Your favorite WA metro (excluding Seattle) (Spokane, Vancouver: neighborhoods, colleges, restaurant)

[preston39]

To all present or former Washingtonians, which metro (250k+) is your favorite and why?

[pnwguy2]

Tri cities due to a huge growing population and the best weather in the State.

[StealthRabbit]

Vanc-Portland,
2.1m population, reasonably low traffic (compact commute / CBD area), huge parks, much food and beer variety, 25+ colleges within 1 hr, recreation within 10 min, Oregon coast / Mt St Helens / Mt Hood <1 hr

[TheTimidBlueBars]

Maybe Spokane. It's not the most well-kept or attractive place ever, namely on the north and east sides, but it is an actual city with suburbs and distinct neighborhoods. I wouldn't be as bored if I had to move there as I would be in Washington's other non-Seattle metros. The downtown area overlooking the falls and Manito Park (especially the rose garden) are beautiful and I've enjoyed showing friends around there.

Out of these, Olympia is my favorite followed by Bremerton, but I consider those part of the Seattle metro even if they don't technically hit the commuting threshold to be included in the MSA.

Least favorite MSA entirely in WA is the Tri-Cities, followed by Yakima and then Wenatchee. Not my type of scenery, not a lot of foot traffic, and have weak downtowns for their sizes and not very interesting or aesthetically pleasing neighborhoods.

[Hemlock140]

In our 27 years here, we have spent time in all of those areas but one,Yakima, where we have only been twice, each for just an hour or to. Because we like the combination of woods, water, and access to shopping and food, I selected the Olympia area. In fact our favorite place for breakfast, where we stop any time we are on the way to Oregon or California, is the Farm Boy Restaurant on Maytown Rd., which has room to park even with our travel trailer. Then we always stop in the Olympia/Lacey area for dinner on the way home. We usually drive to Portland 4-5 times a year, California 1-2 times.

[PartIrish]

Why isn't Vancouver/Portland on the list?

[preston39]

Originally Posted by PartIrish

Why isn't Vancouver/Portland on the list?

I mainly excluded the Portland metro due to it being anchored by a city in another state, plus it’s over four times larger than the next biggest metro (Spokane).

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by TheTimidBlueBars

Maybe Spokane. It's not the most well-kept or attractive place ever, namely on the north and east sides, but it is an actual city with suburbs and distinct neighborhoods. I wouldn't be as bored if I had to move there as I would be in Washington's other non-Seattle metros. The downtown area overlooking the falls and Manito Park (especially the rose garden) are beautiful and I've enjoyed showing friends around there.

Out of these, Olympia is my favorite followed by Bremerton, but I consider those part of the Seattle metro even if they don't technically hit the commuting threshold to be included in the MSA.

Least favorite MSA entirely in WA is the Tri-Cities, followed by Yakima and then Wenatchee. Not my type of scenery, not a lot of foot traffic, and have weak downtowns for their sizes and not very interesting or aesthetically pleasing neighborhoods.

Tri cities might not be everyone’s favorite but it has two things going for it. First, the economy is gangbusters with continued growth in both retail and housing, even in a pandemic. Second, seriously it has the best weather in the state as I mentioned above. Dry, sunny, not too cold in the winter. Yes a few 100 degree days but everything is AC’d.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by preston39

I mainly excluded the Portland metro due to it being anchored by a city in another state, plus it’s over four times larger than the next biggest metro (Spokane).

Those of us in Vanc - Portland area know that Vancouver existed long before Portland, so Oregon is really just a suburb of our WA Metro area. +/-

Handy if you want to 'change-up' the activities / variety / politics.

Of course we also realize that many think WA State is ONLY Seattle / the Puget Sound area. That is pretty std thought, but I know plenty of WA residents who have never been to Seattle or nearby regions.

Once east of Cascades, most don't consider 'going-to-town' to be 'metro' (as in subways and international airports).

Vancouver BC would be my favorite 'Metro' in the region.

[87112]

Yakima, reminds of El Paso or Albuquerque in some areas. Two places I may retire in, I flip a coin at times.