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Top 10 Dream Towns
Sunset: August 2008

8-1-sunset1.jpgThis month's issue of Sunset features their "top 10 dream towns" -- whether for a vacation, or a more permanent move. How appropriate since we've just kicked off our August theme of Getaways. Their list includes six towns in our territory...

 
 

8-1-sunset2.jpg• Eastsound, Washington (Orcas Island)
• Bozeman, Montana
• Homer, Alaska
• Sandpoint, Idaho
• Sisters, Oregon
• Truckee, California

And four that are not:

• San Luis Obispo, California
• Crested Butte, Colorado
• Ojai, California
• Prescott, Arizona

We wonder: Would any of these towns make your list?

Click here for the article.

Images: Thomas J. Story (Eastsound), Chris Leschinsky (San Luis Obispo)

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Comments (17)

Ask me later. I'm grumpy because I just used up a lot of my vacation being sick. Not getting away anywhere for a very long time.

posted by whytephoenix on August 1st 2008 at 1:12pm
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I spent my summers at YMCA Camp Orkila, right around the corner from Eastsound on Orcas Island. The best times of my childhood! It's still gorgeous.

posted by mschwartz on August 1st 2008 at 1:59pm
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Another survey of the same name on MSNBC was done, and Montana got three of the top ten spots. As a very biased MT resident, I whole heartedly agree. I wouldn't trade living here for anything.

posted by stellato on August 1st 2008 at 2:35pm
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Nantucket, Mass ~ the only town on my list

posted by pegling on August 1st 2008 at 10:09pm
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uuuhhh.... i LOVE crested butte. love it. love it. love it. that'd be on my list.

posted by LAgal on August 2nd 2008 at 6:33am
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San Luis, Ojai and Prescott. Been there, loved 'em. Especially San Luis and the entire surrounding area.

posted by oceandreamer56 on August 2nd 2008 at 7:47am
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I fell in love with Sandpoint, Idaho when I read "The Best Seats in the House" by Keith Lee Morris (an awesome collection of short stories! read it!). I swore after reading the book that I would visit some day, which I have yet to do. Never underestimate the power of literature-induced wanderlust.

posted by skydawny on August 2nd 2008 at 10:54am
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My friend just returned from Montana. Her daughter is determined to go to college there in 10 years. I'm sorry to say I haven't been-yet.

posted by greer on August 2nd 2008 at 7:22pm
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Sandpoint would be even better if it was in MT or WA (ID is still good ol' boy country politically if you get my drift, even compared to rural WA or MT). But Sandpoint is in a banana belt compared to Montana and quite scenic if you can tolerate the likes of Bill Sali. Bozeman winters could be challenging.

Homer is beautiful, but it's a day's drive from Anchorage, and Anchorage is a long flight from Seattle, and that just gets you started on your visit Outside to wherever. Pretty mild winters there though, considering. Try Anchor Point just a bit north for something more affordable, if less earthy-crunchy.

Haven't been there, but Eastsound sounds nice but you have that whole isolation thing like you do with Homer. I'm older and closeness to docs is becoming a factor for the next place I live.

San Luis Obispo is on our list, but it's expensive (likely due to the growth laws). There are a few nearby towns that sound almost as nice though (ain't telling, lol).

Crested Butte sounds awfully expensive too and driving through there last November before the real snow fell was ... interesting.

Bend is a fun place to visit but a bit too much of a tourist place in some respects. Truckee too. Maybe Sisters is better?

Just met some folks from Prescott who loved it. Not as hot as PHX but not as high in elevation as Flag, so the winters are milder. Flagstaff is a pretty neat college town all in all.

Taos is a bit too high (cold) for us but we have friends who just moved near there and love it. I wonder where Salem/Eugene, Santa Fe, and San Diego County (Alpine, Ramona, etc.) came out on their list.

posted by Poster on August 3rd 2008 at 5:29pm
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Ojai. Drove through there once and had lunch, and that was enough to make me want to move there forever.

posted by Susmita on August 4th 2008 at 3:26am
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I live a few miles from Ojai and it's like you're in a different area when you go. I've always thought why do I need a vacation when I live in vacationland? But I just went to Park City to rent to my new tenants and it was good to see something completely different. I had breakfast at Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley and you'd think you'd left the country.

posted by kaanswfm on August 6th 2008 at 4:57pm
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It snows in too many of their favorites for them to be in my favorites.

posted by MoJonson on August 7th 2008 at 12:07pm
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I am originally from Idaho and I wouldn't put Sandpoint on my all-time list of places to live in Idaho. Sandpoint has started to become a small version of Sun Valley (including the sunbirds who can afford to leave during the winter months). If I were to recommend a place to move to in Idaho, it would definitely be Boise. It is a big/little city that prides itself on community and small businesses. I would love to move back there. Most of all I miss their amazing farmer's market!

posted by gatoreater3 on August 10th 2008 at 8:54am
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Sag Harbor in Sept.. crowds gone great town , but I'm partial I live here!

posted by parrishnut on December 29th 2008 at 8:16pm
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I live in PHX, its a pit. I hate it with a passion. Interesting that anywhere in AZ made the list. Haven't been to Prescott in a long time, so I can't comment...but I have a love affair with the PNW, so its no surprise OR and WA each had a town. I am from upstate NY., my gp's retired to Cape Cod....I would love to go back but not sure about living there.

Did I mention I hate Phx?

posted by lowonthe456 on December 30th 2008 at 12:16am
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Was this article written by people who have never lived in small towns? Uggh..

I grew up in a tiny town and will never set foot in one again. Give me Chicago, San Fran, Vienna, or London and day over these places.

I have to admit that Crested Butte is gorgeous, though.

posted by Jason on December 30th 2008 at 11:09am
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Jason, that was my thought exactly. Have these people lost their minds? What on earth do you DO in these towns and please don't tell me watch the sunset. I watched the sun set over Lake Michigan in the small town I grew up in enough to last me a lifetime and now I enjoy the excitement of Chicago living. Eva Gabor I am not.

posted by Roelofs on January 2nd 2009 at 9:51pm
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