Might move to Seattle

[Mari333]

someone tell me about Pt Townsend...my son says it would be a good place for me and my husband to retire, since we are sick of Michigan and need to get out of here..
Not only was I almost run off the road yesterday, also had my car keyed today due to assholes not liking my bumper stickers..
tough shite for them, but Im sick of living in cowardly GOP country....

[flamingyouth]

1. I love Port Townsend

Smallish (I'd guess about 6,000 or so), lots of artists, some good restaurants and some amazing Victorian architecture. When I was a kid, we used to go up there all the time for a few days or a long weekend; I recall lots of hippie types, a very mellow atmosphere. I haven't been up there for a few years; my folks say it's gotten more touristy recently, but they still like it.

In the surrounding area, however, you will find some rednecks, for sure in the older logging areas. But I used to go up there to a remote cabin with friends of mine in high school, and no one ever bothered us because of our freaky hair and clothes or liberal bumper stickers.

[geniph]

2. Port Townsend's a wonderful place

and - bonus - the climate's a little less gray than Seattle. Property's not cheap, but again, not as bad as Seattle. There's some great people in PT, lots of liberals and artists and generally open-minded folks.

You might take a look at Friday Harbor (in the San Juan Islands) if you have the money and don't mind living on an island a couple hours (by ferry and car) from the city. I'd live in the San Juans in a heartbeat if I could. Port Townsend is also pretty isolated, out on the Quimper Peninsula, but that's partly what keeps it from becoming just another victim of suburban sprawl.

[never cry wolf]

3. Never been there, never heard of it...

...but I know google. Very nice website, looks like a cool town!!

http://www.ptguide.com/

on edit: AWESOME website, great photo tours.

[TopesJunkie]

4. PT is awesome.

The climate is incredible, as it's fairly close to the banana belt of the Puget Sound, which means far more sunny days than anyone ever imagined in the northwest. Oops. I'm not supposed to impart that information, am I?

[Catshrink]

5. It's a nice little town

I agree with what others have posted -- the Victorian architecture is way cool. It is a bit isolated, but I think the ferry between PT and Everett is running (I think they closed it down for a while). I always enjoyed visiting there.

I also enjoyed Port Angeles. It's big attraction is the entrance to Olympic national park right in town. A quick ride up the trail and you're at Hurricane Ridge, an awesome place.

My cousin lives on one of the islands in Puget Sound. I can't remember which one but she has a gorgeous house on the water.

Pt. Townsend has a number of B&B's you might want to visit. Not that you'd be living in one, but surely you'll visit the town before moving there.