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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
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    1,384

    Best Small City for Skiing/biking/getting outside

    Been living in Seattle for 4 years now and while it's a great city for access to the outdoors, but kind of getting sick of the crowds, traffic, and cost of living. So I'm looking for the next move. Ideally a city with 100k-500k people with easy access to outdoors. I figure this size of city is big enough to have a career but small enough to have good access. Priorities are skiing and mountain biking with backpacking, fishing, and boating also being important. Being from the northwest, the cities I've looked at are Spokane, Bozeman, and Bend. Anyone live or have any knowledge on these places? Also I'm sure there are places in Colorado, Utah, and parts of California that would be great.

    Edit: Also tired of it raining at the ski resorts every week
    Last edited by brundo; 02-04-2019 at 11:45 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Evergreen, CO
    Posts
    371
    Best topic ever!!!... seriously, try the search function.

    Sick of crowds, yet you want a city of 100k to 500k people. It doesn't compute.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    SW CO
    Posts
    5,588
    Yes, please let us know when you find this promised land that is close to the mountains with minimal traffic, low cost of living, and plenty of career opportunities.
    "Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers

    photos

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    No longer Alexandria, VA
    Posts
    2,648
    Colorado Springs is your answer

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    HR
    Posts
    429
    Quote Originally Posted by brundo View Post
    So I'm looking for the next move. Ideally a city with 100k-500k people with easy access to outdoors. I figure this size of city is big enough to have a career but small enough to have good access.
    Do the reverse, it opens up a lot of options. Live next to all the outdoor activities you love with easy access to a city. A national scenic area can provide a great buffer.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    1,384
    Quote Originally Posted by GeoMatt View Post
    Best topic ever!!!... seriously, try the search function.

    Sick of crowds, yet you want a city of 100k to 500k people. It doesn't compute.
    There's a difference between crowds from a 500k area and the 3.5 million that are in the Seattle area.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    SE USA
    Posts
    3,421
    Quote Originally Posted by GeoMatt View Post
    try the search function.
    What would be the fun in that?
    "Can't you see..."

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    panhandle locdog
    Posts
    7,836
    Wenatchee. I have a great house for sale if you're interested.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    1,384
    Quote Originally Posted by thefortrees View Post
    Colorado Springs is your answer
    Don't they get the Denver crowds though?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Gaperville, CO
    Posts
    5,845
    Quote Originally Posted by brundo View Post
    Don't they get the Denver crowds though?
    No one from Denver goes to Colorado Springs.

    And i'm pretty sure that suggestion was in jest. That is...if you want lift served skiing without crowds.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Before
    Posts
    27,918
    Corvallis, Eugene, Richland/Kennewick/Pasco, Spokane, Missoula, Butte, Bozeman, Livingston, Ogden, Boise, Santa Fe, Durango, Grand Junction.
    Merde De Glace On the Freak When Ski
    >>>200 cm Black Bamboo Sidewalled DPS Lotus 120 : Best Skis Ever <<<

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    27,311
    Have you considered Bellingham?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Sikskiyou's
    Posts
    1,549
    I heard Bend was full, but it ticks most of the boxes for ya. What kind of boating? There's good whitewater nearby and the mountain biking is pretty darn good, especially if you like to pedal.

    Perhaps Boise?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    the gach
    Posts
    5,661
    Clearly anchorage is the answer. More than 150k people but there’s no traffic and recreation is never further than 20 minutes away.
    But Ellen kicks ass - if she had a beard it would be much more haggard. -Jer

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Your Mom's House
    Posts
    8,302
    Quote Originally Posted by brundo View Post
    Don't they get the Denver crowds though?
    Nah, just Jesus

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    1,384
    Quote Originally Posted by Chugachjed View Post
    Clearly anchorage is the answer. More than 150k people but there’s no traffic and recreation is never further than 20 minutes away.
    But I can't imagine the darkness there in the winter

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    West By God Wyoming
    Posts
    671
    Search Function City is your answer. Now delete this thread and KYS jong.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    SLC
    Posts
    5,846
    I wonder if OP has considered the thriving skiers paradise of Killington, VT

  19. #19
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    inpdx
    Posts
    20,200
    Quote Originally Posted by brundo View Post
    Edit: Also tired of it raining at the ski resorts every week
    go high or north

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Missoula DMV
    Posts
    1,527
    ...or go WAY far South.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    the gach
    Posts
    5,661

    Best Small City for Skiing/biking/getting outside

    Quote Originally Posted by brundo View Post
    But I can't imagine the darkness there in the winter
    I don’t even notice it. Not that much different than Seattle. Come up in March for a week. It’s cheap from Seattle.
    But Ellen kicks ass - if she had a beard it would be much more haggard. -Jer

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
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    1,384
    Quote Originally Posted by Chugachjed View Post
    I don’t even notice it. Not that much different than Seattle. Come up in March for a week. It’s cheap from Seattle.
    Might have to do that. I did notice it was a cheap flight from Seattle. What resorts are up there?

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Behind the Potato Curtain
    Posts
    4,042
    Idaho Falls if ya don’t mind lack of culture/Mormons.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    the ham
    Posts
    13,371
    Quote Originally Posted by The AD View Post
    Have you considered Bellingham?
    Quote Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier View Post
    The ham: always raining, expensive, full of marginally employed rad bros.
    ​​​​​​​​

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    LV-426
    Posts
    21,126
    Has anyone ever relocated to one of the suggested places as a result of one of these threads?

    OP - Outside magazine and the like publish a "best places to live" issue every year. Maybe find a couple at the local library and see if that helps narrow the search?
    Quote Originally Posted by powder11 View Post
    if you have to resort to taking advice from the nitwits on this forum, then you're doomed.

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