Seattle alternatives (Vancouver, Bellevue, Kirkland: rent, condo, mortgage)

[Oh2Me]

Philadelphia is a hidden gem. I purchased my home there after a "day trip" visiting friends in DC and NYC. Loved it that much. On repeated visits, I've found the neighborhoods all have their own charm and feel. People are direct, friendly, and community oriented. It's totally different from the standoffish vibe in Seattle, but it's also a major city and people do tend to mind their own business downtown. Food is top notch. I can't wait to get out again and enjoy more of the farm-to-table and world cuisine. We're into the arts and hiking and there's so much there to get that fix easily. Other great things are walkability with a dense, vibrant city core and the weather has been good. I'm a California girl so I'd never say it's great lol But it's good considering. .We've visited in early spring, late summer, and fall but have yet to take on a winter season there. My partner and I are planning to move after our PA house renter's lease is up next Oct. The kiddo is currently being treated at Seattle Children's which has kept us here longer than desired.

[CirculateRX]

Originally Posted by Oh2Me

Philadelphia is a hidden gem. I purchased my home there after a "day trip" visiting friends in DC and NYC. Loved it that much. On repeated visits, I've found the neighborhoods all have their own charm and feel. People are direct, friendly, and community oriented. It's totally different from the standoffish vibe in Seattle, but it's also a major city and people do tend to mind their own business downtown. Food is top notch. I can't wait to get out again and enjoy more of the farm-to-table and world cuisine. We're into the arts and hiking and there's so much there to get that fix easily. Other great things are walkability with a dense, vibrant city core and the weather has been good. I'm a California girl so I'd never say it's great lol But it's good considering. .We've visited in early spring, late summer, and fall but have yet to take on a winter season there. My partner and I are planning to move after our PA house renter's lease is up next Oct. The kiddo is currently being treated at Seattle Children's which has kept us here longer than desired.

Interesting take, ill look more heavily into Philly. Thank you I guess my views have been slightly bigoted.
What's your child being treated for if you don't mind me asking? (I'm a nurse practitioner)
I'd like to know your experience with the healthcare team in Seattle.

[thatguy950]

Don’t discount St Louis either, bad areas of course, but there are plenty of nice areas and the people are very friendly in general, good food and four distinct seasons as well.

People on “the coasts” scoff at the midwest with their noses in the air, but Missouri has some incredible scenery

[Oh2Me]

Originally Posted by CirculateRX

Interesting take, ill look more heavily into Philly. Thank you I guess my views have been slightly bigoted.
What's your child being treated for if you don't mind me asking? (I'm a nurse practitioner)
I'd like to know your experience with the healthcare team in Seattle.

Hi CirculateRX,

I don’t mind sharing, he was diagnosed with stage IV Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the start of the COVID crisis. I can’t tell you how wonderful the team at Seattle Children’s is. Even with everything going on they took exceptional care of him and were hugely empathetic.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by Oh2Me

Hi CirculateRX,

I don’t mind sharing, he was diagnosed with stage IV Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the start of the COVID crisis. I can’t tell you how wonderful the team at Seattle Children’s is. Even with everything going on they took exceptional care of him and were hugely empathetic.

Sending heartfelt wishes for your son's health. My dad has cancer right now but I can't imagine how tough it would be to be in your shoes. Children's is wonderful, very kind people.

[Oh2Me]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

Sending heartfelt wishes for your son's health. My dad has cancer right now but I can't imagine how tough it would be to be in your shoes. Children's is wonderful, very kind people.

Thank you so much 2020 has been a hard year for a lot of people and we felt extremely grateful to have medical care and a hopeful outcome.

[tommy64]

Originally Posted by 87112

I have been to Sacramento and Denver, neither places are all that interesting. Nice scenery yes, but lacks any kind of soul that would make you go back.

I like Sacramento's downtown. It's very bike-able and clean/safe.

Denver is old, weather beaten and dirty, unless you go to the far south end of town where the rich people are.

[509]

The MUCH BETTER alternatives to Seattle WERE Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, BC.


I haven't been in Portland for over a decade, but it use to be a real cool city. I guess these days if you can stay away from the nightly riots downtown it still might be a cool city.


Lived in Vancouver, BC. It is a world class city. Really unfair to Vancouver to compare it to Seattle. Vancouver is in a totally different league.


There are other cities out west.....but they don't need anymore people....so stick to Portland and Vancouver.

[rhymeswithcovid]

Originally Posted by CirculateRX

Hi friends,
Wife and I want to ask a quick question to you Seattle locals.
We really enjoyed your city for its abundance of shops and restaurants on the roads. Downtown, cap hill, Ballard, Kirkland, Edmonds, we loved the access to eating and shopping. We come from Phoenix where it’s shopping strip malls and that’s it. Even downtown is just buildings, nothing for pedestrians really. We’ve noticed places like Chicago, NY, Portland, Boston, all feel like people focused downtowns with all the shops and food places. Can you name any other cities that feel more people focused? We would like a city that’s at least moderate sized to large sized.

The challenge is finding one that's not overrun by homeless, drug users, protesters, etc. Try Boston or Austin. Nashville maybe.

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by tommy64

Denver is old, weather beaten and dirty,

I live in Denver and don't see this at all.
Lots of new construction within city limits: both business and residential.