Unschooling Homestead Commune Locale - NW

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

Something to Consider

We need to make sure we research the homeschooling laws in any state we are considering establishing the commune. Some states are much more flexible and supportive than others.