Tell me about seattle--I already know its grey and damp--need other info from people who have moved there.?

Question

I might move from the ft lauderdale, fl area where I have lived my whole life, to the seattle area. If I move I will be going with my truck driver dad, waitress mom, high school aged sister, and my older sister. Also, I will have just graduated from college with a degree in journalism. Beyond the overcast weather and constant drizzle, what is seattle or tacoma, or any of their suburbs like to live in?
How is the crime rate (in comparison to a place like south fl which is pretty high)?
What about jobs? What kind? Are there more in Tacoma or seattle?
I've heard traffic is bad, but is it enough to make the area a bad place to live?
Buying a house is expensive, but what about apartments?
Ive heard tacoma is really dangerous and skuzzy, can you give me details?
Also, what is portland like compared to seattle, or? Ive heard there are a lot of hippies, less jobs, etc..
Honestly, Im just trying to get as much info as possible. WA and OR state websites only tell me the good stuff.

Answer 1

I like Seattle and vicinity. Yes, it's grey and rainy, but it seldom rains HARD. It's usually very cool here; you almost never need air conditioning, but it's very seldom REALLY cold (although it may seem that way at first since you're from Florida); it's RARE for the temperature at night to get below freezing. There's a lot to see and do here, and a lot of it is free or inexpensive. If you're into the outdoors at all, this is the place for it. If you like things that grow, or animals, or birds, there's a TREMENDOUS amount to learn here. UW is an excellent school if you want to continue your education. The traffic is worse than some places, but better than others I've lived in (considerably better than Dallas or L.A., but a bit worse than Denver). Crime is like most places - bad neighborhoods and good ones. Seattle is a lot more liberal than Florida, on the whole; we're definitely a "blue" state, even though much of the state east of the Cascades is agricultural and Republican, the population isn't big enough to offset Seattle's influence. Since you're from Florida, hopefully you already know about water sports; they're really big here, but you can't swim in the water at the ocean because it's so cold (at least not without a wet suit). However, the beaches are beautiful - they're very different from the Atlantic or the Gulf, and whale-watching is amazing! There are incredible numbers of botanical gardens here, and even a temperate rain forest on the Olympic peninsula. Yet if you go a hundred miles east (or less), you can go snow-skiing!



Seattle has lots of things that a big city has, too. Good dining, museums, exhibits, and JAZZ if you're into that. The Seattle symphony is excellent, too, and there's a fair amount of theater. Mostly, Seattle is a place where I think you can be happy if you DECIDE that you're going to find the good stuff and MAKE yourself happy.

Answer 2

Tacoma is an ok city, but not super close to Seattle. About 25-30 mins. Traffic in Seattle and the surrounding areas is terrible. Worse then Cali sometimes. Crime rate is the same in all the cities really. Some good areas and some bad ones. Tacoma is in the news more then other cities close by.



Seattle is great. Lots of fun little areas to hang out. Diverse enough, lots of excentric and interesting things and places to go. Great restaurants and a huge variety as far as ethnic foods. Only problem is its very expensive and crowded. The surrounding areas aren't bad, but they can bepretty pricey too.



It doesn't rain as much as people say, but it is pretty gloomy 6 out of 9 months a year. Summers are awesome, lots to do. Good for winter to because it doest now here much, but your a hop skip and a jump away from 4 or 5 great skiing and snowboarding areas.





I'm not sure about jobs, but know that there are lots of publicatons....Times, PI, the County Journals, internet news, The Stranger =)

Answer 3

Seattle is fun. Very diverse, has so much to do and ya tacoma has some good areas but is kinda a slum in general. Alot of crime in tacoma. Seattle is expensive but if you live somewhere just near seattle it's not so bad. As far as hippies well there are hippies yes but like i said it's more diverse not just hippies. All different ethnicities and types. Traffic is just like any other city.

Answer 4

seattle is probably the most beutiful town at the west coast your climate document little faulty . housing for the category of town low-cost, crime cost according to capita low tacoma seattle recognized collectively as sea tac . each are beutiful visitors isn't a drawback public trasportation through monorail grime low-cost ski within the morning golfing afternoon fee of dwelling very low in comparison to discipline you're in now . downtown srea odor of clean espresso and baking incrediable very low unemployment cost . jobless humans are the unfoutante ones who are not able to paintings as a result of phtsical or intellectual disorders . one hundred miles north vancouver british columbia canada journal known as it nice town on the planet to reside , equal as seattle best bills five occasions extra to reside there . tou will find it irresistible