I’ve only been living in Seattle for a month now since moving from San Francisco. While I’ve been here for only a short amount of time there are a few things I’ve learned/noticed about the Emerald City, that you might agree with me on… or not:
1. There’s literally a Starbucks/coffee shop on every corner! Which is great for someone who has been drinking coffee since they were 5-years-old and doesn’t go a day without it.
2. The rain and gloom aren’t that bad. Considering I lived in the Bay Area where the fog has its own name and personality, (you should look him up on Twitter, his name is Karl the Fog and he’s hilarious) the weather has been quite bearable.
3. People don’t believe in umbrellas. It’s rained a good chunk of times since I’ve been here, and I’ve rarely seen anyone with an umbrella. Why?!
4. There are lots of beautiful waterfronts and hiking trails. However, since I’m more of a beach fan, it was recommended that I check out Alki beach as one of the best beach spots.
5. People here are aggressive drivers and not in a good way! I’ll be honest and say I’m not the most experienced driver, but I try to be as safe and cautious as possible. Just today a driver sped up to cut me off because the lane was about to merge. Apparently folks don’t know how to use a blinker either.
6. Just like with any major city, parking is a nightmare. Whenever I plan on actually driving into the city, I check for nearby parking structures. That’s the only way I’ll feel confident enough to drive downtown.
7. Sales tax is 10%, which I was surprised at, because not even San Francisco, which is considered one of the most expensive cities, has such a high tax rate.
8. There are way too many places to get pho, teriyaki, or seafood, but no decent Mexican food options.
9. Now as for pizza, a college student staple, I was told to go to Pagliacci Pizza, I don’t know about you but I think it was just okay.
10. Lastly, looking Washington as a whole, I found out that University of Washington is the largest university in the state!
While my transition to Seattle has been rough, I do hope that as the time passes, I continue to learn more about Seattle’s quirks and immerse myself in the culture. Above all, I do believe this is a beautiful city with more to offer than just bad drivers and rain.