Moving to Whidbey Island

[maddog2020]

I am going to join the VQ world up in Whidbey. I am single and just seeing what people who have been there recommend living. I am thinking about buying after 6 mos-1 yr. Any recommendations on places to live would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Recovering LSO]

Buy a house in Anacortes. Don't wait, prices are on the way back up.

 

[TheBubba]

Second buying in Anacortes. Its about a 20-30 minute drive to NASWI (depending on where in Anacortes you live), and it is a very scenic drive. I'm currently renting in Anacortes and I like it better than Oak Harbor.

 

[Pugs]

And living in Anacortes gets you off the rock to mountains or Seattle a very painful 30 minutes faster than most places on NUW itself. Highly recommend it.

 

[TheBubba]

There is that... the only downside is a 20-30 minute drive if you need a wal-mart or something the like...

 

[PropStop]

I have a house near NUW and it was a great location. However, if I end up back there, I'm buying a house in Anacortes, that town freakin' rocks. The drive would never get old because, well, it's just beautiful - just never be in a hurry, get used to Island Driving.

Good luck on the move and in VQ. Whidbey absolutely rocks.

 

[Recovering LSO]

the only downside is a 20-30 minute drive if you need a wal-mart or something the like...

I moved here from Oak Harbor because there ISN'T a Wal-Mart. There isn't an Applebees or a Home Depot either. Its an awesome little town with its own character.

We have a town picture taken every year for crying out loud - yep, a big group-town picture! Move to Anacortes. I wish I had done it sooner than I did.

 

[TheBubba]

Paddles does bring up a good point... definitely has a nice small town feel to it. Despite the previous comment, I do like that. Kinda reminds me of the towns where I lived in Maine and NH. And honestly, I'd rather raise a kid in Anacortes than O.H.

 

[PropStop]

I know teachers in both towns...you'd MUCH rather raise a kid in Anacortes. That being said, my grandfather grew up there and didn't have much nice to say about it - but that was a far different time.

 

[A4sForever]

...you'd MUCH rather raise a kid in Anacortes....

Both towns have a BIG TIME high-school/jr. high-school drug problem. Oak Harbor has more nascent gang activity, especially because of 'Filipino gangs'. Anacortes has more PNW 'traditional' druggies/hippies. Name your poison ...

Overall:

Anacortes is a great little burg today -- for adults. That's at least as far as the downtown core is concerned -- downtown has tried to reclaim some of it's lost 'home-i-ness' and community sense of purpose -- 35+ years ago 'Cortes-town (that's what the locals called it) sucked, big, big time.

(J)Oak Harbor used to suck big time -- and it still does. It's nice to know some things don't change ...

You have to watch out for your kids anywhere, everywhere these days ... glad mine are grown & operating on their own time.

 

[maddog2020]

Thanks for the input everyone...it all matches up to what Ive heard from the VQ instructors at VP30.

 

[Angels]

Oak Harbor and Anacortes have both been mentioned, what about Coupeville? Does anyone reccomend it?


*Edit* Nevermind! The house said pet friendly but I just called and it's not. Cats only, no dogs. They should just bleeping say that instead of pet friendly then. :icon_rage