h0lmes]

here are some things for you to consider
anything outside of King County/Seattle is less expensive and will have lower taxes
anything near Seattle is decidedly not "small town" ish. it's a freaking zoo traffic wise, far worse than the bay area
Gig Harbor/Fox Island are 45 minutes from Seattle, <20 minutes to Tacoma, and are actually small towns/communities. the new Narrows Bridge has eliminated traffic congestion to and from Tacoma.
Bellingham is cool also, but not close to a big city. it's 1.5 hrs to Seattle, 2 hrs to Vancouver BC.
I left california in 1979 due in part to real estate valuses and all the people. Fox Island for me at least is ideal; quite, rural, and affordable. Downtown Gig Harbor is an old fishing village that has shopping/cafes/wineshops, and is a very cool place to hang and have lunch/dinner on the water. It's like a small Sausalito. Gig HArbor North has the big box stores like Costco, Home Depot etc. The shopping area near Pt Fosdick has the most advanced digital movie theatres on the west coast, and a new upscale shopping like Chicos, and others (i don't shop but the wife does). So basically you have just about anything you need without going to the big cities, but those cities are close enough if you need/want to go there.
I have always lived near the water so the Puget Sound was a natural. If you have kids, the schools in Gig Harbor rank at the top in Wa state every year for academics. Plus it's against the law to belong to a gang in Gig Harbor. ;-p

Bonney is that you?

Bellingham, Bellingham, Bellingham!

It is not to big not to small (about 70k people). Has everything you will ever need. Tons of bars of all types with great beer. Endless amounts of college women (it is a college town). It is only an hour drive to the snowiest place on Earth (Mt. Baker). And only 15 minute drive to the Canadian border. There is the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands which are great for Sailing as well as two large lakes for Summer activities. Also, the property prices are generally lower than the rest of the Puget Sound area. If you are ever here and need a place to stay and someone to show you around, hit me up.

Gig Harbor is nice. I lived there my whole life until I moved here last year. Unfortunately though, it has been over run by yuppies in recent years.

[Jparkr]

shut up dumbass, just cause you worked at domino's until you left for college doesn't mean you know shit. :-D

Yeah Ben Tombs is a PNW photo guy. Criv dabbles and is learning fast, Danny is good. also there is Colby Moore
All are on R3v

Misobeno is ben
James Crivellone (duh)
Idk about Danny's SN
and then Cheezewiz or something is Colby's

[h0lmes]

Also, the PNW has TONS of e30 guys. In case you havent already noticed. Especially Tacoma/Gig Harbor.

[Jparkr]

you sneaky editing bastard.

[uofom3]

Thanks for all of the replies. They really are helpful.

The idea behind the move would be to get away from the hustle and bustle of this overly expensive life. I pay $2600 a month on a 2b+2b place no more than 1000sqft. I sit in a half hour to an hour of traffic to get 8 miles. By the end of the day...I want to strangle anything or anyone, which is not healthy. And to top it off it's pointless to go to the beach because everyone and the free born relative is there. I live not 3 miles from the beach and I haven't been all summer!! That's frustrating.


The gf and I are both from Northern Cali and I'm originally from the East Coast. She doesn't want to move back east quite yet, but we know that living in CA might not be the best idea for who we are...we're sick of the people, traffic, expenses, etc.

I am trying to educate myself a little more on what North has to offer. We both like the outdoors and would love some property, we like small towns, slower lifestyle (but near enough to a city where you can go in for the night to a game or a play), we like educated people (not a bunch of hillbillies), family oriented (starting a family...maybe, ha) and I don't want to be able to pass butter between my neighbors (I despise tract homes).

The weather honestly makes me a little nervous, because I golf and I'd love to be able to play that for a portion of the year. We don't like hot or cold weather, mild is perfect. This is a big decision as neither of us have family up there and have really never gone with the intent on looking for living situations.

This all might be a lot to ask...but from my limited knowledge it sounds like PNW would be the best bet.

Keep the advice coming!!

If you want to play golf, you need to think Oregon. the weather really is that much worse in seattle compared to Eugene/Portland.

Just curious, but why haven't you considdered Eugene or Portland? In Eugene, you have the UO campus downtown, a pretty spread out area, much better weather than seattle, 1 hr from coast, 1 hr from mountains, 2 hours from downtown PDX. if you have the credentials to get a decent job that is past entry level, this might be a place for you to check out. Very much a "small town feel" that has some bigger city perks.

Also, I think battleground might be something for you to look into as well. a close friend of mine just picked up some property up there and he loves it. In fact, if you're looking to spend 500k on a house, the one on the 5 acre parcel next to his is up for sale as we speak - great home.

[eric (^__^)]

I'll take a bet that I've been there longer ;)

My only complaint: greeners.

how long? I was there for like 22 years

[cramer]

oh close, but gotcha by one year ;) Moved there in July of '85.

And as for golf, geez - I can't count how many courses we have in south puget sound.

[eric (^__^)]

you win!

[speedhop]

If you want to play golf, you need to think Oregon. the weather really is that much worse in seattle compared to Eugene/Portland.

Just curious, but why haven't you considdered Eugene or Portland? In Eugene, you have the UO campus downtown, a pretty spread out area, much better weather than seattle, 1 hr from coast, 1 hr from mountains, 2 hours from downtown PDX. if you have the credentials to get a decent job that is past entry level, this might be a place for you to check out. Very much a "small town feel" that has some bigger city perks.

Also, I think battleground might be something for you to look into as well. a close friend of mine just picked up some property up there and he loves it. In fact, if you're looking to spend 500k on a house, the one on the 5 acre parcel next to his is up for sale as we speak - great home.

I haven't ruled out anything thus far. Maybe I'll fly up to Portland and drive to Seattle to experience some sights. What are some areas I should hit up if I do this?

Thanks for the info. 5 acres is like a dream! With 5 acres I could build my own pitch 'n put. My outside living area is like 5 feet

Keep the info coming!!! Thanks!

[uofom3]

oh close, but gotcha by one year ;) Moved there in July of '85.

And as for golf, geez - I can't count how many courses we have in south puget sound.

Tons of courses, and good ones at that. BUT, if you're playing in January, you'll be happier in Oregon (This is comming from years and years of personal experience).

I didn't think we had many avid golfers on the boards.

[TwoJ's]

Add me to that list. In the spring and summer I golf 2-4 times a week. I need to get a job at Suncadia so I can play Tumble Creek.

[uofom3]

Add me to that list. In the spring and summer I golf 2-4 times a week. I need to get a job at Suncadia so I can play Tumble Creek.

Before I retired, I played at least 54 holes a week... probably more like 72 and practiced. Granted, it paid for my school, but I got tired of doing that at that level of intensity after 5 years... Played Chambers Bay yet?