Living in Seattle, Washington:
Tips for Moving and Visiting

Seattle is a good city to live if you have a tech job or other very high paying job. If you’re introverted and indoorsy, you’ll love it year-long, especially if you’re somewhat alt and fit in one of the many subcultures present here. If you like hiking, you’ll love the PNW, but it’s rainy and dark for most of the year, so don’t forget your vitamin D pills.

If you’re moving to Seattle, be sure to bring a quality raincoat, durable pair of waterproof boots, and a love of cloudy skies and rain. However, bear in mind that there is no shortage of sunshine in the summer months, so don’t forget the sunscreen and sunglasses. The people here are friendly and very helpful, and the transportation system can take you anywhere you want to go. Be sure to plan your stay, so you don’t miss a thing. I highly recommend the Museum of Pop Culture, or MOPOP, as we like to call it. And don’t forget about Pike Place, Gasworks Park, and the Woodland Park Zoo! Enjoy your stay in the Emerald City.

We have the most beautiful mountain range across our state. We are on the Pacific Ocean. It doesn’t rain as much as you’ve been lead to believe but it does stay cloudy more in winter. We have something for everyone here. Restaurants to hiking trails to hot air balloon races. Microsoft, Amazon and Boeing are our biggest employment resources. The traffic is hell but the people are diverse. It’s one of the most beautiful places to see from an airplane on a sunny day.

If you’re moving to Seattle, you need to know how to adapt. Seattle is a beautiful city surrounded by beautiful Puget Sound where the whale watchers hang. Everybody is “important” and busy. But there are the occasional bon vie bons sitting in one of the cafes with a laptop. The city is divided by diverse neighborhoods, each with its own character. The hilly neighborhoods–all claiming to be the best. Fremont is the artsy-fartsy neighborhood that has a sign that says “Center of the Universe.” Queen Anne is affluent. It sits on a hill overlooking the city, always a little better than hoi-polloi. Then Capitol Hill, the center of the gay world and proud. The tech people who work in places like Microsoft and Amazon, are either making their own craft beer or traveling with two kayaks on the roof of a Subaru. The city is surrounded by the Cascade Mtns., various volcanoes about due to blow any time now. This is the ring of fire. Paradoxically, the city is referred to as ‘the Seattle Freeze’ because the people are known to be cool and aloof. The best way to get to know people, and the city, is to stop into any of a zillion cafes and order an espresso or overpriced cup of coffee. If you want to go incognito, bring your laptop and pretend to be busy.

Seattle is a very expensive city when you consider things like the cost of housing and the cost of food. But, weighing this against the natural beauty that surrounds you almost makes it worth the cost! People say it rains here all the time, but that is not true. There is often a rain shower, but it is not everyday, and not during all four seasons. I prefer this weather to the east coast heat and humidity – a little rain never killed anyone.

While Seattle is certainly one of the most beautiful places to live in the United States, anyone considering moving here should be aware of the high price of living. However, the vibrant city life, excellent coffee, and stunning wildlife just outside the city make it well worth the cost. It’s an excellent place to raise a family, as well, with a strong public school system as well as a network of green areas and parks. Politically, Seattle is fairly far to the left, which anyone with fierce political opinions should take into consideration.

Living in Seattle during the winters is lovely because of the cold temperatures and soft snow. Oftentimes the snow does not stick, so it is like being inside a snow globe. The few times the snow does stick, it piles just high enough for snowmen and sledding. You can often find children and adults alike sliding down a nice snowy hill.

Seattle is a city full of amazing views and creative and quirky people. There is an abundance of activities available year-round from kayaking and hiking to skiing and sailing. Seattle is a bike friendly and walkable city so there is no need to own a car. Last but not least we have an exciting coffee and beer scene! Wherever you decide to live in the city you are always a short walk to a local coffee shop!

Someone moving to Seattle should be prepared for windy and rainy weather, plenty of weekend hikes to nearby State and National Parks and one of the country’s best public transportation systems. Seattle has an abundance of lakes, water bodies, trails and is one of the most dog-friendly US cities. There are coffee shops all over the city, and one will almost always have a Starbucks location within walking distance.

The movies and shows that show it raining all the time in Seattle are not correct. We have very beautiful days with sunny skies. Also, the Space Needle cannot be seen from everywhere in the city, however the famous Mt. Rainier can be seen from all around the area!

Though I have only lived in Seattle for a short while, I would wholeheartedly recommend it to any of my friends; in fact, I have already done so on several occasions, unprovoked. The scenery here is vastly more impressive than that in my native Florida, and summer weather far more enjoyable. However, those moving to Seattle should know Seattle’s reputation as a rainy city is certainly not unfounded. In winter, when the skies turn gloomy, perhaps my disposition toward Seattle will become slightly less positive.

Seattle is a very busy city, similar to Los Angeles but with obvious differences. There are many lakes and several famous landmarks to be visited. The weather is quite bipolar.

One of Seattle’s selling points is all of the nature it has to offer, which is best experienced in the warmer months. There are a lot of wonderful hikes which often lead to beautiful views, waterfalls, rivers, and streams. Throughout the state there are plenty of bodies of water that allow for swimming, boating, water sports, and picnic areas. The lakes and waterfalls are cool and refreshing hangout spots that are surrounded with a lot of wildlife.

Despite its reputation for rain, Seattle has a wealth of activities that are sure to entertain. From foodies to nature-lovers, music fans and fitness junkies, newcomers will find no shortage of friends and communities to welcome them upon arrival.

Seattle is known for its rain and cloudy skies, but it’s actually an ideal place for about four months of the year. Between June and September, the temperature stays around 75 degrees, and Seattle residents regularly flock to parks and beaches to enjoy the pleasant weather. I’ve noticed that Seattleites never let a sunny day go unappreciated. You could say that we live for summer!

Although Seattle is known for its gray skies and rainy weather, outdoor recreation opportunities abound. The Puget Sound, Lake Washington, and the Pacific Ocean are within arm’s reach of those who seek the water. Similarly, the Olympic Mountains, the Cascade Range, and Mount Rainier are equally accessible to hikers, climbers, and camping enthusiasts. Finally, Washington Wine Country is only a few hours away for those who appreciate the art of vinification.

Someone moving to Seattle should know it does rain a lot; perhaps not as much as people say, but certainly a great deal. They should also know that it is a beautiful city, filled with parks, beaches and forests. And finally it is superb coffee!

It’s beautiful. Seriously, it really is. It’s clean (due to ocean air and rain). It’s lush. You’re surrounded by mountains (including volcanoes that you can see form the city). The sunsets are gorgeous. It’s very hilly, so you have good viewpoints from all over the city.

Great food (There is a serious ‘foodie’ scene here, though not a ton of variety. Most of our food is fancy comfort food or locally sourced fish/veggies. We do have a little Asian food scene, but, I’ve been told my multiple sources that it’s not the best Asian food. Good news though, you’re 2. five hours from Vancouver BC! They know how to do sushi/pho/ramen very well.)

Lots of outdoor activities and close to the city (you can work up a sweat hiking around Discovery Park 10 min from Downtown, kayak in the city, swim in Lake Washington 10 min outside the downtown core (clean water too!), bike the Lake Washington loop (100 miles or so) or the Burke Gilman trail (40 miles from Fremont to wineries RT) etc) or outside the city (too many options to list! Ski, backpack, hike, hang-glide, you name it basically).

Seattle is a very wet city so be ready for rain. Traffic in the city can be somewhat congested and the amount of hills make an automatic transmission very useful. Overall the people are rather pleasant and there is a good mix of local and chain businesses for food, leisure, or almost anything you can think of.

Seattle is a cultural and technological hub. Companies such as Boeing, Starbucks, and Amazon are centered in the city, giving Seattleites a unique advantage when searching for jobs. Additionally, the northwestern environment is perfect for outdoor exploring. Many locals enjoy hiking, paddle-boarding, rock-climbing, and camping. All are welcome in Seattle. Capital Hill is a cultural hub for members of the LGBTQ+ community, seeking solace or a sense of celebration surrounding their identity. The Pride Parade is an annual event in downtown Seattle, in addition to Black Lives Matter and the Women’s March.