My mom lives out in kalama (acreage) and is in a mixed racial marriage with my dad… they avoid Longview if they can. I’d go with the consensus of Olympia it’s so awesome and they have a year round farmers market and lots of small businesses. I’m not much of a city person but their market and access to hiking is amazing. Or even outside Olympia if you’re not a city person . But the area allows you to also visit the cascades, rainier, st Helen’s, Olympic, and other parks in day trips