Looking into moving up north

[Tarantism]

Hi there,

I am looking into moving from the SF bay area up to Seattle (pending a visit of course), because of it's art culture scene and also because of Washington University. And because of rain. It all sounds good and dandy but this is still pending a visit, though all reports indicate that I will greatly enjoy the city.

SO, my question is, what are some opinions on Seattle, and maybe Washington in general? Thanks for the feedback guys.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Tarantism

Hi there,

I am looking into moving from the SF bay area up to Seattle (pending a visit of course), because of it's art culture scene and also because of Washington University. And because of rain. It all sounds good and dandy but this is still pending a visit, though all reports indicate that I will greatly enjoy the city.

SO, my question is, what are some opinions on Seattle, and maybe Washington in general? Thanks for the feedback guys.

Seattle; the Emerald City. Far stranger than its namesake in Oz, Seattle is in its own opinion, all anyone needs to know about Washington. A gal I know finished her chemistry degree up there, but moved soon after. Not sure why.

I live in SW Washington and I like the State for its wild unpopulated places.

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by Turtle

Far stranger than its namesake in Oz, Seattle is in its own opinion, all anyone needs to know about Washington.

Microsoft tried to recruit me a couple of times, and I'll tell you the place scared the heck out of me!

Of course I grew up in LA so "rain" is a weird word that is not in my vocabulary.

Everyone I know who has moved there (and not scurried back quickly) has never been the same since. I recommend against it....unless you're gonna live where Turtle lives, which is an *entirely* different matter....

It pours, man it pours,
Buffy

[REASON]

I went to the Seattle area on a business trip a few months ago. Spent two days there but got a lot done. When I arrived, I had to drive directly out to Pacific Beach, which is a microtown on the Pacific coast about 2 1/2 hours from the Seattle airport. Other than getting hung up in traffic at rush hour and lost because Bush's motorcade was passing through and the interstate was closed, the drive to Pac Beach was absolutely gorgeous.

Coming back the next day, I spent a few hours wandering around Seattle, and taking a generic trip to the top of the Space Needle. The view was spectacular, and not unlike the view from Coit Tower. Being from S.F., I think you would find Seattle similar. I did. The sloping streets, the bustling activity of tourists, locals getting some exercise along the wharf, and the Puget Sound was all very reminiscent of San Francisco to me. It's a happenin' city. I was lucky in that the temperature was in the mid 70's, and it was perfectly clear while I was there. Everyone was out enjoying it.

That afternoon I headed for Whidbey Island for another meeting the following morning at the Naval Air Station there, and the only access by road is from the North end of the island where you cross a bridge over an area called Deception Pass. The scenery was fabulous. Particularly since I arrived right at sunset. In fact, I would say that the scenery in the Pacific Northwest is one of it's best features. Granted, I'm from Missouri, but I've been all over the country and it is definitely beautiful up there.

The biggest drawback I felt was that there is one primary interstate running North/South and it gets really congested. But being from S.F., I know you're used to that. And of course, it rains a lot. I don't mind the rain, particularly if it comes with a T-Storm, but I don't know how I would deal with it raining days-on-end. Overall though, knowing the San Francisco area, I think you would find it to be a pretty smooth transition, and wouldn't regret it.

But I was only there two days so what do I know.

[DougF]

I lived in Seattle 25 years ago, I was there for two years, very nice people, I used to ride my bike everywhere I went I'd take the ferry's
( Official Washington State Ferries Homepage ) to the various islands and spend all day just riding around, I liked it so much that I even got a job working on the ferries for a while, if you go up there I would suggest you see a few things like the underground city ( Seattle Virtual Tour, Visiting Seattle, the Official Site of the City of Seattle )
and Pike Place Market
( Pike Place Market Seattle - How to enjoy America's greatest waterfront market. )
And as for the weather yes in does rain quite a bit but most of the time it is more like a lite mist then a heavy rain, Seattle.gov - About Seattle - Weather


The bluest ski I've ever seen are in Seattle

[Tarantism]

Thanks for the responses guys (and gals)!

Seattle sounds like what I am looking for right now, based on what I hear. Being a younger adult (I just turned 20), I feel like it would be interesting and captivating to live in a city that has deep roots in art culture. Personally I love the rain and a "lite mist" reminds me of when I was living in Santa Cruz. There is a fog that collects in the mountains and it travels down during the night into SC and just hangs there.

Very majestic.

Another thing that intrests me is definately all of the forestation in Washington State. Turtle, I don't know if you know but I hear that the snowboarding very VERY good up there....better than Tahoe? If it is that is certainly another draw for me. That and potentially great camping. Biking! I used to bike everywhere when I lived in Santa Cruz. So much fun! Also a great way to get excersize!

This city sounds better and better! I can't wait to get up there and visit so that I can take a look for myself. Thanks again for the responses.