LOL..when I wrote this it didn't look right and I googled it and it came up the wrong spelling.
'Coure de Lane in Idaho'..correct spelling 'Coeur d'Alene ID'

I think it depends a lot on your family interests.
If you are into the environmental & organic movement and love the outdoors Portland Oregon would be a great choice.
I couldn't live for any long period of time in Idaho or Montana with the idea of settling into the community because my views would be so much different.

"I couldn't live for any long period of time in Idaho or Montana with the idea of settling into the community because my views would be so much different."

Just curious, what do you mean by this? The towns mentioned in Idaho and MT are all fairly different from one another so I'm curious what you mean.

La Jolla is considered one of the most conservative towns in Southern California.
Your screaming liberalism is a minority in LJ.
You should be up in the Bay area.

Hope this answers your question kureiff.
Montana and Idaho are for the most part conservative.

I agree that MT and ID are for the most part conservative, but to lump Missoula into the conservative category is funny. It's certainly anything but conservative.

'Montana and Idaho are for the most part conservative'

Where did I mention Missoula?

Missoula is in MT.

I feel like I'm missing something.

I was wondering what Nanabee meant by her views being so different than those in Idaho or Montana. I wasn't sure if she meant politically or not.

You mentioned political views and stated that Montana and Idaho are for the most part conservative.

I agreed that both states, overall, are on the conservative side politically. But the towns mentioned in this post within those states are not necessarily conservative at all. I used Missoula, as an example, of a town that is especially not conservative.

My main reason for Ashland over Bend in the summer is the presence of OSF and the Britt festival, coupled with the request for dining/farmer's markets.
You've got hiking, rafting, biking in both places.
http://www.osfashland.org/

My husband and I are planning to "move" to a "cool mountain town out west"...

Just my opinion, but Bend and/or Ashland hardly qualify as "cool" in the summer. The heat in the Rogue Valley in the summer can melt your bleedin' tires, and Bend is pretty dry semi-desert with some trees here and there and mountains in the distance.

>>

I think you just described Park City to a "tee"--great walkable downtown, lots of summer festivals and free concerts, etc. As for hiking---we spend a week almost every summer nearby at Snowbird, in Little Cottonwood canyon. The hiking there is fantastic! We are serious hikers, and prefer the strenuous ones. The hikes at Alta, Snowbird, and over the mountain to Brighton all previde a challenge and lots of great scenery. And the wildflowers in Albion Basin and Little Cloud the last week of July are the most gorgeous I have seen anywhere.

This is an easy drive from Park City. We've spent some time there too, and I love the cycling---lots of bike paths and challenging trails if you like mountain biking.

Gardyloo is spot on about Bend and Ashland. Hot, hot, hot in the summer.

In Colorado, I recommend:
Telluride
Crested Butte
Steamboat Springs
Aspen

Not Summit County-- too much sprawl to feel like it's a 'mountain town'.

First off, Summit Cty is not a town. Sprawl is everywhere except -- maybe -- Crested Butte. Personally would fit your requirements pretty well. It has restaurants, walkable town, free public bus connecting other areas, summer lake activities, lots of festivals, and the hub of the Summit Cty bike trails. You could ride your bike to Vail on a paved bike path. Lots of hiking opportunities. A lots of interesting sites -- Georgetown, Leadville, Glenwood Springs and canyon, within a couple of hour drive. And the price would be much better than some of the other areas that have been suggested.

Ha ha. I thought the OP meant "cool", as in culturally, not cool as in
temperature.

fmpden, did you mean you could ride your bike from Crested Butte to Vail? It's 188 miles.

fmpden meant from places in Summit County to Vail, I assume. Not Crested Butte to Vail by bike (unless you're a serious biker).

I'm just not a fan of Summit County. (Clearly a "county" is not a "town".)

It depends on what the OP prefers. Do you want a more unique, historic, stand-alone town experience (as are the ones I suggested, more or less)? Or do you want lots of entertainment options, and activities, like Summit would have? Breckenridge could be a compromise between those two ideas, actually.

I think either Frisco or Breckenridge - both towns in Summit County - would be great. Another option is to go just south of Breckenridge, over Hoosier Pass into the Fairplay area. That puts you close enough to Breck for some shopping and dinner out - but it is less populated. The Colorado trail crosses through this area and there is lots of hiking. The towns offer summer music, little theater, farmers markets, festivals - lots to choose from. It is centrally located for day trips - into Denver, over to Leadville, up to Rocky Mountain National Park or Grand Lake. We have a summer home in that area and never run out of things to do.

I have to put in my vote for Red Lodge, Montana! It is much smaller than most of the towns recommended above but has a great vibe with the nearly-empty Beartooth Mountains looming above town. Tons of hiking and backpacking. 70 miles to Yellowstone Park. A brewery with great craft beers, lots of good restaurants, nice people and probably much cheaper than most places mentioned. Then again, I live here so am a bit biased.

I say a vote for Portland,Or. You have mountains, rivers, beaches not far, plus a great downtown to walk around in. They have a great weekend market to visit. Tons to do.

I just wanted to add that the Portland area sounds like it has everything you wanted for your trip! Have fun!

How is Portland(2,000,000 people) by any stretch a
cool mountain town?