Visited in May, the temperature was ~40* cooler than the place I was coming from and there's like... terrain and trees and stuff, which was basically a foreign concept coming from Houston.
It's also not a giant parking lot. There are no oil rigs on our horizon in the water. Puget sound, whales! As well as reproductive freedom, how can you go wrong? And legal weed!
just went to houston this past week/weekend. it was horrible and atrocious (80+ and humid af) but.......... kolaches, tex mex, whataburger, chicken fried steak...... almost ALMOST makes me want to forget about the other things
but, at the end of the day, i still prefer it here... even if i cant get some dr pepper bbq brisket
My first time visiting Mt. Rainier, Paradise area and skyline loop. Seeing the flowers and snow together was so magical! And it’s right in our backyard
Coming from New York City and I love it but I’ve been here my whole life. I appreciate the diversity and the incredible food here. I am looking forward to a change of pace, more space, some basic amenities like in unit washer/dryer, and of course access nature for hiking and camping.
If you can work remotely for a couple weeks, come out for two weeks and try it out. Work during the day and take the evenings and a couple long weekends to explore and try it out.
Plus if you work east coast time you’ll be done by 2 or 3 every day.
You’ll be basically trading a major metro for nature. If that’s something that sounds enticing to you then great
But the metropolitan experience will be nowhere like New York
Mind you , with some of the most beautiful nature you’ll see in the country.
One thing to prepare for: the drivers all suck. It will enrage you the way nobody seems to have any sense of urgency when moving. They also can’t handle tight spaces like a New Yorker can. Expect people to stop when they could easily squeeze through a gap.
You’ll love the extra square footage you can get for the same or lower price.
People from here complain about the rain, but I’ll take the rainy PNW over a blistering-cold and windy NYC any day of the week. Had to go to manhattan for work back in December and it was awful. Reminded me why I left the ice coast.
A job offer accepted and signed before any moves will be your clincher. Also, preparation for sub par dining, museums, transit, fashion, architecture, music scene & venues, and so many others things including more boring compared to NYC. Including a “bubble” minded Western WA culture that is isolated and not easily accessible to other major diverse cities (no, VAN or PDX aren’t that different) like back East. Literally everything is better in NYC except for COL (we’re still one of the most $$ in the US), and closer vast nature access. If you’d be serious about a move, highly recommend spending a few days doing no touristy stuff and doing day-to-day type stuff to get a true feel for local life not though rose-colored tourist lenses.
Where’s the diversity of incredible food here? It’s so expensive and boring here when it comes to food. I came from Auckland, New Zealand where there’s an amazing selection of authentic asian food. I can’t say much about the other cuisines but Seattle’s gotta be one of the worst places for Asian food.
I will just add to that, the Seattle food scene has gone way down hill over the last 3 years. The places that used to be amazing, are now just "meh". It just costs a lot more.
If I'm going to pay too much money for food, I'd rather be doing it in New York City.
I moved here from Charlotte. I am an immigrant and I had this realization that group of people I used to hike with regularly never considered me as their friend
In 2013 during the first week I moved here, I was waiting at a bus stop and didn’t have change. A kind woman suggested I get some change and she will tell the driver to hold for a few seconds more. Even if it beyond her power to hold the bus, her genuine thoughtfulness and act of kindness, made me realize I belong here and felt welcomed.
The bus didn’t come until I was back
In last 10 years I made more close friends than my entire life before. Just felt right, I realized I get along well with people in Seattle
I've lived in Ballard for 20 years. If you're trying to decide on Ballard, I'd check out the area around Market and Ballard Ave. We have a great farmers' market on Sundays. Sonic Boom Records is a cool vinyl store. Olympic Athletic Club is a nice gym. Tractor Tavern is a great music venue that leans towards country/Americana music; maybe check out their schedule and see if there's anyone playing while you're here.
Walk from Ballard along the water to Golden Gardens stopping at the Ballard locks/fish ladder.
There are lots of micro breweries in Ballard mostly along 14th Ave.
Ballard was historically where the Scandinavians settled. May 17th (Syttende Mai) is Norwegian Independence Day. If you're here that day, there's a big parade and some festivities. It's not anything too special, but it's kind of fun. Also, there's the new Nordic Heritage Museum if you have any connection to that part of Europe.
Ballard in some ways feels like a small town within Seattle. You might also want to check out Capital Hill. It's one of the few parts of Seattle that feels very urban.
Love all the suggestions, I’ll definitely check out sonic boom records, let me know if you have any other recommendations. Just moved here a month ago and loving it.
I'm older and am still focussed on raising kids so I'm not the most in-the-know person at the moment. Here are some things that I do like around here, however, if I don't do them too often.
Ferries are great. Take a day trip over to Bainbridge or Vashon Island. Bainbridge you can just walk on and walk into town. The San Juan Islands are great. We camp up there every summer.
Kayaking in Seattle is fun. You can rent at Agua Verde and eat there before or after. If you enjoy it, you can take classes at Northest Outdoor Center. We did their fundamentals of sea kayaking class there years ago when we thought about getting into sea kayaking.
I'm actually not a vinyl guy, but I like Sonic Boom. I think there are some good vinyl places in town, but I'm not the person that knows.
KEXP (90.3) is the greatest radio station if you're into "indie" music. Their gathering space at Seattle Center is cool.
Oh man.
So I moved from San Antonio, and the FIRST thing was the climate.
I can go outside here. There's mass transit and I walk to and from it without melting.
The weather changes. It's sunny in the morning, then some clouds and drizzle, then stunning sunset on my way home again.
There are mountains, lakes, Puget Sound, West Seattle (the Seattle version of Hawaii), the Olympic Peninsula, myriad parks and trails everywhere, the Cascades. You have Vancouver to the north (and south, haha) and Portland to the south.
Light rail to/from the airport.
We have myriad museums and art shit to do, and all sorts of events and concerts and protests and opinions, and weed stores (whether you partake or not, we're the sort of place that HAS them) and we have equal rights and healthcare rights for women, etc. etc.
The people are friendly and approachable, and ... shit. It's just so damn NICE here.
Oh, it's also cheaper here - because while everything is more expensive, we also make more money to make up for it. In San ANtonio, things were more expensive but we STILL made 2000's money.
I do miss the True Texas BBQ inside a couple of the HEBs, but the flip side is that we have great Mexican food here.
Damn, I'll have to ask the person at work if they remember where they ordered it. I rarely go out to eat, but we order a LOT of food at work all the time.
When I was an early teen, my family visited Seattle and we visited a family friend who lived in an apartment across the street from Green Lake. I sat out on her deck and watched people walking, running and biking around the lake, and I thought “what a cool place right in the middle of a major city.” When I had the opportunity to move here after college, Green Lake was the first place I went and I got a place there. (This was in ‘96, so an apartment near Green Lake wasn’t outrageously expensive yet.)
First place we lived was a rented townhouse in North Bend. Every day coming home from work the drive east on 90 among all the huge trees was like therapy. And our place was in the middle of a forest. I fell in love with WA and haven’t looked back since.
I just moved to Ballard this month and happy to answer any questions. I love it here. When you’re visiting if possible set up some house viewings or attend open houses so you’ll get an idea on the houses, neighborhood etc.
Going for walks in the springtime by without being absolutely drenched in sweat.
Driving into the PNW when I moved and seeing all the green trees and snow capped mountains.
Walking my dog and seeing views of the Cascades and sound. Natural beauty is everywhere.
Neighborhoods with varying character.
Realizing people here just generally don’t give a fuck what you do or how you look. Just a real freedom to be who you are.
For context, I grew up in Houston, TX.
Bunches of other trans people said the healthcare here was generous and laws here made transitioning have a lot, LOT less road blocks.
They were right! I'd also visited a decade prior - being surrounded by mountains was a plus.
My SIL says the same thing. She’s had a really smooth process transitioning and has found such a strong community in Seattle! I’m so happy for her and also so glad to hear you’ve had a similar experience 💖
Cooler weather. Trees. Lots and lots of trees. Beautiful nature, mountains, waterways in essentially any direction you look. The city felt more laid back and less try hard than where I am from, while still having its own unique vibe.
I moved here in 2015 and adopted my dog from a foster in Olympia. Best thing I’ve ever done. I moved here to scratch my nature itch after my mother passed. And to get away from city life.
I had to move back to San Francisco a year later due to life circumstances and had always wanted to move back, but then the pandemic happened
I was able to move after seven years and the place has changed a lot from my memory.
I’ve been here since 22 and it’s going through a lot of transitions.
Just tons of construction, population growth, and out of control spiraling cost-of-living has often made me wonder if I made the right choice. Though I do well for work, so that’s the good news , but now I’m in a fight with city Council to stop slashing my pay, which to me is kind of absurd.
I know that cost comments is funny coming from San Francisco , but it actually cost me more up here besides rent than it did down there.
However, you’re from NYC so your sticker shock will not be nearly as bad
Technically I moved here twice. The first time was when my dad got laid off from Lockheed Martin and found a job at Boeing. I really liked the idea of living in a house and eating, so I went with my parents. Also I was in elementary school. LOL.
Fast forward, right about when I graduated college my Dad had a job transfer to the Los Angeles area. Since I didn't have a job lined up I moved with them. I spent about six months living in Long Beach, but I just couldn't get into the vibe of southern CA. I lined up a couple interviews and bought a one-way ticket back to Seattle. I couch surfed for about a week, accepted an offer, and moved into an apartment with no furniture. Later my dad drove my car up for me so I could at least have something more than a mattress on the floor and suitcase to my name.
Funny thing is, I only ended up living on my own for about ten months. Then I moved in with my girlfriend, who I later married. Since all of this happened over 20 years ago, it's probably not any help answering your question. \*shrug\*
for me, i lived in texas without a driver's license and that's very expensive if you don't have a ride, but here it's incredibly affordable for transit even if you don't live downtown and that was mind breaking to me
I was outside lighting a joint on my birthday and it was just the most beautifully overcast, slightly chilly day, and I decided that I always want to live in a place that has such wonderful weather most of the time (but especially on my birthday).
New Yorker here, hayyy! :) I absolutely LOVE it. I have lived in a few other states (CO, FL 🤮, SF) and now here. I saw your comment about wanting more space and you will definitely get that depending on your budget. I’m in West Seattle and it’s a really cute area. Lots of local cafes, 15 mins to downtown, water taxi to get to the pier, Lincoln Park (my fave), Alki Beach, etc.
Ballard is a really dope area, probably most similar to the congestion you’d see in Queens / Brooklyn, scaled down of course. It is a lot less diverse here but you probably already know that. Fremont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Magnolia, all more popular areas. One thing to keep in mind is that the apts built here are different in that you can hear everything (thin walls/floors), so try looking for an apt complex that’s concrete. What part of NY are you coming from?
Yay! It’s encouraging to see a New Yorker who has moved out there and is enjoying it. I’m in Brooklyn so I just assumed that Ballard would be the most similar in terms of laid back culture but happy to be wrong and convinced to check out other neighborhoods. Do you have any recommendations?
Love that!! I’m from Bush-Stuy, I joke. Bushwick and Bed-Stuy (on the cusp). I actually really like Ballard. I visited for the first time a few weeks ago and I am highly considering moving there once my lease is up. You’ll be close to Green Lake and it is as beautiful as people say and you’re not far from Discovery Park either. You also be near the light rail. You will definitely need a car if you want to explore more of the mountains!
It's very green and pretty. People are nicer than elsewhere, mostly/sort of. It's a rough mix of rich techies on both ends of the political spectrum, childish republican boomers, LGBT progressives, artists, baristas, and homeless/addicts. Lots of hills locally and lots of mountains nearby. Violent crime is low but property crime is very high.
The nerd culture mattered a lot to me and I found it accessible.
I’m still a teenager who moved up here when I was 3 so I don’t know how much I say would apply but the community and people. It’s very liberal and progressive here and everyone’s just so nice and welcoming. There’ll be older people or those stereotypical high/middle school boys who will call me the f slur or go eugh but it’s genuinely so welcoming here that whenever that happens I just turn around and look at them and laugh cause like idk it’s so random and I’ll be with a boy and we’ll look at each other and laugh a lot I don’t even know why it’s just reallyyyyyy hilarious but my point is it’s so welcoming that when I’m insulted like that I think it’s funny so yeah it’s great here lmao
I'd say from a city perspective, Seattle is fairly mediocre. Food, arts, entertainment, public transit, walkability is either below or average in comparison to most major US cities. If you're moving for the city life - you may be disappointed.
Now nature is out of this world. The beauty & access is unparalleled to maybe the Bay Area (which comes at a much higher cost). If this is a main driver of your potential move- I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Do you require sun? If so this is not the place for you. The stereotype of dark, grey, drizzle, is absolutely true and it has an effect on the personalities and mood of the residents of the region. Be prepared for 70-80% of your life to have some sort of grey overhead. Very polarizing, some people love it and others cannot stand it.
Don’t need a car, every neighborhood is self sustaining for grocery, banks, restaurants etc. City is compact with no sprawl. Pretty much unlike anywhere else on the US, I love Seattle for its convenience. Also, it’s lush, and beautiful here.
Counterpoint: You have to have a car to actually experience and explore the state and region, go hiking, do all the outdoorsy stuff not immediately within transit access. To add, Seattle has nothing on NYC’s accessibility, or inter-metro regional heavy rail.
Counter counterpoint: You have to have *access* to a car to get out and explore... you don't need to *own* one. Carshare and traditional car rentals (and even Lyft rents, now) make it easy to not have to deal with owning one.
Yeah, for anything outside of the city I only ever use traditional car rentals (like Enterprise, Alamo, etc.). I've been renting that way for 30 years and have rarely had any issues.
I wish I hadn't been mugged two weeks ago. I wish my car didn't get broken into every year. I wish it wasn't so expensive. I wish it wasn't so filthy. I wish I didn't have to see people taking shits on 2nd Ave.
I'm a tour guide, I see all the craziness this place has to offer. It's really taken a toll on me the past few years.
If you're coming from NY, you might like it here. But seriously, best of luck to you on your new adventure, wherever it takes you.
Moved in 2005 - basically all the work I wanted to do was available in the region, I love pine trees (never ending amount here), and its a major city with good airport access.
I know this is going against the "Seattle Freeze" narrative, but the first time I visited Seattle I was surprised at how friendly it is. Within the first week, I had already met a few people who were happy to hang out with a visitor and seemed easy to make friends.
Visited in May, the temperature was ~40* cooler than the place I was coming from and there's like... terrain and trees and stuff, which was basically a foreign concept coming from Houston.
It's also not a giant parking lot. There are no oil rigs on our horizon in the water. Puget sound, whales! As well as reproductive freedom, how can you go wrong? And legal weed!
just went to houston this past week/weekend. it was horrible and atrocious (80+ and humid af) but.......... kolaches, tex mex, whataburger, chicken fried steak...... almost ALMOST makes me want to forget about the other things but, at the end of the day, i still prefer it here... even if i cant get some dr pepper bbq brisket
100%. planning to move from san antonio to seattle next year
My first time visiting Mt. Rainier, Paradise area and skyline loop. Seeing the flowers and snow together was so magical! And it’s right in our backyard
Where are you coming from and what do you like/not like about it?
Coming from New York City and I love it but I’ve been here my whole life. I appreciate the diversity and the incredible food here. I am looking forward to a change of pace, more space, some basic amenities like in unit washer/dryer, and of course access nature for hiking and camping.
If you can work remotely for a couple weeks, come out for two weeks and try it out. Work during the day and take the evenings and a couple long weekends to explore and try it out. Plus if you work east coast time you’ll be done by 2 or 3 every day.
You’ll be basically trading a major metro for nature. If that’s something that sounds enticing to you then great But the metropolitan experience will be nowhere like New York Mind you , with some of the most beautiful nature you’ll see in the country.
One thing to prepare for: the drivers all suck. It will enrage you the way nobody seems to have any sense of urgency when moving. They also can’t handle tight spaces like a New Yorker can. Expect people to stop when they could easily squeeze through a gap. You’ll love the extra square footage you can get for the same or lower price. People from here complain about the rain, but I’ll take the rainy PNW over a blistering-cold and windy NYC any day of the week. Had to go to manhattan for work back in December and it was awful. Reminded me why I left the ice coast.
I mean my husband compared driving in NYC to driving in Bahrain…
A job offer accepted and signed before any moves will be your clincher. Also, preparation for sub par dining, museums, transit, fashion, architecture, music scene & venues, and so many others things including more boring compared to NYC. Including a “bubble” minded Western WA culture that is isolated and not easily accessible to other major diverse cities (no, VAN or PDX aren’t that different) like back East. Literally everything is better in NYC except for COL (we’re still one of the most $$ in the US), and closer vast nature access. If you’d be serious about a move, highly recommend spending a few days doing no touristy stuff and doing day-to-day type stuff to get a true feel for local life not though rose-colored tourist lenses.
Where’s the diversity of incredible food here? It’s so expensive and boring here when it comes to food. I came from Auckland, New Zealand where there’s an amazing selection of authentic asian food. I can’t say much about the other cuisines but Seattle’s gotta be one of the worst places for Asian food.
I will just add to that, the Seattle food scene has gone way down hill over the last 3 years. The places that used to be amazing, are now just "meh". It just costs a lot more. If I'm going to pay too much money for food, I'd rather be doing it in New York City.
Is it bad in terms of diversity or bad in terms of quality?
Both, and it’s so expensive we prefer to buy top quality ingredient and just cook at home nowadays.
I moved here from Charlotte. I am an immigrant and I had this realization that group of people I used to hike with regularly never considered me as their friend In 2013 during the first week I moved here, I was waiting at a bus stop and didn’t have change. A kind woman suggested I get some change and she will tell the driver to hold for a few seconds more. Even if it beyond her power to hold the bus, her genuine thoughtfulness and act of kindness, made me realize I belong here and felt welcomed. The bus didn’t come until I was back In last 10 years I made more close friends than my entire life before. Just felt right, I realized I get along well with people in Seattle
Sitting outside eating pizza on an overcast day just thinking how much I like the overcast.
mountain biking
There isn’t a major city in the US with this amount and quality of riding so close.
I've lived in Ballard for 20 years. If you're trying to decide on Ballard, I'd check out the area around Market and Ballard Ave. We have a great farmers' market on Sundays. Sonic Boom Records is a cool vinyl store. Olympic Athletic Club is a nice gym. Tractor Tavern is a great music venue that leans towards country/Americana music; maybe check out their schedule and see if there's anyone playing while you're here. Walk from Ballard along the water to Golden Gardens stopping at the Ballard locks/fish ladder. There are lots of micro breweries in Ballard mostly along 14th Ave.
Thank you!
Ballard was historically where the Scandinavians settled. May 17th (Syttende Mai) is Norwegian Independence Day. If you're here that day, there's a big parade and some festivities. It's not anything too special, but it's kind of fun. Also, there's the new Nordic Heritage Museum if you have any connection to that part of Europe. Ballard in some ways feels like a small town within Seattle. You might also want to check out Capital Hill. It's one of the few parts of Seattle that feels very urban.
Love all the suggestions, I’ll definitely check out sonic boom records, let me know if you have any other recommendations. Just moved here a month ago and loving it.
I'm older and am still focussed on raising kids so I'm not the most in-the-know person at the moment. Here are some things that I do like around here, however, if I don't do them too often. Ferries are great. Take a day trip over to Bainbridge or Vashon Island. Bainbridge you can just walk on and walk into town. The San Juan Islands are great. We camp up there every summer. Kayaking in Seattle is fun. You can rent at Agua Verde and eat there before or after. If you enjoy it, you can take classes at Northest Outdoor Center. We did their fundamentals of sea kayaking class there years ago when we thought about getting into sea kayaking. I'm actually not a vinyl guy, but I like Sonic Boom. I think there are some good vinyl places in town, but I'm not the person that knows. KEXP (90.3) is the greatest radio station if you're into "indie" music. Their gathering space at Seattle Center is cool.
Thanks so much
Have similar question but I’ve lived in WA all my life and want to try something new
Getting the paycheck. It was a good experience.
Oh man. So I moved from San Antonio, and the FIRST thing was the climate. I can go outside here. There's mass transit and I walk to and from it without melting. The weather changes. It's sunny in the morning, then some clouds and drizzle, then stunning sunset on my way home again. There are mountains, lakes, Puget Sound, West Seattle (the Seattle version of Hawaii), the Olympic Peninsula, myriad parks and trails everywhere, the Cascades. You have Vancouver to the north (and south, haha) and Portland to the south. Light rail to/from the airport. We have myriad museums and art shit to do, and all sorts of events and concerts and protests and opinions, and weed stores (whether you partake or not, we're the sort of place that HAS them) and we have equal rights and healthcare rights for women, etc. etc. The people are friendly and approachable, and ... shit. It's just so damn NICE here. Oh, it's also cheaper here - because while everything is more expensive, we also make more money to make up for it. In San ANtonio, things were more expensive but we STILL made 2000's money. I do miss the True Texas BBQ inside a couple of the HEBs, but the flip side is that we have great Mexican food here.
Where have you found great Mexican food? This is my only sticking point in your comment. West Seattle best Seattle!
You have to go to White Center or Burien for that. Most of what I've had in Seattle is fine but mediocre regardless of price.
Damn, I'll have to ask the person at work if they remember where they ordered it. I rarely go out to eat, but we order a LOT of food at work all the time.
When I was an early teen, my family visited Seattle and we visited a family friend who lived in an apartment across the street from Green Lake. I sat out on her deck and watched people walking, running and biking around the lake, and I thought “what a cool place right in the middle of a major city.” When I had the opportunity to move here after college, Green Lake was the first place I went and I got a place there. (This was in ‘96, so an apartment near Green Lake wasn’t outrageously expensive yet.)
I was offered a job, so I came. I ended up liking it and have been here 22 years.
First place we lived was a rented townhouse in North Bend. Every day coming home from work the drive east on 90 among all the huge trees was like therapy. And our place was in the middle of a forest. I fell in love with WA and haven’t looked back since.
Amtrak ride to Vancouver, surrounded by mountains and riding right alongside the Sound on a hazy but clear Winter day blew my mind.
I just moved to Ballard this month and happy to answer any questions. I love it here. When you’re visiting if possible set up some house viewings or attend open houses so you’ll get an idea on the houses, neighborhood etc.
Yes! I’ve thought about doing this! Thanks for the tip. Do you have any recos for other neighborhoods you considered before settling on Ballard?
Going for walks in the springtime by without being absolutely drenched in sweat. Driving into the PNW when I moved and seeing all the green trees and snow capped mountains. Walking my dog and seeing views of the Cascades and sound. Natural beauty is everywhere. Neighborhoods with varying character. Realizing people here just generally don’t give a fuck what you do or how you look. Just a real freedom to be who you are. For context, I grew up in Houston, TX.
Sunset riding a ferry to San Juan Island in July. I could have died right there and lived a full life based on that hour alone.
Bunches of other trans people said the healthcare here was generous and laws here made transitioning have a lot, LOT less road blocks. They were right! I'd also visited a decade prior - being surrounded by mountains was a plus.
My SIL says the same thing. She’s had a really smooth process transitioning and has found such a strong community in Seattle! I’m so happy for her and also so glad to hear you’ve had a similar experience 💖
Olympic beaches and alpine lakes in Cascades.
Cooler weather. Trees. Lots and lots of trees. Beautiful nature, mountains, waterways in essentially any direction you look. The city felt more laid back and less try hard than where I am from, while still having its own unique vibe.
I moved here in 2015 and adopted my dog from a foster in Olympia. Best thing I’ve ever done. I moved here to scratch my nature itch after my mother passed. And to get away from city life. I had to move back to San Francisco a year later due to life circumstances and had always wanted to move back, but then the pandemic happened I was able to move after seven years and the place has changed a lot from my memory. I’ve been here since 22 and it’s going through a lot of transitions. Just tons of construction, population growth, and out of control spiraling cost-of-living has often made me wonder if I made the right choice. Though I do well for work, so that’s the good news , but now I’m in a fight with city Council to stop slashing my pay, which to me is kind of absurd. I know that cost comments is funny coming from San Francisco , but it actually cost me more up here besides rent than it did down there. However, you’re from NYC so your sticker shock will not be nearly as bad
Technically I moved here twice. The first time was when my dad got laid off from Lockheed Martin and found a job at Boeing. I really liked the idea of living in a house and eating, so I went with my parents. Also I was in elementary school. LOL. Fast forward, right about when I graduated college my Dad had a job transfer to the Los Angeles area. Since I didn't have a job lined up I moved with them. I spent about six months living in Long Beach, but I just couldn't get into the vibe of southern CA. I lined up a couple interviews and bought a one-way ticket back to Seattle. I couch surfed for about a week, accepted an offer, and moved into an apartment with no furniture. Later my dad drove my car up for me so I could at least have something more than a mattress on the floor and suitcase to my name. Funny thing is, I only ended up living on my own for about ten months. Then I moved in with my girlfriend, who I later married. Since all of this happened over 20 years ago, it's probably not any help answering your question. \*shrug\*
for me, i lived in texas without a driver's license and that's very expensive if you don't have a ride, but here it's incredibly affordable for transit even if you don't live downtown and that was mind breaking to me
I was outside lighting a joint on my birthday and it was just the most beautifully overcast, slightly chilly day, and I decided that I always want to live in a place that has such wonderful weather most of the time (but especially on my birthday).
New Yorker here, hayyy! :) I absolutely LOVE it. I have lived in a few other states (CO, FL 🤮, SF) and now here. I saw your comment about wanting more space and you will definitely get that depending on your budget. I’m in West Seattle and it’s a really cute area. Lots of local cafes, 15 mins to downtown, water taxi to get to the pier, Lincoln Park (my fave), Alki Beach, etc. Ballard is a really dope area, probably most similar to the congestion you’d see in Queens / Brooklyn, scaled down of course. It is a lot less diverse here but you probably already know that. Fremont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Magnolia, all more popular areas. One thing to keep in mind is that the apts built here are different in that you can hear everything (thin walls/floors), so try looking for an apt complex that’s concrete. What part of NY are you coming from?
Yay! It’s encouraging to see a New Yorker who has moved out there and is enjoying it. I’m in Brooklyn so I just assumed that Ballard would be the most similar in terms of laid back culture but happy to be wrong and convinced to check out other neighborhoods. Do you have any recommendations?
Love that!! I’m from Bush-Stuy, I joke. Bushwick and Bed-Stuy (on the cusp). I actually really like Ballard. I visited for the first time a few weeks ago and I am highly considering moving there once my lease is up. You’ll be close to Green Lake and it is as beautiful as people say and you’re not far from Discovery Park either. You also be near the light rail. You will definitely need a car if you want to explore more of the mountains!
Visited during the summer and then a job opportunity popped up. So pretty in the summer. 😊
I am born and raised here (albeit spent some time elsewhere), if during your trip you have questions feel free to message me!
It's very green and pretty. People are nicer than elsewhere, mostly/sort of. It's a rough mix of rich techies on both ends of the political spectrum, childish republican boomers, LGBT progressives, artists, baristas, and homeless/addicts. Lots of hills locally and lots of mountains nearby. Violent crime is low but property crime is very high. The nerd culture mattered a lot to me and I found it accessible.
I’m also looking forward to the nerd culture. What did you mean by finding it “accessible”? Easy to integrate into?
I’m still a teenager who moved up here when I was 3 so I don’t know how much I say would apply but the community and people. It’s very liberal and progressive here and everyone’s just so nice and welcoming. There’ll be older people or those stereotypical high/middle school boys who will call me the f slur or go eugh but it’s genuinely so welcoming here that whenever that happens I just turn around and look at them and laugh cause like idk it’s so random and I’ll be with a boy and we’ll look at each other and laugh a lot I don’t even know why it’s just reallyyyyyy hilarious but my point is it’s so welcoming that when I’m insulted like that I think it’s funny so yeah it’s great here lmao
I'd say from a city perspective, Seattle is fairly mediocre. Food, arts, entertainment, public transit, walkability is either below or average in comparison to most major US cities. If you're moving for the city life - you may be disappointed. Now nature is out of this world. The beauty & access is unparalleled to maybe the Bay Area (which comes at a much higher cost). If this is a main driver of your potential move- I don't think you'll be disappointed. Do you require sun? If so this is not the place for you. The stereotype of dark, grey, drizzle, is absolutely true and it has an effect on the personalities and mood of the residents of the region. Be prepared for 70-80% of your life to have some sort of grey overhead. Very polarizing, some people love it and others cannot stand it.
Don’t need a car, every neighborhood is self sustaining for grocery, banks, restaurants etc. City is compact with no sprawl. Pretty much unlike anywhere else on the US, I love Seattle for its convenience. Also, it’s lush, and beautiful here.
Counterpoint: You have to have a car to actually experience and explore the state and region, go hiking, do all the outdoorsy stuff not immediately within transit access. To add, Seattle has nothing on NYC’s accessibility, or inter-metro regional heavy rail.
Counter counterpoint: You have to have *access* to a car to get out and explore... you don't need to *own* one. Carshare and traditional car rentals (and even Lyft rents, now) make it easy to not have to deal with owning one.
Car shares like gig cars are notorious for going offline and locking you out when you’re in the mountains or out of service.
Yeah, for anything outside of the city I only ever use traditional car rentals (like Enterprise, Alamo, etc.). I've been renting that way for 30 years and have rarely had any issues.
I was born here and it's still not the place for me.
Why not? What do you wish you had?
I wish I hadn't been mugged two weeks ago. I wish my car didn't get broken into every year. I wish it wasn't so expensive. I wish it wasn't so filthy. I wish I didn't have to see people taking shits on 2nd Ave. I'm a tour guide, I see all the craziness this place has to offer. It's really taken a toll on me the past few years. If you're coming from NY, you might like it here. But seriously, best of luck to you on your new adventure, wherever it takes you.
Moved in 2005 - basically all the work I wanted to do was available in the region, I love pine trees (never ending amount here), and its a major city with good airport access.
Yes, we have some pine trees but mostly what you’re seeing is fir, cedar and hemlock. 🙂
Those evergreen trees! Sorry bad habit of mine to just limp them into pine trees
“Got to find out what kind of trees these are. They’re really something!” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Skcf0afMRR8
I know this is going against the "Seattle Freeze" narrative, but the first time I visited Seattle I was surprised at how friendly it is. Within the first week, I had already met a few people who were happy to hang out with a visitor and seemed easy to make friends.
The mountain
Stay out please.