Need Advice Please... IM Moving to WA or OR

wake100 · Newbie Joined: 05 Apr 2003 Posts: 15

Hey Y'all... any advice would be greatly appreciated. My company is relocating my wife and I to a regional sales position covering OR & WA. Basically, I can live anywhere between Portland and Seattle and am looking for possible ideas. Im looking for something that has the best weather (least amount of rain), near wakeboarders, mt.bike trails, snowboarding and good school system (my wife is a teacher). I'll be out there within the next couple of months so info would be awesome. Fellow boarders... hook me up.

later
wake100

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

i have lived in portland and seattle. i would say come to seattle. portland is dirty and the people don't seem as friendly as in seattle. we do get more rain, but also more new snow at closer mountains. i think the schools are pretty decent also. here is a pic of my city seattle.

wake100 · Newbie Joined: 05 Apr 2003 Posts: 15

Thanks for the tip, hows the wakeboarding scene up that way, also cost of living and good areas to look for an apartment. My wife loves the sun and we all know who has the final say in most descisions so what are some other positives of the city. How accessable are the mountains, mt.biking trails, etc. I think Seattle may be a tough sell but I dont want to end up in a sh_tty location. Thanks for the tips....

Zach M · Posted: Apr 15, 2003 10:21 am Post subject:

I live in both. I'm in school at Seattle and I'm originally from Portland. I don't think Portland is dirty, and the people are just as nice in both places. Seattle gets more rain, but in my opinion, is more beautiful when it's sunny. Mt Hood is close to Portland (1.5 hrs or so), and there are a few mountains close to Seattle, but they aren't as good as Hood. The city of Seattle is on the Sound, and Portland is on the River. If you're looking for a good school system, don't come to Oregon. That's the biggest swing towards Seattle right now. Our school system sucks right now. They are cutting programs and teachers all over the place. In the Portland Public School system, they even threatened to take away Spring sports. It's sad really.

There are great places to wakeboard in both. I ride the Willamette River above all the polution. In seattle, you can ride on a bunch of lakes.

eeven73 · Posted: Apr 15, 2003 11:25 am Post subject:

thats a first seattle cleaner than portland Confused

Seattle is the birthplace of the term Skidrow

Wakeboy551 · Posted: Apr 15, 2003 3:52 pm Post subject:

I don't know how deffinate you meant when you said between Seattle and Portland, but, i think you should consider a place thats exactly an hour north of seattle. Its called the Skagit Valley. This is where I live, and it is the most beautiful place in WA, and arguably in the US. No more than 30 min. away from bike trails, hills, hiking, water (both salt and fresh), and most anything else you can wish for. Just 1.5 hours from Mount Baker (world record holder for snowfall), and too many places to name to ride (wake). Grandparents live on Big Lake, awsome lake to ride on, home of the Ennen's, and its only a short drive to Sammish Lake, where so many more pros and people live. Its only an hour down to Seattle area where the industry first began and where the scene is jsut as strong as up north. Great area to consider, and any other questions about it you can just email me at JMan551@hotmail.com. The only bad part I can think of is the tourism around spring (Tulip Festival, beautiful to go see, feilds full of flowers as far as you can see and many colors, but lots of people come to look). I grew up around this area so I know about the schools and everything else. Give me a mail if interested.!!!

JER

wow I should be a freakin real estate agent or tour guide or something

Wakeboy551 · Posted: Apr 15, 2003 3:55 pm Post subject:

to add to my incredibly long post, this place is smog free, cleanest around! But it contains 2 small/medium cities, and its close to a medium/large city, and then close to Seattle as well!! just wanted to add the no smog part though!

JER

wetirish · Criminal Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Posts: 56

Wake100

You should look into moving to Vancouver, WA. Just across the Columbia River from Portland. The home are alot less expensive then both Portland or Seattle. Example: 4 bedroom, two bath house with oversize garade, for the boat, over looking Vancouver Lake $239k. Alot of people live in Vancover and work in the Portland area. The best school system in the state. The people support it. All the schools have been rebuilt or are new within the last eight years. If you have kids don't move to Portland the school system has failed, some schools are closing!

Two river and three lake to board on within eight miles or so. U.S. Pro Wake board Tour in June 12 miles away. We have the same weather as Portland. We have been out boarding three times this year already. A good community of wakeboarders here. Two nice sand islands to camp on in the middle of the Columbia River. Every Wed. starting in June for the summer an open wakeboard comp. in the Willamette River. Mt. Hood is 1-1/2 hours away to snowboard.

The housing is real expensive in Seattle. The traffic is a as bad as LA! And dam the water is cold.

If you want more info e-mail me.

Later, Terry Laughing

marcg · Addict Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 944 City: Salt Lake City

Yeah man Vancouver just got rated #1 city in the world to live in, next to Vienna, Austria.

Todd Armstrong · Addict Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 758 City: Battle Ground

wetirish, has it right I live in battle ground just north of Vancouver and I have lived in Portland/Vancouver for all my life. The school system is horrible in Protalnd, my parents moved to Vancouver for the shcools when I was 14 ( 1993) I lived in Vancouver untill I bought my first house in BG 2 years ago.

wetirish · Criminal Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Posts: 56

Todd,

How long have you been wakeboarding and where do you wakeboard at?

Later, Wet Colorful

Todd Armstrong · Addict Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 758 City: Battle Ground

This would have been my fifth summer, but I just have my acl surgury 2 months ago so I will be the driver this summer. I ride at Lake Merwin(60%) Lacamas lake(20%) Blue Lake(15%) and the Columbia River out of Camas(5%). Me and my buddies all have a good time and are always looking for more people to ride with. We are all intermediate riders and I only wakeskate so we are not impressive to watch.

wetirish · Criminal Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Posts: 56

Todd,
My 14 year old son just a got a new Cassette Wakeskate. He has not rode it yet or rode a wakeskate before. He has been wakeboarding for just a couple of years is there any tricks of the trade you can pass on to us for masting a wakeskate? We mainly board in the Columbia River up east of the 205 bridge, the water excellent! You can pull over to one of the island and hang for a while, not many people. The water is best in the long flat water cove. Lacamas lake seems kind of short is it? Lake River between the Columbia River and Vancover Lake has a rail and a ramp to use, the water is always flat. We use a Sea-Doo GTi. Shocked

Todd Armstrong · Addict Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 758 City: Battle Ground

I am no pro wakeskater for sure, but the main thing is keep the handle close to your hip. For your son's skate just practice getting comfortable ollieing , one wake jumps and work on lip sliding the wake FS then BS, them move on the ollie 180's and shuvits. I can teach him how this summer, I got alot of free time , untill I can ride next October.

I used to go to Akerman island the Slough and Peanut Cove that you are talking about but the river is such a pain to launch out of Camas so I try to ride at Merwin the most. My parents have a place up there. My buddy has a place in Lacamas shores so we can use the private lanch which is great. I have never been on Lake River where is that?

wetirish · Criminal Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Posts: 56

I'm sure my son would love to learn from you, he a fast learner and serious. He has snow boarded, and skate boarded for the last 5 or 6 years. We should hook up sometime. Do you have boat?

You can get to Lake River two ways. 1. Launch at the Felida moorage, it's off of Lake Shore Ave. on the waest side of town. The slide and ramp is about 1/2 mile north on Lake River. 2. Launch at the Ridgefield ramp, this is on Lake River. Go south about 1 mile to the slide and ramp. Or when you lanch you can head north to the Columbia River a short distance, from this point ST. Helens OR is just across the river, you can see it ahead.

What's Lacamas Lake like? We went there once, it seemed small? Full of fishing boats. The fisherman didn't like the wake! Lots of weeds on the ends.

Todd Armstrong · Addict Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 758 City: Battle Ground

The North end of Lacamas is the Ski/Wakearea, the south end is for the fisherman and in front of the Public dock is were the idiot show off jet skier are. It is good, kind of the unwritten law of the lake. Nice place but the lake is kind of grimmy when it is real hot of a day.

I got a 1997 Four Winns Horizon QX with a 4.3 V6 so it is a great boat for puting some people and weight in, no wash on the wake too. It is good for an i/o, my brother has 2 Seadoo's to wakeskate behind, my friensd on Blue lake has a Prostar 205 with a tower and some weight. My other friend has a 1992 Ski Nautique with some weight so we have a few choiced to ride behind.

e-mail me and we can ride some time. I'll de-winterized my boat in 3 weeks.

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

is there anything to do in any of the small towns between portland and seattle? didn't think so. i guess im just a city boy. i would go crazy in vancouver and especially skagit county. there is just nothing to do.if you want peace and country living then the small towns would be fine but if you like city living then you wont be happy with anything but portland or seattle. both are packed with things to do. how do you guys figure that seattle water is colder than the columbia river. even in august that place is still 50 - 55 degrees. traffic does completely suck in seattle. i drive an hour each day to and from work. pay is better in the city and real estate increases in value yearly but costs more to purchase. it would be a lot harder to sell a house outside of the city. i would suggest visiting these places and deciding which suits your needs best. wakeboarding is pretty big on sammamish. maybe we'll see you soon.

Todd Armstrong · Addict Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 758 City: Battle Ground

otiswunguy, you are such an ignorant fool. I live 30 minutes from Portland and Vancouver is 5 minutes away. I don't live in the country, and the water down here is warm enough after May. I drive to the city to work an no traffic bs. What isn't there to do that I can't drive a few miles to do everything I am intersested in.

Enjoy the city and your closeminded foolishness

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

thanks for calling me an ignorant fool. i disagree though. i have been to vancouver. that is not what i would consider a big city. like i said if you are into country living i.e. early to bed, family values, loving to just chill at home, and things of this relaxing nature, then anywhere between portland and seattle should suit you just fine but if you like night life, bars and clubs, and other activities such as sea-fair, concerts, pro sports, and so much more then portland or seattle would be better. sorry i offended you with those country comments. its probably not true. there is probably a lot to do in vancouver. you just choose to post on this forum instead of going out and doing some of those things. right? i just got back from going out because this ignorant fool had something better to do.

Todd Armstrong · Addict Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 758 City: Battle Ground

Vancouver is 1 mile from Portland so there is no counrty living. You are posting on this forum instead of doing things also. I posted after I got back from dinner and drinks in Portland a whole 25 minute drive away.

Mister C · Posted: Apr 21, 2003 6:51 pm Post subject:

I dunno about oregon, but i really liked seattle. The only drawback i guess is that it probably rains a little more often there.

OffAxis7 · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 71 City: Richland, WA

You should come to the Tri-Cities in south-eastern Washington. It is a chain of three cities (Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick). The summers are hot with highs up into the mid 90's to even the 100's. There is an awesome place to go mountain biking in the desert with a biking club that has races in the spring and winter that you could join. Also, the high school that I go to (Richland High) is one of the best in the state. We hardly get any rain, and are pretty close to some ski resorts. The best part is there are two rivers to choose from here. The Columbia and the Snake River. The Snake's temperature gets up to about 75-76 degrees in mid summer, and the Columbia gets to around 72. There is also the Yakima River, but there is a lot a cow farming north of it so it is pretty nasty, but very warm. You should come visit if you get the chance. If you do visit, let me know and you could come ride with my crue sometime. Hope this helped. Later.

Funkster · Posted: Apr 21, 2003 8:37 pm Post subject:

OffAxis,I have been wondering where's the best place to launch in the tri cities?? I have been watching the weather and they says it is pushing 70 over there. Iam ready for some sun!! Any info would be sweet,I would love to hook up and do some boarding on the river!!!

As far as living in Wa/Or,I would hope if you are gonna buy a house,you would check out both area's before you buy and see which one is better for you. I have never lived in Portalnd,justfor weather reason would choose Portland. I have heard there is alot of good water down there and Cali and shasta and the famouse delta isnt to far away!!

wake152 · Posted: Apr 21, 2003 8:45 pm Post subject:

oregon for sure

OffAxis7 · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 71 City: Richland, WA

Yeah, it is starting to really warm up here. Although the water is still damn cold but perfect butter. or at least it was yesterday when I wasn't on it. so if you come down here now, you might still need a sry suit. WHere would you be looking to launch? in town, the best place to go would be columbia park marina.

OffAxis7 · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 71 City: Richland, WA

funkster, around june or so the snake river gets pretty warm with no wet or dry suit needed. if you come with my crue, we can show you some of our secret spots.

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

funk and offaxis. the columbia is sweet. my favorite spot is at entiat quite a ways away from there though. if you go , maybe there is room for another. ive been to tri-cities but never riden there. always sunny.

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

Otis,

Funk and I were talkin' about doing a tour of some of Washington's nicest lakes! We'd visit a different lake every weekend! It's all talk right now, but would you be down for that? It sounds totally fun!

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

hell yeah. count me in. them you guys can see the other half of the state. much warmer and butter everyday. here is an old picture of entiat on the columbia river. sorry about the waterskiing, don't worry, i quit that bad habit

Funkster · Posted: Apr 23, 2003 8:27 am Post subject:

Buttery!!!! Hell yeah. Is there a campground around that spot?? That looks like a weekend trip to me. Hrs and hrs of butter!!!

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

that is right next to lincoln rock state park, right above the rocky reach dam. also there is an island with a big sand bar there that people hang out on during the day. not much to do besides wakeboarding though but the water is usually pretty decent. grassy campsites. ill see if i can find a link.

Dpierce37 · Ladies Man Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 7659 City: Austin

well I visted Portland for a week in last July,

First, the Portland Brew festival was going on (largest micro-brew festival in North America).

Second, I had to get my snowboarding fix (Mt. Hood and Whistler Mt. in Canada are the only mountains in North America that offer year round snowboarding/skiing).

Third, because I wish to live there someday, so I had to visit.

I stayed a couple nights downtown along the river, and we did the shopping thing along Nobb hill and in the Pearl District. I forget who said it was dirty, but the time I spent there in and around town, I found it to be one of the cleaneast cities I've been too. Also, one improtant note, while driving to Mt. Hood, we passed trail after trail after trail. You could seriously go Mt. Biking on a different trail every day of the week. Portland also has a 5000 acre park called "Forrest Park" 5 min from the pearl district in downtown. Simply amazing to walk in those woods. Also it has the largest metroplotatain park in North America, at 37,000 acres, Washington Park is a vacation in itself. less then an hour away to the east, you have the number 7 best beach in the world according to Travel channel "Cannon Beach". Portland has less rainfall per year then Houston Texas at only 37". I have so much more I can share if ya want, but I will leave it at that. ( I like to do my research Laughing

)

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

when i say dirty i should explain. seems like people up in seattle take a little more pride in their property and city for the most part. that is why houses cost more. a lot of places have ordinances that are strict about up plus the fact that it rains a lot up here makes it reallly clean. oregon is by no means dirty compared to the rest of the country. this is just my opinion, ilive a lot of places but i love the nw.

Dpierce37 · Ladies Man Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 7659 City: Austin

I hear ya now, when I think of "Dirty city" I think of the old downtown Houston. I grew up in houston and spent alot of time downtown skating. They have done an awesome job cleaning it up. Now you actually go there to party. Its pretty impressive. I remeber in Jr. High through High school, the place was a ghost town except for the hobbo's. Went to college, went back to visit a few times, and now you can barley drive around there is so much night life.

Zach M · Posted: Apr 23, 2003 1:37 pm Post subject:

It depends on where you go. The beaverton area (5-25 minutes from downtown Portland) is a very nice area to live. Many new houses are being built, and they are beautiful. The downside is that much of the property is small, and the houses are big, so you don't get much of a yard. My family was lucky to move in before the huge boom in my area hit, so we have just under an acre. I don't think the houses are more expensive because they're cleaner in Seattle, I just think the cost of living is higher in general, so people charge more for their houses.