Thinking of relocating to Washington state. lots of questions!

[Murphys 3]

I am not familiar with navigating forums so forgive in advance if I'm not posting correctly.
Wondering if the original poster ended up moving to WA after all?
I am a single mom with a son who is stationed there. However I've always always loved the state. My two younger boys and I want to move this July but I'm begging to get scared as I have not a clue exactly where is best for my children and I.
Requirements:
Affordable, house (I have boxers and a baby giant sulcata tortoise), not in the city but because I am single not too rural (want to have kids for mine to play with also), safe, good schools, west side.
From SoCal so I understand the meaning of expensive. I currently pay 2,300 in rent for a 4 bedroom pool home. Totally ok with downsizing but would love a large yard if possible.
Where do I start? Does anyone have specific cities they'd recommend?
Thank you!

[prosin]

Originally Posted by Murphys 3

Requirements:
Affordable, house (I have boxers and a baby giant sulcata tortoise), not in the city but because I am single not too rural (want to have kids for mine to play with also), safe, good schools, west side.

So I am safe in assuming you are looking to locate to the west side of the state? Did you want to locate close to where your son is stationed?

You have lots of options, all the way from Bellingham to Vancouver. It just depends on your preferences for weather, jobs, medical care, access to/types of activities, etc. Give us a little more information and we can give you better answers.

Off the top of my head, if you are not looking for Seattle/Tacoma metro, start with Olympia, Bellingham, Vancouver, and Bremerton/Silverdale for west of the Cascades. These are all smaller cities with nearby suburban areas.

[CrazyDonkey]

Yeah, where your son is stationed matters, whether Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, or elsewhere.

[Murphys 3]

Thank you for the responses.
Yes I want to be on the west side of the state. And you are also correct that I would like to avoid Seattle/Tacoma. My son is at Lewis-McChord. Sorry I forget about the naval base.
I currently manage a Bevmo. We have several there in the state so my choices are open somewhat with the exception of Bellevue unless I commute. Of course the issaquah/sammamish area is my favorite but not an "affordable" option unless I win the lottery in the next month.
I've not done research on the cities you've mentioned. Olympia was a consideration but I was told it was a very busy crowded city. ???
Not familiar with Bremerton or Bellingham at all.
Someone suggested Puyallup as its up and coming. But I've been there a few times and all I can remember is being stuck on one long crazy busy street that seemed to take an hour to get anywhere. Lol
I'm absolutely in love with the Sound. From the outside looking in, it seems there are so many lakes, rivers, beaches, mountains etc that the things to do/see list would be never ending for my boys and I.
Sorry I know I'm being kind of broad but I am coming in somewhat blind. I just don't want to end up somewhere unsafe, bad schools, etc as mentioned above.
Thank you for any and all help.

[Arushan]

Originally Posted by Murphys 3

Thank you for the responses.
Yes I want to be on the west side of the state. And you are also correct that I would like to avoid Seattle/Tacoma. My son is at Lewis-McChord. Sorry I forget about the naval base.
I currently manage a Bevmo. We have several there in the state so my choices are open somewhat with the exception of Bellevue unless I commute. Of course the issaquah/sammamish area is my favorite but not an "affordable" option unless I win the lottery in the next month.
I've not done research on the cities you've mentioned. Olympia was a consideration but I was told it was a very busy crowded city. ???
Not familiar with Bremerton or Bellingham at all.
Someone suggested Puyallup as its up and coming. But I've been there a few times and all I can remember is being stuck on one long crazy busy street that seemed to take an hour to get anywhere. Lol
I'm absolutely in love with the Sound. From the outside looking in, it seems there are so many lakes, rivers, beaches, mountains etc that the things to do/see list would be never ending for my boys and I.
Sorry I know I'm being kind of broad but I am coming in somewhat blind. I just don't want to end up somewhere unsafe, bad schools, etc as mentioned above.
Thank you for any and all help.

Bellingham could be a good option to start with. Good access to nature, great parks, some decent schools, tolerable traffic situation for the most part, and reasonable housing costs compared to where you're coming from. Don't know about the large yards though. Generally a calm but quirky college town.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

You work at Bevmo? Then check out the Kitsap Peninsula, there is a Bevmo in Silverdale. You could live there, or in Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Seabeck, Bremerton. It's all semi-suburban, but lots of trees, water and not the overbearing traffic of the Seattle area. But don't bring your tortoise here, it's just too damp and cold for a tortoise, he'll die.

[prosin]

It doesn't look like there is a BevMo in Olympia or nearby Lacey or Tumwater. However, I'm sure you can check with the "bosses" to find out if they plan to expand to those cities in the near future. Olympia/Tumwater/Lacey would be the closest to JBLM without being in the Tacoma metro area (just south of it).

The next best location to JBLM with a BevMo outside Seattle/Tacoma metro is Silverdale, just like thisplacesucks mentioned. Silverdale is affordable and safe, but suburban bland (IMO). Central Kitsap School District serves Silverdale and is highly rated for the area.

Vancouver and Bellingham are at least three-hour drives to JBLM, not accounting for traffic ().

[foreverjen]

Hi all! We are looking into visiting and possibly relocating to Washington! I have done some research and currently am in N. CA. I don't mind cooler weather at all and the rain. What areas are great for families, Arlington? Any others? Affordable as well?

[CrazyDonkey]

I recommend you start a separate thread, rather than tagging onto an older thread.