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When i think of two American cities that are polar opposites, I can't think of two cities more different than Seattle and Miami. Really the only two things these cities have in common are they are two of the most lush cities in terms of vegetation and they have high rises (but so do a bunch of other cities in the US).
They literally sit at opposite corners from each other in the country. I mean Seattle is very white and Asian, while Miami is very Latin. Seattle is more cloudy than not, and Miami is super sunny. Miami is very flat, Seattle is the opposite. Miami is always warm to hot, Seattle is cool to cold. If you visit Seattle one day and Miami the next, you pretty much feel like you are in two different countries.
So let's do a comparison. And to open it up a little more let's make it the whole metro areas. So Miami we can include Miami Beach just as we can include Bellevue for Seattle.
Weather:
People:
Culture:
Cuisine:
Entertainment:
Architecture:
Natural Beauty:
Vibrancy:
Where would you rather live:
I want to go more off opinions rather than categories that are proven facts. So things like crime are fact on which has more crime, or things like COL as there is not much of an argument on which one is more expensive.
Weather: Seattle
People: tied
Culture: Miami
Cuisine: Seattle
Entertainment: Miami
Architecture: Seattle
Natural Beauty: Seattle
Vibrancy: tied
Where would you rather live: Seattle is more my style but Iike Miami as well.
Location: Miami (prev. NY, Atlanta, SF, OC and San Diego)
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I will start as a Miami resident who lived on the West Coast and frequented Seattle on business.
Weather: Miami. My body is acclimated to a warm weather climate. I got depressed during SF winters and can only imagine how much more gloomy and cloudy skies would effect me further north. I would probably be on suicide watch come February. I can go in the ocean year round without a wetsuit here. Summer months are tolerable here if you live on the coast, as I do.
People: since this includes women, not even close in terms of attractiveness—Miami. More clean cut and groomed professionals where I live vs the “grunge” look. Seattle is more American whereas I am a minority in my own country in Miami—though the foreign born people I interact with are professional. No question they are more polite in Seattle—especially on the roads, as newly arriving Latinos bring their crappy and aggressive driving style with them.
Culture: Miami is an international melting pot (and not just Latino), which I enjoy (not a fan of homogeneity, in general—not necessarily saying Seattle is homogeneous). Miami hosts the annual Art Basel event (only US city do so), the largest food and wine event in the nation (So Beach Wine & Food Festival); Art Deco Weekend, Ultra Music Festival, and Coconut Grove Arts Festival..all of these attract people from outside the area, some from outside the country. Cannot speak for Seattle institutions and annual events.
Entertainment: Miami is known worldwide for its nightlife and other events. Various museums and music/theatrical venues. Again, less familiar with Seattle. Miami does have all 4 of the big pro sports leagues represented here.
Cuisine: Both are good in different areas. Seattle has better seafood and Asian cuisine (though Miami has gotten better with the latter in recent years though on the high end)...Miami does better Latin cuisine, with the possible exception of Mexican, and has very good Italian cuisine. Grand Central (and PDX’s Ken’s Artisan) are my favorite West Coast bakeries; Miami has Zak the Baker and NYC import Sullivan. Both cities have great steakhouses—Seattle is the best on the West Coast whereas Miami has many great imports from top NYC steakhouses and elsewhere. Miami is very good on the high end, with Thomas Keller, Jose Andres, Michael Mina, Daniel Boulud and Michelin Star (US and Europe) outposts —and, please, these are good stand alone outposts, not to be confused with airport franchised Wolfgang Puck Cafe Express..lol.
Architecture: Seattle has its majestic mountain setting in the background to compliment its skyline whereas Miami has Art Deco plus the 3rd largest skyline in the US complimented by the greenish ocean and bay, causeways, and lush semi tropical landscape.
Natural setting: The Seattle mountains edge out the lush palm trees and greenish Miami water.
Vibrancy: Miami is a sexy city that has a certain panache and style. Seattle is more down to earth, coffee culture, less show-offish, and “outdoorsy” (mountains, hiking, some boating for a portion of the year vs more yachting and beach dominated and Latin culture). There is a reason why the NFL has selected Miami as a Super Bowl host city for a record setting 11th time and well to do from around the world own primary or secondary residences here.
Last edited by elchevere; 01-24-2020 at 11:35 AM..
Believe it or not, there is more crossover between Florida and Washington than one would expect, especially given the sheer geographic distance -- and cultural distance -- of the two states. Much of this is due to the fact that both Florida and Washington have quite a few military installations, and neither state has a state income tax.
Weather: Mami. The PNW is the only climate in the continental U.S. that I would actually hate to live in. The damp, cool/chilly, cloudy climate would drive me nuts. Tropical climates don't bother me at all.
People: Seattle. I'm not fond of either. But Seattle's residents seems happier and friendlier than in Miami, in my experiences.
Culture: If "culture" means various types of people, Miami
Cuisine: Miami
Entertainment: Mami
Architecture: Miami
Natural Beauty: Seattle
Vibrancy: Miami
Where would you rather live: Neither. But between the two, I'd choose Miami.
Weather: Seattle. Hot and humid is worse than 50s with light drizzle, the latter you can wear more and Goretex solves everything
People: Tie. Seattle is more Asian, Miami is more Latino.
Culture: Seattle, I'm more reserved, not showy
Cuisine: Seattle, I prefer seafood and Asian fusion
Entertainment: Miami. Warm ocean is fun.
Architecture: Seattle architecture is pretty boring on individual level, but collectively it stands out as very cohesive and fitting for its natural environment and hills. See picture below.
Natural Beauty: Seattle, Puget Sound, 3 national parks within 2 hours, plus British Columbia isn't far away
Vibrancy: Tie
Where would you rather live: Seattle
Seattle, Eastlake neighborhood (own work). Seattle is in a beautiful part of the country.
Miami is always warm to hot, Seattle is cool to cold.
Seattle summers are warm by any standard (typically around 75-80 degree highs). It's a relatively short summer and the rest of the year is "cool to cold" but those 2-3 months where it's warm are amazing.
Weather: Seattle. Hot and humid is worse than 50s with light drizzle, the latter you can wear more and Goretex solves everything
People: Tie. Seattle is more Asian, Miami is more Latino.
Culture: Seattle, I'm more reserved, not showy
Cuisine: Seattle, I prefer seafood and Asian fusion
Entertainment: Miami. Warm ocean is fun.
Architecture: Seattle architecture is pretty boring on individual level, but collectively it stands out as very cohesive and fitting for its natural environment and hills. See picture below.
Natural Beauty: Seattle, Puget Sound, 3 national parks within 2 hours, plus British Columbia isn't far away
Vibrancy: Tie
Where would you rather live: Seattle
Seattle, Eastlake neighborhood (own work). Seattle is in a beautiful part of the country.
Eastlake is one of the most underrated neighborhoods in Seattle. I love the vibe there, the scenery, the neighborhoods restaurants and bars, and its proximity to Capitol Hill and Downtown while being a lot more low-key than those areas. This is one of the best photos of the neighborhood I've ever seen.
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