Port Angeles/Sequim?

[ihugtrees]

I have a job possibility there, and I was just wondering if there are any other crunchy families in the area? Anyone have any info on what the community is like? Are there walkable areas or is it all pretty rural? What kinds of things are there to do with kids?

[griffin2004]

I don't think PA is all that crunchy, but Port Townsend is Crunch Capital.

How lucky for you! I'd love to live on the northern edge of the peninsula.

[Pogonia]

Port Angeles has a year-round Farmer's Market, which is good. http://www.kaleberg.com/portangeles/market/index.html

And you can get raw milk and fresh pastries here: http://www.blogger.com/profile/18418052566494068750

When I lived in Port Angeles, I often spent my lunch hour downtown in this store:
http://www.countryairemarket.com/ret...62AD9DDF6DA13A

And then, not far from Sequim, is Sunny Farms. http://sunnyfarms.com/

Side note: Many times I went to Port Townsend to spend a day 'touristing'. But it's often windy and I find much more to do around Port Angeles enjoying many ocean and mountain hikes. (I now live in Silverdale--near Bremerton--but one of my favorite restaurants, Finn's, is in Port Townsend. http://www.finscoastalcuisine.com/

oh, and when I became a single parent I moved back to Port Angeles because there are so many outdoors activities that don't cost anything. Or didn't. I'm not sure now what it costs to get into the Olympic National Park for some things. But the waterfront trail is beautiful and goes on for a long ways.

[ihugtrees]

Originally Posted by Pogonia

Port Angeles has a year-round Farmer's Market, which is good. http://www.kaleberg.com/portangeles/market/index.html

And you can get raw milk and fresh pastries here: http://www.blogger.com/profile/18418052566494068750

When I lived in Port Angeles, I often spent my lunch hour downtown in this store:
http://www.countryairemarket.com/ret...62AD9DDF6DA13A

And then, not far from Sequim, is Sunny Farms. http://sunnyfarms.com/

Side note: Many times I went to Port Townsend to spend a day 'touristing'. But it's often windy and I find much more to do around Port Angeles enjoying many ocean and mountain hikes. (I now live in Silverdale--near Bremerton--but one of my favorite restaurants, Finn's, is in Port Townsend. http://www.finscoastalcuisine.com/

oh, and when I became a single parent I moved back to Port Angeles because there are so many outdoors activities that don't cost anything. Or didn't. I'm not sure now what it costs to get into the Olympic National Park for some things. But the waterfront trail is beautiful and goes on for a long ways.

Does it rain less there than in Seattle, or is the weather similar?

[griffin2004]

I don't know about PA, but Sequim is in a rain shadow

[Pogonia]

When I was growing up in PA, there was usually a fine drizzle nearly every day in the winter. The drizzles are gone and it's usually a normal rain. Probably compares to Seattle in rain, but the temp may be a few degrees cooler than Seattle.

Yeah, Sequim is in the rainshadow. In fact, until they brought in irrigation, there used to be cacti there. And Garry oaks. But as with everywhere, weather is not as it used to be...even in Sequim.

Whereas PA has the mountains and the ocean, Sequim has beautiful pastoral scenes. And it's a short, short drive to the beach.

(I've lived in Idaho, New Mexico and southern California, but I LOVE this area best...can you tell? )

[jenger]

I think living on the Peninsula is great!  There are all sorts of things to do with kids, especially if you are outdoor oriented.

All three towns (PA, PT and Sequim) have redeemable qualities, but I wouldn't choose Sequim first, because the population is older.  And more conservative.

There ARE "crunchy" people in PA, I know a bunch of 'em!  PA is more working class than the other towns. 

PT has a great coop, wonderful organic farms, lots of family activities... but the cost of living is a bit higher, and jobs might be a little harder to come by.

As far as weather, Sequim is the driest, in the rain-shadow (about 13 inches annually), but PT is also in the rain-shadow (17 inches a year).

Good Luck!

[ihugtrees]

Well, I'm moving! I should be there permanently in the first weekend in December :) 

[iggaboo]

Hi! I just moved here (PA) too, a week and a half ago! I grew up in the area but have been in Tucson for the last 10 or so years.. I have a 9 yo ds and a 1 yo dd.

Perhaps we could meet up when you get here

[mamamirranda]

Hello,

I am a single mom who is trying to figure out how to move to PA.  It cannot happen in the near, near future, but I am wondering if their are any alternative schools or school recommendations.  By the time we move, I think my son will be almost six as I still have to finish my Masters here in Oregon.  I come from Eugene and there is a wide variation of options for his education that are not mainstream public schools and I want to know if he would have a good place to be in PA as well.  Any suggestions would be fantastic. 

Thanks,

Mirranda