Eastern Washington versus Western Washington

Washington State is commonly divided into east and west with the mighty Cascade range the defacto line of separation. The state is divided a bit politically as well as climatically along this geographic 'border'. Things do tend to be a bit more conservative on the right side of the Cascades and lean a bit more liberal on the left side.

The climate is a bit differing factor. Where the east side enjoys more sunshine and significantly less rainfall, it also has a much more severe extreme in both the winter and summer months. It get genuinely cold on the east side in the winter. Not quite as bad as say North Dakota, but close you know, like South Dakota ;) Sub zero temps are no stranger to cities like Ellensburg, Pullman, and the inland capital, Spokane. There will also be substantially more snowfall on the eastern side at lower elevations all the way down to sea level. (well 400 feet at least). The eastern two thirds of Washington State is a trade off for hot weather int he summer and cold weather in the winter versus a much more mild range on the west side. The west side will bring rain and some rain, and then after that a bit more rain. But wintertime temps are not likely to stay below freezing for more a than few days at a time and it is very rare to see temps in the single digits and rarer still for sub-zero. Snowfall below 1500 feet tends to be infrequent and short lived, usually. Summers are gloriously mild with dry warm weather that rarely gets hot.

8 out of the 10 largest Washington cities are on the west side. Spokane the lone "big city" east of the cascades is however the 2nd largest city in the state (for now, Vancouver, WA is likely to eclipse it soon). Spokane Valley ranks 10th. Urban dwellers will be a bit disappointed in the eastern 2/3 of the state.

Washington offers a little bit of everything and the whole state remains free of income tax which is the bane of retirees across the land.

Fisherman's Paradise

The Pacific Northwest has a wonderful bounty in natural resources. Our fishing is world class. here on the west side of the Cascades there seems to be a river, stream or lake withing walking distance of any random point on a map.

This is a report on spring Chinook in the Columbia from the State of Washington.

Plenty of good reasons to renewfishing and hunting licenses soonSpring chinook salmon are moving into the lower Columbia River, several eastside lakes open for trout fishing March 1, and razor-clam digs are scheduled this month - including the first dig of the season on morning tides.These fisheries are just the first of many set to open in the weeks ahead, and the year’s first hunting seasons aren’t far behind. A spring wild turkey season for hunters under age 16 is scheduled April 5-6 prior to the start of the general spring turkey hunt April 15.With a new season of outdoor adventures about to begin, Washingtonians might want to consider purchasing 2014-15 fishing and hunting licenses before current licenses expire at midnight March 31.“We encourage people to renew their fishing and hunting licenses early, so they can take advantage of all the great recreational opportunities available throughout the year,” said Bill Joplin, licensing manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “There’s no advantage in waiting and letting those opportunities slip by.”The cost of fishing and hunting licenses remains the same as last year. All fees included, a resident adult freshwater fishing license is $29.50; saltwater is $30.05; shellfish/seaweed is $16.30; and a combination license is $54.25. Resident hunting licenses vary with package options, ranging from a small-game license at $40.50 to a deer/elk/cougar/bear combination license for $95.50.Most annual licenses include a WDFW vehicle-access pass, which gives the bearer access to more than 700 WDFW water access sites throughout the state. Or, for $35, individuals can purchase an annual Discover Pass, which also provides vehicle access to state parks and other state lands.Fishing licenses, hunting licenses and the Discover Pass are all available online (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/), by phone (1-866-246-9453) and from license dealers around the state.

This is just another great reason to call Washington State your home to retire.

Golfing in Southwest Washinton

Here in the Portland Metro Area we have a variety of golfing opportunities. From a casual 9 hole experience right up to a professional 18 holes; you will not have to drive far to enjoy a sporting favorite among the retired crowd.

There are roughly 75 public golf courses within 30 miles of Vancouver, WA. Seventy Five! 30 miles too far to drive? Yeah,me too; narrow the reach to just 10 miles and you still have an astounding 17 choices. With this kind of selection any player at any level can find multiple places to play.

Personally I am a pretty weak player. I have played at King City as well as Glendoveer and Heron Lakes in Portland; Camas Meadows and Green Mountain in Camas; Fairway Village, Green Meadows, Lake View, Pine Crest, and Hartwood in Vancouver; Tri Mountain in Ridgefield, Lewis River in Woodland and The Cedars in Battle Ground.

These courses are a real mixed bag from easy and kid friendly to links that are challenging enough for Tiger Woods. I have not even begun to tickle the surface of great golf opportunities in Southwest Washington and our nearby neighbor Portland, OR.

Check out more information on local golf on my golf page here.

When choosing to retire in Washington State you can keep more of your income with our highly rated, retiree friendly tax system. Then you can spend extra cash on the latest high tech golf gear and the finest links. It is 'tee' time in Washington State, come enjoy the Evergreen state and keep more of your pension in your pocket!

Welcome!

I would like to welcome you to the Retire to Washington State blog. I intend to provide great information about retiring to Washington State. Find out why Washington is so highly rated among national organizations that rate places to retire.

The Evergreen State offer retired residents a low property taxes, no state income tax and favorable laws for seniors. This Blog focuses mostly on Southwest Washington with its marque city, Vancouver. Southwest Washington offers close proximity to both Portland, OR and Seattle. The Southern Washington Coast is also part of this majestic portion of America's 42nd state.

There is so much opportunity for retirees in this part of the country. We have one of the most affordable coastal living areas in the US. Wonderful outdoor activities and two major US cities to provide any and all of that urban excitement you desire.

Stayed tuned to this blog and discover why Washington State is such a great place to retire.