The Pacific Northwest

[AustinC9]

For all those who currently or prevously have resided in the pacific northwest, what do you think of the region. I'm a student who is attending a university in Connecticut, but I am making a transfer in a little less than a years time. I've heard great things about Oregon and am looking for some input from the locals. I'm a very outdoor oriented and physically active person by the way (hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, surfing, etc).
Do you like the area? Is there lots to do? Nice people? I'm just looking for a general opinion basicly. Thanks!

 

[Topgumby]

The outdoor recreation is superb.

I think the urban areas are likely to increasingly take on some of the characteristics of Eastern and some of the larger California urban areas.

 

[kwk285]

I live 30 minutes outside of Seattle. I personally find Seattle to not be all that friendly.

However, Eastern Washington and Oregon are both great areas. The people are very friendly and their is a lot of outdoor activities.

 

[jlanger]

I have relatives that currently live in Yakima and have lived and Moses Lake as well as Walla Walla. Other relatives lived in Spokane for many many years. Nothing but good things to say about it. Great for hunting, fishing, and just about any other outdoor activity you can think of. Not to mention great food and wine, (and beer too!!)
The one thing that currently I think of whenever someone mentions the Northwest though is the Emberverse Series by S.M. Stirling, lots of geography I've learned from that series

 

[PlayerPiano]

I am a californian, but take my word that you would absolutely love oregon! Beautiful weather if you like brisk and slightly wet days (Don't be fooled, the sun loves it there too!) and overall a very outdoorsy place with some nice urban centers for all your needs. Brochure complete!

 

[mr. s]

I have traveled all over the world but after visiting Seattle for a single weekend a few years ago, I have had the thought in the back of my mind to move there. It is absolutely beautiful and lush. I am also the "outdoorsy type" and that is a big factor for me too. I cannot give any real opinion on the people since I was there for so short a time though.

 

[tg16]

I lived in Oregon as a child and it was great! I vacationed hiking in Mt. Rainier Natl. Park about 4 years ago and plan to go back. I stayed in Packwood, WA for the vacation and loved it.

 

[KarthVader]

I have traveled all over the world but after visiting Seattle for a single weekend a few years ago, I have had the thought in the back of my mind to move there. It is absolutely beautiful and lush. I am also the "outdoorsy type" and that is a big factor for me too. I cannot give any real opinion on the people since I was there for so short a time though.

My sentiments exactly! As for the people, I thought they were quite nice and pleasant to be around. Very helpful to outsiders.

 

[raisindot]

If I had a great job opportunity and my SWIMBO and family wouldn't divorce me, I'd move to the Portland area in a New York minute. I'll take a bit of rain over a New England winter anytime!



J-I-B

 

[elkaholic]

I grew up in Oregon, and plan to move back there upon retirement from the AF. (115 Days!) The western side of the Cascade Mountains in both Oregon and Washington are far lusher and greener than the eastern side, thus they are more populated.

The people for the most part very friendly, just like anywhere else. In Oregon, the major cities are Portland, Salem, and Eugene, and are mostly very liberal compared to the rest of the state. (Deleted sentence about stupid election results)

There are plently of outdoor activities to participate in year-round. In fact, Mt. Hood has summer snow skiing if you want a change from swimming/floating the rivers.

 

[MichaelG]

I think both Portland and Seattle are very friendly, polite cities by big city standards. I lived in Portland through most of the 90's and miss it. The Pacific Northwest is a great area of the country. I prefer Portland to Seattle in that it's smaller but still has a lot of big city amenities. Both cities have good mass transit, lots of stuff to do.

I live 30 minutes outside of Seattle. I personally find Seattle to not be all that friendly.

However, Eastern Washington and Oregon are both great areas. The people are very friendly and their is a lot of outdoor activities.

 

[Space]

I'm from the east coast and I just vacationed in the pacific north west this past week. seattle was very nice, but the downtown was littered with homeless people I was very surprised, but it didn't feel unsafe. tons and tons of hills. if you like hills you'll like seattle. oh yeah, cloudy and rainy most of the time.

I went to Olympic national park and that was nice, by mistake I ended up in a little town called forks. that was a freakshow. Not being a 15 year old girl I did not know that it was the town where twilight was filmed.

and last but not least...I went to vancouver for my first time. Without a doubt that is my favorite city in north america. I was absolutely stunned. I spent two days on the beach, last week! it was sunny and in the low 80 the entire time. downtown van city is beautiful! there are no bad neighborhoods like every american city. and the women! oh my god the women! they really put american women to shame. I'm planning my next vacation for vancouver, victoria and the rest of western canada. If I really like it I may look into moving there. I like the fact taht it is on the beach so it is great for summer but it is also minutes from some really high mountains so it is great for winter too. It really reminded me of sydney, but with mountains instead of surf.

 

[joshmpdx]

Portland here.

it's it BEST town

 

[joshmpdx]

Portland here, shoot me a PM for more info or when we're going surfing!

it's it BEST town

 

[daleroller]

I live in Salem Oregon now, but have lived in Portland for ten years and I have two offices in the Portland metro area. Certainly there are plenty of parks and outdoorsy things to do here (backpacking the Gorge is superb) but but my best three years since moving to the country have been in Moscow, Idaho. The University of Idaho is located there, and the town is super lad back and cool. The people in Idaho really are super nice. The area is gogeous, with plenty of outdoor activities. I prefer it to Portland. You may also want to check out Bend, Oregon.

 

[Spacegeezer]

<excuse the snip>

and last but not least...I went to vancouver for my first time. Without a doubt that is my favorite city in north america. I was absolutely stunned. I spent two days on the beach, last week! it was sunny and in the low 80 the entire time. downtown van city is beautiful! there are no bad neighborhoods like every american city. and the women! oh my god the women! they really put american women to shame. I'm planning my next vacation for vancouver, victoria and the rest of western canada. If I really like it I may look into moving there. I like the fact taht it is on the beach so it is great for summer but it is also minutes from some really high mountains so it is great for winter too. It really reminded me of sydney, but with mountains instead of surf.

As a local, I feel that I am obligated to point out that we certainly do have a few awful neighbourhoods. East Hastings is the most infamous. On the other hand, I think we are geographically the (second) best place in Canada (Victoria and the southern Island beat us on a few counts). Culturally we're pretty good, gastronomically - if you look off the beaten path - we'll give just about any place a run for their money. We don't have a lot of history or neat historical architecture, but there is a great Rolf Harris song about us:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWCY7SrnEP8[/YOUTUBE]

 

[gobeavs]

One of the best things about Oregon, at least where I live, is I can drive 60 minutes in any direction and be at the beach, the mountains, or the desert.

 

[DougK]

I'm originally from Spokane, WA, went to college there, and moved to Seattle after college (lived there six years before I moved to Cleveland). I've vacationed on the Oregon coast a couple of times and loved it there, too. Basically, I miss the Pacific Northwest and will definitely go back someday because my family is still there. If you like the outdoors, you'll love it. The wineries are pretty good too.

 

[KenS]

Washington State is pretty crowded, but Oregon has some really nice territory open;-)

KenS
Lefetime resident of WA...

 

[Bongopalms]

I was born in WA, but grew up in CA, and worked the oil fields of TX, WY, UT, NM, and CO for four years after college. Moved back to family in the Portland area, until I got a "real" job in Yakima. I go to the east coast occasionally for work, and even at 35K feet, it's a relief to cross the Rockies. I think there's something in the air! I've been back 25 years, and the Pacific NW is where I want to live for the rest of my life!

Outdoor everything is in striking distance. You name, it happens here, and is generally pretty darn good. Mountain climbing, whitewater, windsurfing, cycling, skiing - yep got them all. I'm not aware of the ocean surfing scene, but possibly the world's best windsurfing is less than an hour from Portland, in the Columbia Gorge.

One thing that surprises people from the east coast are the distances. Outside of the major metro areas, things open up fast, and it can be more than 50 miles between cities of >20,000. Especially heading east And the lack of people when you get there. But IMHO, the people are generally friendly.

And I agree with jlanger above about the SM Stirling series. If you are a voracious reader (seven books now), and like alternative history, check it out.

Thanks to space and spacegeezer, I'm reminded that I have to visit Vancouver sometime - it's the one major city in the NW that I haven't been to. Loved Victoria by the way guys!

In short, what everyone above has said +1