Moving to PAC NW- Advice, Tips, places to check out?

[Biciclista]

Hi Ikken
Welcome! (when will you actually be here?)
The good news is we get less snow, and probably less rain than you get where you are now. The bad news is you might lament that it never gets warm "enough".

LaConner is one of my favorite little towns, and there is lots of great riding around there.

I can't say much about skiing, I know nothing; but we do have lots of great farm cooperatives so you can get amazing veggies in the summer; and we're close enough to California to get good stuff from down there all year long.

Elliott Bay Books is my favorite bookstore too, but as I recall, there are nice book stores in LaConner as well.

[badger]

I've never been to La Conor, but my friend goes there almost annually for the tulips in spring.

I live in Vancouver, one thing I will say is: be prepared for lots of rain!! Commuting in the rain in the dark isn't all that fun, but the summers generally tend to be gorgeous.

Mt. Baker's nearby so you'll be set for skiing. They have one of the cheapest lift tickets around, if you can manage to go there mid-week. Whistler's a bit farther, and Montana's probably about equal time away (factoring in the border, sometimes less, I think!).

And speaking of borders, it's a mess right now with construction. I remember during Easter weekend, the wait was 6 hours long!?!?

Oh, and there's also an outlet mall about an hour away from you

[Eden]

And speaking of borders, it's a mess right now with construction. I remember during Easter weekend, the wait was 6 hours long!?!?

not only that... but the new ID requirements were causing major hassles at the border for a while too (and at the passport office...) There are some smaller crossings like at Sumas that I've heard can be quicker sometimes. (There's a terrific little hotel up in Sumas too call of all strange things Bob's Burgers.... its attached to a restaurant.)

[Eden]

Lots of great riding around there! Whidby Island is beautiful and the Olympic peninsula is pretty easily accessible with a ferry to Port Townsend. There's nice cycling, hiking and skiing over there.

One thing about back country skiing out here..... you do have to be prepared to research your areas carefully - many places high enough to snow out here are also high and rugged enough to have avalanche danger...., so you either have to avoid dangerous areas or know how to stay safe (how to use an avalanche beacon, etc). As far as resort skiing goes you'll be pretty close to both Mt. Baker and Stevens Pass. Stevens has groomed cross country trails. I'm not sure about Baker. REI is a great resource for books and maps.

[roadie gal]

There used to be a place in Bellingham (don't know if it's still around) called the Colophon Cafe - a bookstore with a cafe. It's a great place... if it's still there. I was last there about 10 years ago.

[Grog]

There used to be a place in Bellingham (don't know if it's still around) called the Colophon Cafe - a bookstore with a cafe. It's a great place... if it's still there. I was last there about 10 years ago.

It sure is!
http://www.colophoncafe.com/
I'll stop there next time I'm on my way down.

[malkin]

Elliot Bay Books rocks!