Seattle is awesome. It’s true. Those of us who live in the city or surrounding areas know exactly why we’re here and why this is the best place in the country to live. Considering moving here? Having doubts about the awesomeness of Seattle? Read on and find out why Seattle rocks.
Seattle has several large companies and nine Fortune 500 companies. While there are thousands of jobs at small and mid-sized businesses, not to mention the international ports of Western Washington in Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia, the hub of industry and business created by the Fortune 500 biggies creates a better than average job market in Western Washington.More »
Seattle and coffee are intrinsically intertwined. Coffee is warm, which is delightful in the oft-cool climate of the Northwest. Coffee has caffeine, ideal for when you need a kick in the pants on a cloudy day. But above all, coffee is delicious and taken very seriously by Seattleites. Ask for Folgers and most (all!) will judge you! According to Wikipedia, Seattleites drink more coffee than any other U.S. population and there are 35 coffee shops per 100,000 people, at least according to Wikipedia.More »
Seattleites don’t just love their coffee, they love all kinds of beverages. Beer and wine rank high on the list as well! Washington State has more microbreweries than any other state except for California (and California is way bigger than we are), according to this 2013 USAToday article. If beer is not your thing, Woodinville Wine Country is just 30 minutes north of the city and is home to more than 50 wineries and tasting rooms.
While most of the rest of the country deals with freezing and snow in the winter and blazing hot summers, Western Washington is usually somewhere in the middle. Average temperatures here range between 35 and 75 degrees. Most winters are rainy. Depending on the year, spring, fall and summer also see some to a lot of rain. Seattle does get snow, but not every year and often not very much (and if we do get more than a dusting, the entire area shuts down so you don’t have to worry about going anywhere).For the most part, kick back and watch the rest of the country enjoy polar vortexes and heat waves while we stay somewhere in a reasonable range.More »
It’s hard to miss Mt. Rainier towering over the city, but on clear days, you’ll see the entire area is framed by majestic mountains in both the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. They make a fabulous backdrop, but make an even more stunning weekend destination. It’s hard to top the hiking, climbing, skiing, camping and other nature-centric recreation opportunities right outside of the city.
Part of Seattle’s vast appeal is easy access to an amazing natural backdrop in just about every direction. To Seattle’s west is the Puget Sound, which is not only scenic, but also a great place for boating, fishing, crabbing and other maritime pursuits. Also in the city are Lake Union and Lake Washington, which open up even more bodies of water to the many boaters in the area. Not good enough for you? To the west is the Pacific Ocean dotted with quaint beach towns and remote stretches of beach alike.
Seattle has not one, but two sports stadiums – Safeco Field for the Mariners and CenturyLink Field that hosts both the Sounders and Seahawks. Not good enough for you? There’s also Husky Stadium on the University of Washington campus and KeyArena at the Seattle Center, home to the Rat City Rollergirls, Seattle Storm and sometimes traveling sports acts like the Harlem Globetrotters. If you like sports, Seattle has got plenty of sports for you!
Seattleites love food. Fresh food! Local food! And there is such an abundance of fresh, local goodness that it’s easy to delve into the culinary scene. It’s such a big deal that a farmer’s market is one of our biggest tourist attractions—Pike Place Market. Farmers markets are located in just about every Puget Sound city, sometimes several farmers markets within one city, as is the case with Seattle and Tacoma. Tons of restaurants pride themselves on local fare as well, if not the entire menu, then often a good part of it. Grocery stores are filled with produce grown right in Eastern Washington. Salmon and other seafood is abundant and fresh from the sea.
Seattle is a laid-back kind of city. Especially with voters choosing to put alcohol on the grocery store shelves, legalize gay marriage and legalize marijuana, the state in general has taken on an even more laid-back reputation. Whatever you believe, this conviction to let everyone be who they are creates a great atmosphere to live within. Be who you are. Seattle will accept you.
Seattle is a green city! In 2012, the city banned plastic bags at stores. You’ll spot bike lanes all around town (as well as ample bikers). Recycling is common and throwing away anything recyclable is generally frowned upon. But the city is surrounded by such natural beauty, it makes sense that everyone would want to do what they can to keep it that way.
If Seattle just doesn’t have enough awesomeness for you, the city is located within a short drive of several other amazing cities—namely, Portland to the South, the cities of the Oregon Coast, and Vancouver, B.C. to the north.
1. Jobs
Seattle has several large companies and nine Fortune 500 companies. While there are thousands of jobs at small and mid-sized businesses, not to mention the international ports of Western Washington in Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia, the hub of industry and business created by the Fortune 500 biggies creates a better than average job market in Western Washington.More »
2. Coffee
Seattle and coffee are intrinsically intertwined. Coffee is warm, which is delightful in the oft-cool climate of the Northwest. Coffee has caffeine, ideal for when you need a kick in the pants on a cloudy day. But above all, coffee is delicious and taken very seriously by Seattleites. Ask for Folgers and most (all!) will judge you! According to Wikipedia, Seattleites drink more coffee than any other U.S. population and there are 35 coffee shops per 100,000 people, at least according to Wikipedia.More »
3. Microbreweries and Wineries
Seattleites don’t just love their coffee, they love all kinds of beverages. Beer and wine rank high on the list as well! Washington State has more microbreweries than any other state except for California (and California is way bigger than we are), according to this 2013 USAToday article. If beer is not your thing, Woodinville Wine Country is just 30 minutes north of the city and is home to more than 50 wineries and tasting rooms.
4. Temperate Climate
While most of the rest of the country deals with freezing and snow in the winter and blazing hot summers, Western Washington is usually somewhere in the middle. Average temperatures here range between 35 and 75 degrees. Most winters are rainy. Depending on the year, spring, fall and summer also see some to a lot of rain. Seattle does get snow, but not every year and often not very much (and if we do get more than a dusting, the entire area shuts down so you don’t have to worry about going anywhere).For the most part, kick back and watch the rest of the country enjoy polar vortexes and heat waves while we stay somewhere in a reasonable range.More »
5. Mountains
It’s hard to miss Mt. Rainier towering over the city, but on clear days, you’ll see the entire area is framed by majestic mountains in both the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. They make a fabulous backdrop, but make an even more stunning weekend destination. It’s hard to top the hiking, climbing, skiing, camping and other nature-centric recreation opportunities right outside of the city.
6. The Water
Part of Seattle’s vast appeal is easy access to an amazing natural backdrop in just about every direction. To Seattle’s west is the Puget Sound, which is not only scenic, but also a great place for boating, fishing, crabbing and other maritime pursuits. Also in the city are Lake Union and Lake Washington, which open up even more bodies of water to the many boaters in the area. Not good enough for you? To the west is the Pacific Ocean dotted with quaint beach towns and remote stretches of beach alike.
7. Sports
Seattle has not one, but two sports stadiums – Safeco Field for the Mariners and CenturyLink Field that hosts both the Sounders and Seahawks. Not good enough for you? There’s also Husky Stadium on the University of Washington campus and KeyArena at the Seattle Center, home to the Rat City Rollergirls, Seattle Storm and sometimes traveling sports acts like the Harlem Globetrotters. If you like sports, Seattle has got plenty of sports for you!
8. Amazing Food
Seattleites love food. Fresh food! Local food! And there is such an abundance of fresh, local goodness that it’s easy to delve into the culinary scene. It’s such a big deal that a farmer’s market is one of our biggest tourist attractions—Pike Place Market. Farmers markets are located in just about every Puget Sound city, sometimes several farmers markets within one city, as is the case with Seattle and Tacoma. Tons of restaurants pride themselves on local fare as well, if not the entire menu, then often a good part of it. Grocery stores are filled with produce grown right in Eastern Washington. Salmon and other seafood is abundant and fresh from the sea.
9. You Can Be Whatever You Want to Be
Seattle is a laid-back kind of city. Especially with voters choosing to put alcohol on the grocery store shelves, legalize gay marriage and legalize marijuana, the state in general has taken on an even more laid-back reputation. Whatever you believe, this conviction to let everyone be who they are creates a great atmosphere to live within. Be who you are. Seattle will accept you.
10. We’re Green
Seattle is a green city! In 2012, the city banned plastic bags at stores. You’ll spot bike lanes all around town (as well as ample bikers). Recycling is common and throwing away anything recyclable is generally frowned upon. But the city is surrounded by such natural beauty, it makes sense that everyone would want to do what they can to keep it that way.
11. Bonus Awesome - Proximity to Further Awesomeness
If Seattle just doesn’t have enough awesomeness for you, the city is located within a short drive of several other amazing cities—namely, Portland to the South, the cities of the Oregon Coast, and Vancouver, B.C. to the north.
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