Besides Seattle, what else is in Washington State? (Spokane, Tacoma: theater, living in)

[mickey mouse is dead]

Pardon me if my thread reads a little bit rude, but that was not my intention. I always wanted to live in a city that would have a lot of museums, art galleries, a good theater scene, fine restaurants, effective transportation, and many many rock bands, but somehow I ended up in Florida, where, even though the weather is good, something about its residents jus tick me off. It seems like everybody here complaints, but would not leave the state just because of the weather. I am from the Caribbean, and weather is important, but not so important that I have to live in a hateful city. Now, it seems like Washington is breath taking state, with educated people, and a great music scene, but, am I just talking about Seattle, or is there any other city in the state that fits the criterion? How is Olympia, Bellevue, Everett, Spokane, Tacoma, Tri-Cities or Vancouver?

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by mickey mouse is dead

Pardon me if my thread reads a little bit rude, but that was not my intention. I always wanted to live in a city that would have a lot of museums, art galleries, a good theater scene, fine restaurants, effective transportation, and many many rock bands, but somehow I ended up in Florida, where, even though the weather is good, something about its residents jus tick me off. It seems like everybody here complaints, but would not leave the state just because of the weather. I am from the Caribbean, and weather is important, but not so important that I have to live in a hateful city. Now, it seems like Washington is breath taking state, with educated people, and a great music scene, but, am I just talking about Seattle, or is there any other city in the state that fits the criterion? How is Olympia, Bellevue, Everett, Spokane, Tacoma, Tri-Cities or Vancouver?

First, if weather is important to you consider those graphs about sunlight and clouds that are published here closely - they may not give a full feel for the bleakness of a northwest winter but they can at least give some idea. Months of pretty much continuous gray skies can get some people down (me for one) though plenty of people seem mostly unaffected by it.

You can almost consider Everett, Bellevue and Seattle as one metropolitan area - some would say that it encompasses Tacoma as well and I probably wouldn't argue.

Culturally Seattle is the center of the region - no doubt about that. Tacoma has the glass museum (yuck!), the state history museum and the Tacoma art museum (which doesn't come close to comparing with Seattle's) but it's not a cultural hotspot. The last time I was in Bellevue's art museum it was less interesting than Tacoma's but that's been a couple of years. It doesn't bother most of us, though, since we can always head up to Seattle with minimal effort.

I haven't lived in Spokane but the last time I visited it seemed to be doing pretty well.

Vancouver might be a really good choice since it's so closely tied to Portland, Oregon. I haven't found much in the way of culture in Vancouver proper but just across the river is a very cool town!

My only visits to the Tricities lately have been pretty short but I still got the impression that they're still mostly "hicktowns" - which is one reason I considered them when looking to move away from Tacoma! Much smaller town feel - though it's what I'm looking for it doesn't sound like what you're after.

[silas777]

the weather sucks! you probably wouldnt like bellevue, eastside is more conservative, seattle is basically san fran north lots of fruits, flakes and nuts.

[diggitydot]

Instead of Seattle, you may want to look more towards Portland. Portland has a phenomenal music scene, along with all the other traits you're seeking in a city, minus the weather thing.

The weather can be an issue for some. I was raised in the NW so having endless days worth of sun is odd to me. I would rather have unpredictable and changeable weather instead of one thing all the time. (I live in a desert, right now. I hate it.)

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by diggitydot

I would rather have unpredictable and changeable weather instead of one thing all the time. (I live in a desert, right now. I hate it.)

Agreed! That's why I'm so anxious to get away from the northwest. The weather is way too predictable - sunny and warm July - September, gray, damp and chilly (almost never actually cold, just an uncomfortable chill) the rest of the year More power to those who enjoy that type of weather but I'll be glad to be away!

[chris]

I second the Portland idea. Music scene is better there, although less rock oriented (more blues/jazz), it's overall got a better choices and real feel to it.

Seattle's rock scene was disappointing for me when I first got here and most tours that I'd like to see never come through the NW (low demand/ticket sales). It's actually one of the biggest things that I miss about living here.

Public transportion here is good, but can be frustratingly slow. Bus mostly.

[devilslilangel]

seattle is amazing way better than portland!!! The rock music is great here, and ALOT of bands stop here. & worst case scenario if they dont, you drive a few hours to where they do! please. the weather is great. everything is great. living in seattle is fan****intastic!

[tindo80]

Most of Western Washington is how you described Seattle, with a few exceptions. South of the Sound and North of Vancouver (excluding longview kelso) you run in to a number of lesser friendly parts, but still nowhere near as bad as other parts of the nation.

Spokane has a lot in common with Tacoma in the 70s IMO, its still recovering from mass job exodus, but has maintained a large population and is rapidly 'urbanizing' (in a good way). The bad economy may throw that off for a while though. Just as Tacoma has the potential to become the next 'seattle' due to housing prices and rise in demand to live in the sound area, Spokane has the potential to become the next Tacoma, with actual seasons.

Tri Cities...well, again its not as bad as a lot of other places, but IMO its the least exciting and least 'like the rest of washington' urban area in the state. The demographics, politics, atmosphere and geography are dramatically different than everywhere else. And the heat...the blasted heat. It would not be so bad if the main water body was not downwind of the hanford nuclear refuge superfund site. It always reminds me of southern Idaho.

[grayproduct]

Are you joking me? Spokane is Tacoma in the 1970's? That's a laughable observation as Spokane is larger, and just as urban as Tacoma. As the center of Eastern Washington commerce, it is probably plays a more important role too. There has been no mass exodus of jobs in Spokane either. Spokane is the epitome of a "stable economy"; no largess in good times, and no depressionary spiral in bad times.

[pw72]

Back to the OP...

Seattle is distinctive in that it is a larger, urban, cosmopolitan city and ranks high among such in the U.S. Outside of Seattle, in Washington State, there isn't anything close. Yes, Spokane is a hub for the "inland empire", but its influence and population are minor compared to Seattle and environs. I won't mention Portland and Vancouver BC, because you were asking about Washington State. Tacoma is part of the Seattle metro, but very unlike Seattle culturally and econonically. All this having been said, Washington offers many positives outside of Seattle, mainly the recreational attributes that contribute to Seattle being such a livable city.