[Huck Banzai]

Moving to Seattle Area, maybe as far North as Bellingham. "IT Guy" working 100% remote deal, so looking for a nice carpet-free 2 bedroom+ wherever it may be. Only serious considerations on housing is rock solid power and data reliability for work, cant do a cabin in the backwoods (or I would).

Tell me stuff about where I should live if I were cooler than I am, where is the best access to trails out the back door while close enough that I can go hang with my fam in Ballard without an outrageous trek? (Obvi Bellingham stretches this... I was thinking somewhere near Duthie Hill.)

502....



47 year NYC dweller..this is going to be interesting to say the least.

 

[jonKranked]

@HAB is another east coast transplant in that region.

gonna miss ya dude.

 

[jstuhlman]

@Westy just moved to seattle as well, no?

 

[HAB]

If riding out your door is what you're after, Bellingham or Issaquah-North Bend(ish) are the way to go.

 

[Westy]

For riding and reasonable proximity to Ballard I second issaquah or similar east side locales. Seems like that is the focal area for future trail development too, so it should only get better.

 

[Jim Mac]

Spy shot of Huck checking out the forests of Bellingham:

 

[MinorThreat]

I would put in a plug for the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area because we have it all: awesome riding out the back door, un-traffic-jammed trailheads; plus motorsports, hunting and fishing are still politically correct over here. I would tell you that...but if people actually knew what we had here, there'd be too damn many of you coming.

 

[xy9ine]

^and particular hot spots in coeur d'alene? we're in the region every summer; would be curious to check out something new.

 

[shirk007]

I can't see why you would move to Seattle when you could potentially live in Bellingham. Unless you're going to be visiting the family in Ballard daily.

Live in the south end of Bellingham and ride from home. If you've never had a quality riding area right out your back door that you can ride from home it's a game changer.

 

[HAB]

I can't see why you would move to Seattle when you could potentially live in Bellingham. Unless you're going to be visiting the family in Ballard daily.

Live in the south end of Bellingham and ride from home. If you've never had a quality riding area right out your back door that you can ride from home it's a game changer.

I agree that that's awesome, but you can do the same thing in Snoqualmie Ridge/North Bend and be way closer to the family in Ballard.

 

[Serial Midget]

I would look a Bellingham for much local goodness and proximity to Vancouver. Why live with 6 billion of your closest friends if you dont have to?

 

[MinorThreat]

^and particular hot spots in coeur d'alene? we're in the region every summer; would be curious to check out something new.

Canfield Mtn is one. Caribou Ridge/Trail 257 (east side of the lake) are shuttle-able. Silver Mtn (lifts) is just a little over half-hour away.

 

[kidwoo]

Just live on a hill.

The juan de fuca fault will kill everyone you know.

 

[marshalolson]

Living where riding to your rides is a thing will seriously make your life better. Good for you.

Driving down into Ballard from outside town kinda sucks no matter what, so don't let that hold you back.

 

[kidwoo]

If'n I was moving to that area, I'd focus on I90/Issaquah

B'ham is cool but it's kind of enclosed in the winter. Cain't go west cuz you hit the ocean. Cain't go north cuz you hit socialism. Cain't go east cuz the road's closed. So then you're going south. Into seattle. Into seattle traffic.

That winter rain needs some escape and 90 provides that. Plus riding. Good riding.

 

[boostindoubles]

Fall City is the new Issaquah, or so I've heard.

 

[Huck Banzai]

Good feedback, thanks monkeys!

I am slightly concerned with access to people, socializing - immersion! Im a bit of an independent soul, so I dont want to exacerbate that too much.

I did find I nice 2br house near WWU w/ Garage and nice stuff for less than I pay for my 550sf 1br in Manhattan....


Keep the feedback coming, Im not launching until April.

 

[Jm_]

If'n I was moving to that area, I'd focus on I90/Issaquah.

That's what I'm thinking based on my experiences there. That and the Spokane/ID area, both seem like they might have a lot of potential.

 

[jstuhlman]

plus in issaquah . . . cougar mountain!

(and poo poo point!)

this looks like a good place to leave this classic, too.

 

[HAB]

plus in issaquah . . . cougar mountain!

(and poo poo point!)

Yeah, but there's Cougar Ridge in Bellingham...

 

[FarkinRyan]

I've moved half way round the world for the riding so if you're doing it for the riding (not to be close to family), I say move where the riding is best and let the rest sort itself out. So for me, it's gotta be Bellingham. Small town but easy to locate yourself with good riding literally out the door which as many people have said changes everything. Easy access to Baker for day trips and Whistler for weekends in the winter so not quite the hellhole woo envisions.

 

[kidwoo]

I've moved half way round the world for the riding so if you're doing it for the riding (not to be close to family), I say move where the riding is best and let the rest sort itself out. So for me, it's gotta be Bellingham. Small town but easy to locate yourself with good riding literally out the door which as many people have said changes everything. Easy access to Baker for day trips and Whistler for weekends in the winter so not quite the hellhole woo envisions.

No this is hellhole: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma


It's obviously far from that but what I said is genuinely how I felt when I turned down a job there a few years ago. I fucking hate seattle and it's either dealing with vancouver or seattle to get out of there in the winter (not counting heading towards the fraser valley direction). And me personally, I'd need a break from the humidity.

It's just a perspective. It's all gonna be better coming from manhattan.

 

[Da Peach]

As an outsider to this discussion, but recently having committed to living in North Vancouver for the long haul, I'd vouch for Bellingham.

I still say my best day on a bike happened in Bellingham. Of course it was a combination of factors...

A buddy of mine raves about Baker, and some of the bike riding to be had not far from there as well.

If you don't crave big city living, Bham sounds like a great option.

 

[Beef Supreme]

Good feedback, thanks monkeys!

I am slightly concerned with access to people, socializing - immersion! Im a bit of an independent soul, so I dont want to exacerbate that too much.

I did find I nice 2br house near WWU w/ Garage and nice stuff for less than I pay for my 550sf 1br in Manhattan....


Keep the feedback coming, Im not launching until April.

Since it turned into a Issaquah/Bellingham debate, I've spent time in both. Both are nice. Bellingham has more of a small town/college town feel while Issaquah feels more like a bedroom community. I'd take Bham personally.

 

[IH8Rice]

wait. youre moving now??

 

[Huck Banzai]

wait. youre moving now??

32d and counting down.....

AdventureTime! Decided that I'm doing N. Seattle at least for 1yr as this is motivated by moving near family. Crazy apartment/house hunt in progress.

Schedule should allow much evening shredding. Now to build that next bike. Hmmm......

 

[Electric_City]

I don't think the roads/runways will be clear in 32 days.