What is Seattle like? (Tacoma, Olympia: real estate, credit card, home)

[keloucks]

Originally Posted by HockeyMac18

While I can't comment on the details of the city, I can say that winters in terms of clouds would be somewhat similar to Cleveland (that is, from November to May it's cloudy in Cleveland...a lot (one of the cloudiest areas, if not the most cloudy area, of the country despite popular belief Seattle is)). Being from Ohio and having lived in Cleveland (among other great lake cities), the lake-effect clouds are a constant in the fall, winter, and spring. Plus, as I'm sure you know, the snow is pretty non-stop; never really heavy, but just light enough to be annoying. Seattle experiences a similar effect that Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Rochester NY experience (or any city east of a great lake...Chicago is exempt from this because of its position relative to Lake MI); that is the lake-effect clouds are very similar to Seattle's weather in the winter.

Now, that being said, the temperature difference is significant. Winters in the great lakes (western NY especially) will have temperatures 10 - 20 degrees (with strong winds making it feel MUCH colder) for most of the winter with snow that is never ending (staying on the ground most winters for months...turning gray and ugly fast). Seattle, in general, is 30 (at the low end) - 45 in the winter with rain. I suppose, you'd have to determine which is worse to you. Personally, I would totally pick a Seattle winter over a Cleveland, Detroit, or Buffalo winter. And not just because it warmer in Seattle; but also because the area around Seattle is gorgeous, and when the sun does come out you get a glimpse of such a beautiful place. When the sun comes out in Cleveland or Buffalo...you get a view of...what again? oh yeah...FACTORIES!...YAY! Yeah, so there's more to it than the weather.

Anyone calling Seattle the worst winter in the country really needs to experience a Rochester NY winter before making such claims.

I wish you luck in your search for a new place to live. The Midwest can be a really crappy and boring place to live; and I don't blame you for moving. I wish I could move out of here soon. I envy those living in Seattle personally.

Hi there! Thank you so much for actually directly comparing the two cities. Yeah, we went to Cedar Point yesterday and I was prepared and excited for a nice crisp day, but no. Everyone was in tanks and shorts, hair in pony tails. It was very hot but at least it got cooler later in the day. Just a little disappointing but I was at Cedar Point so I can't complain much :-) I would love to visit Seattle because I know it's beautiful there. We don't have mountains and all that fun stuff here as you know. I love to travel but as you said, Seattle is probably not the place for me to actually live. Thanks again! Everyone has been very helpful and knowledgeable but you definitely had some experience in both cities to back up your points.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by keloucks

Hi there! Thank you so much for actually directly comparing the two cities. Yeah, we went to Cedar Point yesterday and I was prepared and excited for a nice crisp day, but no. Everyone was in tanks and shorts, hair in pony tails. It was very hot but at least it got cooler later in the day. Just a little disappointing but I was at Cedar Point so I can't complain much :-) I would love to visit Seattle because I know it's beautiful there. We don't have mountains and all that fun stuff here as you know. I love to travel but as you said, Seattle is probably not the place for me to actually live. Thanks again! Everyone has been very helpful and knowledgeable but you definitely had some experience in both cities to back up your points.

Hey there again. You're welcome for the advice. I was born in Cleveland (well, Mayfield Heights) and lived there quite a while, so I know Cleveland very well. I grew up in Toledo (and have since came back...although temporarily), and I know how the weather has been here the past few days. It feels like August, and that's not good (for me at least) because I hate August weather (90 with high humidity...). Falls are really the only time in Ohio I enjoy because the clouds haven't hit quite yet and the temps are perfect (high 50s)....and I'm not even getting that this year!

Ohio though...is one boring as state. To give you an idea of the lack of, well anything exciting in Ohio, the best thing we have going for us is Cedar Point; which is awesome on its own...it's just, that shouldn't be the biggest thing you've got going on. We get the same crappy weather as many other places in the country (crappier in my opinion than the PNW), and we don't have anything pretty to look at when it is nice out (no ocean...no mountains...we do have a lot of factories and farms though!). I'm an avid outdoors person (hiking especially) and so my views may be biased in this sense...but I still think many would agree that it's pretty boring and stale. If it weren't for the fact that all of my family lives in Ohio, I would have no ties to this state and certainly wouldn't choose to live here.

At any rate, you should keep in mind that I'm not a definitive source on Seattle because I haven't lived there (yet, sadly...although I do hope soon to move there). But I do feel like I have a good feel on how its weather compares due to many visits, looking at web cams very often; browsing various weather sites regularly; reading about/studying the climate of the region and what powers it; and taking into account anecdotal observations from people who have lived there (people I know, people on this website) or from other people that have visited Seattle very regularly (my father, in particular).

While I do think you would definitely enjoy Seattle overall, it's not the right place for everyone. While I personally love its weather, I know I am definitely in the minority. If you suffer from SAD, it certainly isn't a place you should consider for extended periods of time in the winter. If you do decide to live there, plan to get away for at least in the winter. You could probably find some other places that offer warmer weather (if that's your thing, which it might be) and some geographical aspects that Seattle offers (it'd be hard to find another place in the country that offers all of what Seattle offers in this regard, but perhaps there is a place?). If you do decide on a visit to see it (that is, a visit not to see if it's where you'd like to live, but rather just to visit for fun), go in the summer because it is absolutely gorgeous then (blue skies often with wonderful scenery surrounding on all sides).

However, I wish you the best of luck in getting out of Ohio. I think no matter where you go, you'll probably enjoy it more than Ohio (I know I would). Have a good day for now

[mamamaya]

Originally Posted by mayfair

I spent many Christmases here bummed out because there was no snow and everything was green. That sounds crazy but I missed the distinct season change. I love green, don't get me wrong- but the seasons don't really change. They sort of ooze into each other without a distinct boundary.

Hmm..that sounds like England and not even so different than the bay area. Does this mean we have to move back to New England?

[mayfair]

Mamamaya, You can got to the mountains for snow (I don't want to discourage you). It's just not the same as a true 4 season climate.

[LMB]

Originally Posted by mamamaya

Hmm..that sounds like England and not even so different than the bay area.

I've often heard people compare Seattle's weather to London. It sounds like it's quite similar. If true, London must have a better PR agency! Weather sure isn't the first thing you think of when you hear "London"--at least it isn't for me.

Lynn

[mamamaya]

Originally Posted by LMB

Weather sure isn't the first thing you think of when you hear "London"--at least it isn't for me.

I guess that's because it's a major cosmopolitan city with so much more to be said about it. But if you think "England" the first thing most people (including us Brits) want to complain about is the weather.

Cold doesn't bother me, or rain, but grey grey grey gets to me after a while and that's life in most of England. I miss the seasons but in the south of England they can eb kind of a let down..especially with global warming, all the seasons are starting to merge into one.

My feeling there though is it's the combination of lack of light along with living in little terraced houses that don't let in much light that really gets to a lot of people, myself included. I think I'd feel very differently with windows on all four sides of the house and maybe a view of Puget sound or mountains...maybe?

[LordBalfor]

Yeah, England and the coastal regions of the PNW have a very similar climate. In fact, a while back I read a rather interesting article that stated that there are 2 places on earth that are considered to be the very best places for gardening. I think their criteria revolved mainly around the fact that these 2 locations supported the widest array of plants - with winter weather cold enough for the various bulbs and bushes that need a bit of chill but not cold enough to kill most of the more tender plants - and with summer weather not so hot as to make life difficult for those plants that are not overly heat tolerant.

These 2 places were England and the PNW.

Ken

[Twoaday]

Well I'd say Seattle is a great city that is both very green and very vibrant. I just recently got back from a vacation there and took a ton of photos... check it out:
Collection: Seattle, WA

[ladyjuliek]

It appears the city is being overrun by trees and plants! (Thanks for the photos, I almost feel like I've visited now. *lol* Looks like the city has kind of a European feel. No garbage either!)

[manbehindthecurtain]

Originally Posted by robind

Constant traffic - roads may open up at 3am but otherwise figure on traffic everywhere. Not just highways - everywhere.

Long term locals or natives call Winter hibernation season - enjoy spending months napping and going nowhere.

Impossible to find things - trees blocking and hidden entrances for everything.

No Summers - rain and clouds all the time.

Too many over priced restaurants.

Nothing is convenient. No centrasl areas with easy access for shopping and dining.

I could go on all day...

Sarcasm, I'm sure.