Expert: Adrienne Devecka - 4/7/2004

Question
Hi!
Presently live in Anchorage, AK, winters are getting long.  I have a job offer in the Dalles with a transportation/tourism company.
Just wondering about life in the Dalles?  Looks inexpensive, my job pays well, heard area is economically depressed.  It looks like a good location, central to many places.
Any insights?

Answer
Hi George from Alaska!,
(Gee and I've always wanted to live up there!)
The Dalles is a cool little town.Economically depressed from lumber industry but still viable from fruit growers and windsurfers on the mighty Columbia....lots of old funky houses,georgeous placement w/Mt.Hood looming in the back drop,Columbia at your feet.
It has hot summers,(east winds funneling out of desert Oregon down the Gorge),and very cold winters.Good eating, friendly folks,more of a college town feeling in summer when the windsurfers are around.
Hop and skip to Mt.Hood and national forests,tons of back roads to discover,site of major Lewis and Clark stop.... and all pioneers.It was in the Dalles that the long boat trips would originate for a river trip as an overland trip not originally thought feasible.So..tons of history.

All in all a delightful town,more so as you're used to nasty winters.
Please do Google search for Chamber of Commerce etc. about real estate prices etc.I do think many bargains to be found.
Good place to raise kids,fish,hunt,boat,camp...and close enough to Portland when you need a break and the Big city.
Also has decent hospitals,good trauma care,many younger professionals have moved there to revitilize town from the severe lumber blow of the early 90's...

Good luck....you'll enjoy it....
Hope this helped abit.And learn to windsurf!!!!!!
Adrienne