Summary of the NW roadtrip...
WASHINGTON
Nixed Twisp/Omak/Okanogan - too small, dumpy, white-trashy.
Winthrop would be fun with the cute Western theme, located right at the eastern mouth of the North Cascades, but it seems expensive and there's not a decent sized ski resort or hospital nearby.
Lake Chelan - decent size hospital, nice enough town in terms of appearance, huge 50-mile lake for recreating, only a 2-tow-rope ski hill, expensive lake-side properties but reasonably priced in the hills.
Wenatchee - didn't get to see the town, but heard there's a big hospital and a decent sized ski resort with relatively inexpensive season passes, and presumably decent mountainbiking, on a wide river good for recreating, don't know about property prices, kind of in the middle of nowhere (long drive to Seattle or Portland).
Bellingham - also didn't get to see this place but it was recommended by two people after they heard our plan - college town, close to the border (aka skiing at Whistler) and the coast (aka beach and SJIslands) and the North Cascades (aka hiking, camping, etc)
OREGON - no income tax and the most lenient homeschooling regulations in the country!
Hood River Valley- (my top pick!) - 1/2way between Hood River and Mt Hood - 20 miles from the Columbia River Gorge, 20 miles from all the camping/backpacking/hiking/skiing/mountainbiking around Mt Hood, access to all the awesome waterfall hikes along the Gorge, and 1 hour from Portland; awesome outdoorsy atmosphere, huge properties with endless orchards, nice newly renovated hospital, very few chain stores, etc. Mt Hood ski pass $499.
Bend - Not that impressed - too much sprawl, not enough character, and in the middle of nowhere (3hrs from Portland!) - plenty of recreation options, however, on Mt Bachelor and the lakes
Sisters - strict housing laws (only one per property), but a cute western-style downtown, access to two ski resorts, less commercialized than Bend
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