Salem Recreation? (Portland, Culver: house, buyers, live)

[5gables]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

Why does not having a Whole Foods say a lot? Roth's has a lot of organic food/produce. Between Roth's, Trader Joes, and LifeSource I have never not been able to get what I need. Support a national chain or two local businesses? Seems like a no brainer to me.

Just meant if you want the latest and greatest (Apple store for example) then you'll probably need to go to Portland. Love Roths, but maybe we'll get a Whole Foods after a few years of spending data by the residents of the new upscale apartments and condos downtown.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by 5gables

Just meant if you want the latest and greatest (Apple store for example) then you'll probably need to go to Portland. Love Roths, but maybe we'll get a Whole Foods after a few years of spending data by the residents of the new upscale apartments and condos downtown.

We don't have a large enough population for those things, especially when Bridgeport is 40 minutes away. 180 apartments/condos won't support a Whole Foods. I've been in them and I don't get the love of them. Just super expensive.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

Why does not having a Whole Foods say a lot? Roth's has a lot of organic food/produce. Between Roth's, Trader Joes, and LifeSource I have never not been able to get what I need. Support a national chain or two local businesses? Seems like a no brainer to me.

Amen to this. My neighborhood got a Whole Foods a couple of years ago now, and I find myself wishing it was a Market of Choice (Eugene-based company). There are some good products at WF, but Amazon already gets so much of my dough, I don't need to also spend it in one of their bricks and mortar locations! And a Market of Choice seems like a good alternative to New Seasons, which is a Portland-based natural grocery store, which I do most of my shopping at.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by jjpop

Amen to this. My neighborhood got a Whole Foods a couple of years ago now, and I find myself wishing it was a Market of Choice (Eugene-based company). There are some good products at WF, but Amazon already gets so much of my dough, I don't need to also spend it in one of their bricks and mortar locations! And a Market of Choice seems like a good alternative to New Seasons, which is a Portland-based natural grocery store, which I do most of my shopping at.

Yes, I've been to Market of Choice and New Seasons. I think both are nice alternatives to Whole Foods. Every time I walk into a Whole Foods I just don't get it. I know there are a ton of them in CA and we get a lot of Californians here, but just not seeing the value of them.

[Oregon Dreams]

Hi, thank you everyone for all the help. I don't remember asking about Whole Foods, but now that you bring it up... thank you for the new stores to Google. I will have to find out more about Roth's. It would be great if there was a Fred Meyer there too. Not picky about groceries, but a familiar name is always appreciated. What I would like is a big mall with lots of shopping, and hopefully without having to go to Portland. I do have fond memories of the Lloyd Center at X-mas from my childhood though.
I realize the weather is similar to Seattle, lived through a lot of snow, ice, rain, and earthquakes there... just hoping for the Oregon I remember - clean streets, green grass, sunshine, and happy people. Never lived there, but visited relatives many times.

[Metlakatla]

Salem has two Fred Meyer stores. Not sure how healthy the mall scene is anymore, but you'll probably like the Woodburn Outlet Stores, which is just a short drive north.

[Oregon Dreams]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Salem has two Fred Meyer stores. Not sure how healthy the mall scene is anymore, but you'll probably like the Woodburn Outlet Stores, which is just a short drive north.

Yea, now I know we'll be OK in OR. I will check out Woodburn Outlet Stores!

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Oregon Dreams

Hi, thank you everyone for all the help. I don't remember asking about Whole Foods, but now that you bring it up... thank you for the new stores to Google. I will have to find out more about Roth's. It would be great if there was a Fred Meyer there too. Not picky about groceries, but a familiar name is always appreciated. What I would like is a big mall with lots of shopping, and hopefully without having to go to Portland. I do have fond memories of the Lloyd Center at X-mas from my childhood though.
I realize the weather is similar to Seattle, lived through a lot of snow, ice, rain, and earthquakes there... just hoping for the Oregon I remember - clean streets, green grass, sunshine, and happy people. Never lived there, but visited relatives many times.

You didn't ask about Whole Foods, but like all forums we go off on tangents. ;-)

Salem Center is decent shopping, IMO. I'm not a huge shopper, but I think there is a good selection of stores in there Nordstrom, Macy's, etc. Traditional mall stores. It isn't as big as Lloyd Center though, I don't think. Hard to tell since it is downtown and in separate buildings with a skybridge. I think it would meet your needs, and if not there is always the Woodburn Outlet Stores. The Outlets have Banana Republic, Coach, Ann Taylor, etc.

Yes the streets are clean, grass is green unless we are in drought, sometimes it is sunny, and I think people are generally nice. I don't see a lot of rudeness here.

[girlieNfamily]

Originally Posted by Oregon Dreams

My husband and I are considering moving to Salem sometime next year because we can't stand CA anymore. We need clean air, shade trees, cooler temps, fewer fires, lower housing costs, and nicer people. From what we have read so far, Salem would be a good choice. What about movie theaters & gyms in the area? Are there major chain theaters with first-run movies? Are there any major chain fitness clubs like Planet Fitness or L.A. Fitness? Also, the outdoor activities we have read about seem great, but what is there to do when the snow falls?
Help, please!

We moved to Portland metro from California last year, and I am outdoors much less than I used to be in CA. YEs, the summers here are glorious for hiking, beach combing (the coast is cold even during summertime, though), and running/walking.. all that stuff. But come fall, and you are looking at a lot of indoor time. It was ok for me during my younger years when I lived here before and just wanted to hang out in bars or sleep in. But now being here, with a toddler... it is utterly depressing. And there is no outdoor activity unless you love snow sports or doing all of the above under drizzle.

We are already planning our move back.

[Metlakatla]

^That's odd. I went for a long walk around the lake -- as in more than an hour -- every single day during one winter in Salem.