Which is the best medium-sized or small city in Washington state? The criteria is clean, safe, scenery, parks, lakes, trails, and amenities. Thanks in advance.

Bellingham, Olympia, and Edmonds (which is more like a suburb of Seattle).

I am not an experienced traveller to WA, but I did love Bellingham when I stayed there two years ago.

And I want to move to Friday Harbor....lots of choices in a beautiful state.

How about Wenatchee, Walla Walla, Yakima, Kennewick, Pullman, and Spokane suburbs?

Anyone else have any recommendations?

zimbo-
The towns you mentioned are in central and eastern washington. They are on the east side of the Cascade mountains. The most populated area in the state is on the west side of the mountains: Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, the San Juan Islands, Olympic peninsula and suburbs galore.

Central and Eastern Washington has a completely different climate than Western Washington (much warmer summers and colder winters). It's more arid country, lots of agriculture, not as scenic (IMHO). The cost of living is much less than on the west coast.

The west coast is wetter, greener, more populated, more expensive, but has all the amenities of a large metropolitan area.

For scenery, parks, lakes, trails and amenities I'd go with Western WA.

Perhaps we could suggest more towns if we knew what "amenities" are most important to you and what kind of housing you want to purchase.

Zimbo,

I think the nicest towns in eastern Washington for scenery, parks, lakes and trails would be Chelan or Winthrop. Are you retiring or looking for a vacation spot?

Just for info...2006 median home price in King County (Seattle and environs)is 344,950; in Pierce County (Tacoma)it is 250,700; in Thurston County (Olympia) it is 249,000; in Island County (San Juan's) it is 525,000. On the other side of the mountains, Grant County (Moses Lake) comes in at 131,000. No info for Snohomish County (Edmonds). Sourec: Tacoma News Tribune.

For western Washington, I think the nicest "small town" areas are the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, and Port Townsend. Sequim has great weather (really!) and lovely views of the Olympic mountains, but uncontrolled growth has created a strip-mall nightmare in town.

How about some of the neighborhoods in Seattle? Wallingford, Ravenna, Magnolia, Ballard, etc. have what you seek.

"[Eastern Washington] is not as scenic..." Truly that is a personal opinion!

I find Eastern Washington has spectacular scenery and the drive into and through Wanatchee the first time I was there took my breath away.

issy is correct, tho, in saying that Eastern Washington is more country. It is certainly more outdoorsy, more nature-oriented. If you want all the excitement of urban life, then Western Washington is for you.

Clean, safe, scenery, parks, lakes, trails, college, fine dining to casual lifestyle, try happytrails suggestions... I love Olympia.