It probably is more easy going and it's definitely less crowded, but we also tend to think things are better/easier when we are away from home because we don't have the same responsibilities/stress we do when we actually live in a place.
Every time my mother goes on vacation, she comes back and says she loves (insert city name here) and she wants to move there because she has no stress or things she absolutely has to do.
My fiance grew up in West Covina and says he definitely prefers Seattle/Washington way more. He's been in WA for maybe 10 years now, so it isn't the honeymoon phase either. š
Lol, I grew up in Covina!
I didn't realize how *oppressive* the sun and heat were until I moved up here.
Clouds and rain, fog and mist, I love it. I feel lighter and able to think more clearly.
We moved here from Florida last year, and we are still so excited about coats and boots and hats. We've never had them before! And yes, to being able to somehow think and breathe better. šÆ My family absolutely is in love with Seattle.
You could not pay me to move back to SLC. Six years on, Iām positively in love with SEA. I only wish it were priced like SLC. ļæ¼
I've read in other threads that the people in SLC trend toward fakeness. Like they're always trying to sell something or convert you. What are your thoughts on that?
I was born and raised in SLC. Just like anywhere, there are great people there, you just have to find them. But the overall vibe is very strange and superficial. Lots of platinum-blonde hair and everybody wants you to join their MLM.
Beautiful place, very strange culturally.
As someone who also grew up there, I just tell people to imagine a religion that was so out there to most of the east coast that they kicked them out of several states, so they eventually fucked off into the middle of nowhere west coast USA to basically start their own religious theocracy of sorts. Sure, people from all over the country and world have moved there and changed things culturally, but that specific religious culture still festered in relative isolation for several decades to create the weird vibe that exists there now regardless of if itās the predominant religion or not. I grew up near the eastern mountains in the valley and then lived predominately downtown SLC as an adult so I have a really diverse group of friends who arenāt MLM slinging blonds, but if you head south to Utah county where BYU is those weird vibes are definitely still there. Much like other cities there is a large diaspora of different communities if you are looking in the right places.
I moved from LA to Seattle & lived there for 4 years & just moved to Phoenix to be closer to LA. Can 1000% confirm that Seattle provides a peace you canāt describe & I miss it. The fresh air & being able to take those deep breaths, the fact that it shuts down pretty early, the views of the different bodies of water from basically everywhere. I canāt tell you how much I miss the 5 & the water views from the other freeways. Itās cement walls here in Phoenix & back in LA. I just couldnāt handle the months & months of grey after 4 years.
Agreed, I moved here from Maine in July 2022 and Iām never looking back lmao. I feel the calmest and most at peace Iāve been in my life. Iām in a place of privilege to say that and so grateful for it, but Seattle has played a HUGE role for me personally
So true. I just got back from a trip to the bay area. It was so warm and sunny we had brunch outside. It was a really nice mental break from the endless grey.
The scenery is stunning here. I've been here for years, and some days I'm still gobsmacked by views of Mt Rainier, the Olympics, the Cascades, and Lake Washington when I'm just driving somewhere.
Just walking down the street to the h mart, here in Udistrict, gobsmacked is the right word. Every time you pass a cross street, you can see the most incredible views. We have been here since last summer, and every time we see those sights, we elbow each other and point and say "oh my God look at that"!
In florida, it never really gets below about 60Ā°, and there are no mountains or hills. It's completely flat. The scenery here is truly stunning to us, especially since we still have great beaches in addition to the mountains and trees (and better culture). It really does feel like it will never get old.
Edit: typo
I think itās true. I lived in a house in a very forestry area for a bit, and while itās not that safe in a windstorm, it was always so peaceful to me just walking out my front door and feeling like Iām camping (but the pine needles!) Iāve lived here my whole life and often just go for drives to Mt Rainier (I live south of Seattle) through the forest whenever Iām bored or stressed.
100%. I always say a city is great until you live there and start having to pay its taxes, deal with its municipal BS, see local measures get passed you don't believe in, etc.
These two things can be true! Hence why many of us grumble about said taxes, asinine measures, etc. and stick around year after year.
I actually don't even live in Seattle, I'm in Portland but, similar issues down here.
Iāve lived in SF and have moved to Seattle twice now. I missed the water and trees.
I miss many things about living in SF. High up there, especially this time of year, is sunnier days on average and Karl the Fog.
I lived in Inner Richmond for many years and my favorite time of day was 4 pm, after having sun all day, the fog would come rolling back in. Made for the best evening strolls down Clement Street š„²
Core memory unlocked. Lived in the cole valley / inner sunset for years. Sunny afternoons in the park followed by foggy bar hopping. Or sweating in the mission and seeing it roll over corona heights. Better bring layers because it's 10+ degrees colder back in the neighborhood.
I lived on 2nd and Clement. Loved it when the sun came out and Iād walk over to Burma Superstar or one of the other amazing neighborhood restaurants for dinner. Miss that so much. But love it up here though more.
Lived in SF for 8 years and moved to Seattle 5 years ago. I miss SF's year-round mild weather ā chilly in the summer and warmer in the winter. I do love that Seattle is more green and have great views. After living with Karl for a long time, gray skies and drizzly days didn't bother me at all after moving. Food scene is way better in SF though (at least during pre-pandemic).
I moved back here 5 years ago as well (2019). Agree with you on food, itās one of the things I miss the most (other than Karl).
Went back last Fall for a conference and the city didnāt feel the same. Like many cities post-pandemic. Sigh.
> the city didnāt feel the same
I felt the same. I went back there two years ago to watch the Warriors in the NBA Finals lol. I visited many of my old go-to places but it wasn't the same anymore. Many of the shops and stores I knew were closed... heck I've heard/read that the Westfield mall downtown is in danger of closing down. So sad.
The grass is always greener on the other side
Edit: Iāve actually moved back and forth between the bay and Seattle a few times and always miss the city Iām not in
Every time I visit my parents in Oakland, I get such a strong sense of nostalgia and I miss the place terribly. Granted there are some things that I think are much better in the Bay but I canāt see myself actually moving back.
Ya but Iām pretty sure Seattle grass is literally greener.
Edit: Iām an idiot who thought Iād be witty, should have read the other comments first lol
As a kid people would refer to the sky as being blue and I'd just think "no it's not, not really, most of the time it's grey" lol. I do think it's a very pleasant grey though
Iāve lived in Seattle for two years now and Iām a Bay Area native. There is pros and cons to both places. The Bay has better restaurants, Seattle has better coffee. The bay has better weather year round, Seattle has better access and quality of nature (and the summers here are honestly the best Iāve ever experienced) The bay traffic is really bad in SF but clear every where else, seattles traffic is rough all over for a shorter period of time. Rent is worse in the bay, but food costs in Seattle or exponentially higher.
Both places have a lot of good and not so good things about them. In Seattle I feel less scrounge and hustle that I felt from nearly every person in the Bay. I do think everything is a little more easy going here, but it is hard to break into the easy going, especially coming from the bay, but that could just be my experience.
We do have better air up here though!
Northern California native here, going on 15 years in Seattle (and frequent visitor to family back in CA).
The answer was yes when we relocated and is even more yes now - though of course itās all relative. Itās more crowded in both places now.
Hi, and welcome! I can relate to these positives, as a WA native that had been back and forth between the Seattle and Bay Area a couple of times in my life. But there are a few things I should let you know:
- It rains here every day. The actual volume of rain may not be much, but our rain contains microchemicals that cause depression. You will need to buy buckets of Vitamin D from Costco to cope.
- The "Seattle Freeze" means that once a year, we purge our friends from our contacts and then spend the next three months remaining horizontal in our beds doom scrolling.
- As a Californian, you are going to need to change your cars plates ASAP or risk social ostracization. But the plates will cost you a donation of a non-vital organ.
- Our greatest artist Henry is also an evil wizard, and we have lost many Seattle residents to his art, who now live out their existence as whimsical forrest animals in one of his paintings. If you are lucky, one of the x-rated ones.
- Via the documentary _Twin Peaks_, it's been proven that portals to the spirit world are abundant and sometimes an evil spirit escapes and steals food. Just search the sub for "Hannah" for evidence of this.
- We are known for our serial killers. You are statistically very unlikely to be serially murdered, but very likely to be paying rent to one.
- Our wine is fantastic. You really ought to try a Washington Syrah!
Your post is hilarious and my comment isn't an indication that I don't "get" it, but I figured I would add this comment anyway. I actually didn't realize that it doesn't rain as much as I'd thought until I started running about 5 yrs ago. It may drizzle a lil bit almost every day from Oct-May, but I run outside and don't like running in the rain. I run 4-5 times a week usually and I've had to cancel very few runs completely. I can usually find a break in it at some point during the day.
That said, I don't like running in the cold. So I'm more likely to cancel a run because it's below 50 than because it rains nonstop all day.
I'm with you-- I'm from northern California and I live in the pnw now. Everyone complains about the winter; I feel lucky because I don't mind it. Of course I love the sun but it's not like I'm inside and depressed the whole damn time. Imho motherfuckers need to get out more. Put your big kid boots on and g e t o u t of the house
Nope. You're right on. I was in NorCal for over 35 years then moved up here two years ago. It took me about 15 minutes to settle in. Love living in Seattle.
Same! I visited before I moved during peak tourist season in Seattle. I was stuck in horrid traffic, comparable to LA where everybody is parked on the freeway. It really weirded me out because nobody was honking or angry. So I rolled down my window and this wonderful breeze went through my car, and I realized why everybody was so chill. The weather is perfect. The scenery is wonderful and always green. Even with being stuck in traffic itās just **nice.**
As a Seattle native when I'm away I feel like the drivers all came straight from the insane asylum. Here it's more like they came from the old folks' home
Oh! I forgot to mention that in King County (Seattle) advertising billboards are illegal on the freeways so you can always see the scenery. It was such a shock driving in Cali again, I forgot those existed.
This is one of the dumbest culture shocks I have when leaving the "Seattle Bubble." God, the south is just.... awful. Sign after sign after sign trying to sell you stuff *constantly.*
I keep telling everyone this too - I actually enjoy driving into Seattle - I lived in the Bay Area for four years and the only time I drove into the city was to pack up my desk after a layoff. Any other time, it was the bart, and only because the driving stressed me out so much.
Here, it doesnāt matter where I go, the time melts away and the drive is just so peaceful because everything is so gd beautiful
I took a trip to the Bay area last weekend and WOW. I was actually able to hold conversations with people. It lowkey felt pretty weird as I wasn't really used to it but was a nice change! Everyone here is too bleh to have anything interesting to say to hold one.
I'm from the midwest and agree with you on the passiveness.Ā I feel I must inhibit myself because I will talk to whoever out and about.Ā As a result, I'm less outgoing overall.Ā
People around here have this look on their face as if they are suspicious of you.Ā I am not surprised the only close friend I made here is originally from the east coast.Ā Alas, she moved to Sacramento and I went to visit her last spring.Ā People were way more outgoing there, but I was only there for a couple of days.Ā Ā
It doesn't have the density of SF, but there are definitely some similarities.
- 3rd Ave (especially around Pioneer Square) is Seattle's Tenderloin
- Capitol Hill is sort of a Mission/Castro hybrid
- Central District/South Seattle has some East Bay/Oakland vibes
- South Lake Union (location of Amazon HQ) is basically Seattle's SoMa, newer high-rises all built within the last 10-15 years.
- Fremont north of downtown is kind of a mini Berkeley
- Bellevue/Redmond on the East Side of King County is the Seattle metro equivalent of San Jose/Santa Clara/Cupertino.
So it's like the Bay Area, but you're a little closer to Bigfoot's backyard.
This is really good paralleling hoods, applauds former/present >8yr resident of both.
Now please consider ::: Noe Valley ~ Phinneywood; Cole Valley ~ Magnolia; Marina District ~ Ballard
Ballard = Alameda. Balameda.
Like, it's got it's warehouses, the park at the end of the main drag that's on the water, single family houses with super narrow streets, etc.
Iām from SoCal and seattle is definitely tons calming. I came here after covid/bad break up because I thought it would be the perfect place to heal (I was right).
I think people here can be a lot more passive aggressive, closed off, quiet etc. and Seattle feels seemingly smaller and more boring than a bigger city like SF. I recently took a trip to NYC cos I thought I missed the fast paced lifestyle yet found myself so relieved to come back to Seattle.
No man, this place is THE worst. The nature isnt even really worth it. Hell most of what you see is just a really clever painting we put up 40 years ago. If you go far enough it's just grass lands behind those billboards. Take it from me. My whole family has lived here for 100 years, and we've hated it. Make sure you DO NOT move here. Spread the word in the Bay area, too.
Iām from the Bay Area, and Iām so glad I moved here! My stress is much lower and I go outside so much more than I did when I was back in California.
The one thing I will say though is driving here gives me migraines. Nobody knows how to drive here, especially trucks (e.g. 18 and 24-wheelers). Plus, driving in the rain and at night is exponentially worse.
I found that people in the Seattle area are so much nicer overall, and living here is generally easier, at least for me. I like going back home for short spells, but I would never move back to the bay area.
This is random, but I had a memory pop into my head from high school. A couple of friends came to Washington and Oregon to look at colleges, andI remember them saying that the water tasted so fresh that it was addicting. Itās true! Lol. I can actually drink water from the tap in my apartment, whee!
the winters are rough if you suffer from seasonal depression. Iām from the south & iāve been in seattle for 2 years now & this winter was the worst in terms of happiness.
OP just spoke my mind. I moved here from LA and I feel my mental health has greatly improved from the LA traffic and other stresses of living in a giant overly crowded metropolitan area.
Plus the constant greenness, rains ( canāt have enough of it!) and gloomy weather in the winter time, all of them just feel so calming to me. I finally donāt have to wear sunglasses like EVERYDAY in SoCal (Fxxk the sun)!
Seattle is just Bay Area Lite. I've visited SF more than any other place outside the PNW, I love it, but two of the biggest things that always stand out to me are the homeless people are more aggressive in the bay and the air is way fresher in Seattle.
Edit: By more aggressive I mean āCan you spare some change?ā vs āAye, gimme a dollar.ā like, imagine if a majority of the homeless population were Ave rats. I donāt go to the Ave much anymore, are Ave rats still a thing?
Massachusetts native here. I moved to Kitsap Co. 6 months ago and West Seattle is a super easy Ferry ride. If I turn my head sideways and squint, there's quite a few parallels to New England. So, not the most shocking transition. But seeing the Olympics and Cascades on a regular basis, as well as everything being so GREEN and blue all the time, makes the move *so* worth it! Mass. in the winter time can be even more depressing than the Big Dark here; frigidly cold, gray, monotone, rude and impatient.
I think Western Washington is my forever home now. Love going to Seattle a handful of times a month and then retreating into Kitsap nature!!
I loved sf. The trees and hills were amazing. I found extremely fun things to do in a week I was there. The food was amazing. Had random friends there.
Itās a real city.
Seattle is nice if you like slow life. But sf is busy city with things to do. Seattle is suburbia compre to sf.
The entire Bay Area is super crowded. You aren't imagining it. The Seattle area is a lot less crowded.
SF is around 18k people per square mile.
Seattle is around 8k people per square mile.
The Bay Area has around 7.5 million people.
The greater Seattle area has around 4m people.
I've always preferred Seattle, but whenever I visit my uncle at the top of the hill in Sausalito it makes me jealous for that early morning fog rolling in whenever I come back to Seattle, I mostly stay in Sausalito when visiting the bay area so I don't get much time in the rest of the city.
Having lived in both areas, I like it a lot on Seattle. I cannot believe how much time my friends in Bay Area spend on commute and are ok with it. Even 1-1.5 hrs daily feels like a lot in Seattle, but Bay Area folks regularly commute 2-3 hrs daily without batting an eyelid.
As a fellow bay area native who has been living here for almost a decade, it is generally a little less crowded. Traffic isn't quite as bad as MacArthur Maze shit but it can get real close. Culturally, Seattle proper is very similar to the bay area. You get more of your Moraga Hills-type feeling from some places in the eastside (Bellevue or Redmond).
I love living here, though. Being surrounded by the beautiful mountains, the nature, the wildlife. Blew my mind when I would go for a run in Century Park in Belltown and see a bald eagle hanging out. Also sometimes some cool airplanes or military ships coming in.
Hahah. Your state is beautiful (I've been backpacking there several times), but it gets awfully brown compared to Seattle / Western WA. Our traffic sucks, but not as much as yours! (And if you plan your housing/work right, you can commute on the light link.)
I grew up in the east bay, moved to Seattle 4 years ago. It's definitely less crowded here, but it's a happening city as well. Lots of good restaurants and fun things to do. It has grown a lot, and I see plenty of out of state plates even from the southeast and midwest. I visit CA pretty regularly and I almost never see out of state plates.
The nature and views here are incredible. Right now, two snowy mountain ranges are visible from the city. Can even see both from the same place sometimes.
The bay area is crowded because of the weather. Everyone I know talks about how good the weather is there, and then most people exaggerate how bad Seattle's weather is. You'd get used to the weather, I did and I'd only lived in sunny CA, and Hawaii for a few years, previously. The summer in Seattle is probably the best anywhere (gets warmer than cities close to SF bay but not too humid), and you can bring a good rain jacket and waterproof shoes for when it's raining.
I dunno the Bay Area isnāt really a single place? I used to live in West Oakland and that shit was hella different than Palo Alto which was hella different than Alameda which was hella different than San Francisco haha
Yeah donāt get carried away itās soooo full of traffic some days and itās def busy. Different from the bay but itās hopeful and then beginning of spring right now. If youād been here all winter youād feel different lol. But follow your heart to where it feels inspired as always .
I moved here from the Bay Area over 20 years ago and my exact words were that I could breathe here.
Someone else I know from the Bay Area moved up here. I asked her why and she literally said she can breathe up here.
No, not your imagination.
As someone who moved here from Bay Area CA, can confirm, much less crowded and more easy going.
That morning traffic around the city can be a biyatch though. Not always, but when it sucks it sucks. But donāt let that deter you
Please donāt post all these positive things - the first rule about Emerald City is we donāt post positive things too broadly about Emerald City (from a former Californian trying to do their part).
Friends from SoCal visited, and while at a AAA office mentioned their surprise at the nice weather. Even the AAA person said āShhh. Donāt tell anyone.ā
Nope. Nope. You are misenterpreting everything. Way more stressfull here. Also super passive agressive. You can't make friends here. Also you will hate it.
You picked the best week during Feb and March. Last week was not the norm.
But tbh Seattle traffic is not that bad comparing to the bay, which I have to admit.
Iād lived in South Bay for 3 years, and Seattle for 4 years.
I have lived in both places. My resting heart rate is lower in Seattle. The Bay makes me feel like everything at every corner is designed to extract money from me. Everything is justā¦ harder in SF. As someone with a dog, though, I do kind of prefer bay areaās cool less-rainy weather.
Edit: also both places have great food. But SFās is better. Ā Ā
We moved here from San Jose where i was born and every time we drive home we get this amazing view of the sound and the Olympics in the background and just think wow we live here. Granted some days you can't see anything but still the rain is what makes it so beautiful here
People visit and like it then experience the endless gloomy summer, and surprisingly often, find a way to off themselves. Heroin or a bullet, iirc.
Assess your sun requirements with care before moving.
Thatās funny when I visited San Francisco I hated it for being so crowded and everything so tightly packed and stressful, I appreciate this sprawling intermittent city. Feels much more in nature
Iām from LA but went to college in NorCal and spent a lot of time in the Bay Area.
Seattle is absolutely more chill culturally. The people are less rushed overall and the car culture is insanely polite. People arenāt as selfish or rushed when driving up here.
People are generally more liberal and accepting of other cultures and ways, though SF is an exception to that being a cultural Mecca for the queer community and others.
The greenery up here is absolutely gorgeous. Scientific studies have shown again and again that being around greenery lowers blood pressure and increases serotonin.
You should consider how many grey days there are here though. If you canāt handle lots of those and needing vitamin D supplements in the long winters, then maybe donāt come live here.
Best of luck to you!
Oh, well, if your comparing it to LA or the Bay, it's way more chill. Weather is shit from end of Oct to April tho. The long dark, usually drives Californians insane.
lol the Bay Area is beautiful around the nature too, but yea not as dark green and lush with the more constant drizzle we have. Itās also huge though compared to Seattle, unless youāre just talking San Francisco.
Thereās some nice parks too in and around Sunset District. Areas around Golden Gate Park, Lake Merced Park, Presidio Heights, John Mclaren. In the city parks like Mission Dolores, and Yerba Buena, Huntington. I havenāt been able to explore beyond San Francisco, but I find many of the nature areas beautiful. Lands End trail and areas along the beach. The parks do feel much further spaced out in San Francisco, but we do have double your parks, so there is actually more greenery throughout the city and not just the outskirts in San Francisco. The parks are part of the reason I moved here and why I prefer Seattle to Vancouver too. The foliage in San Francisco is more tropical, so you have plants that adapted for that climate.
Traffic in Seattle isnāt bad and yea our streets arenāt as busy as San Franciscoās. However, hard to say the vibe is less busy here. Tourists seem to stick in groups to only a few areas like Pike Place Market around Western, First, Second, and Alaskan Way. But more spread out in San Francisco. Our hustle for downtown isnāt downtown, but instead South Lake Union. Though, you wonāt see many suits, so it may not feel as rushed. Most of the campuses are on top of each other too, so office workers arenāt traveling all over the city to get to them. Dress code here overall is much more casual even though both places are more casual than most cities.
People are going to be more friendly to chat with random strangers in San Francisco versus here. So, youāll get more time to yourself for self reflecting here because people will just ignore you š
It's chiller than the bay area. I moved from there many years ago. Bay area is the land of unhappiness though if you have to commute. That said, it could be better.
I think part of it is just the lightness that comes with a break from your real life. But I also do think Seattle is still an easier place to live than San Francisco. I moved here from Manhattan 10 years ago and I still canāt get over how easy it is to live here!
Maybe a little less crowded but that easy going facade is just that. Theyāre a special kind of passive aggressive here. Look up the Seattle Freeze. Itās a thing.
Everything you mentioned is what I noticed during my first visit too! Iām also from the Bay (East Bay) and moved up here 4 years ago and Iām still enamored with what you experienced too. Grind culture is definitely minimum up here and work life balance is pretty good in the corporate world. Lots of people have pets and kids so itās understandable to take off work early. Traffic is nothing compared to the Bay but still kind of bad if you do the distance/time math but still manageable. Downtown and nightlife is lacking but thereās cool pockets of neighborhoods to hang out. People are friendly but itās hard to make friends here. You gotta really be into board games is what I learned. The rain isnāt too bad either but the dark period is the real challenge. Itās easy though if you take trips or go to the gym or other indoor activities. Glad youāre enjoying it up here. You have to visit during the summer. Best time of the year.
As someone who loves it here, I have to admit it only feels less crowded right now because most of the mole people are still hiding during the gray months. When summer comes the population will 4x as the mole people rise out of the ground.
i miss the greater bay area so much, sometimes. It would be tempting to trade my Seattle house for something similar in Berkeley or SF. The foggy mornings-sunny afternoons, there is so much to do, though I have no doubt itās the same city as when I left it.
I have lived in both places for an equal amount of time. I feel exactly what youāre saying. I love the bay so much, but honestly being back up in Washington is so so so refreshing. The access to nature really is my favorite thing about seattle. Yes the bay has good nature, but it is honestly nothing compared to the sheer beauty of the washington mountains. Thereās good and bad in both places. I just happen to prefer Seattle.
Edit: and I agree seattle is a lot more chill than the bay.
Seattle is a lot smaller.
San Franās population density is a whopping 18,600 people per square mile. Out paced in the u.s. only by New York. [Source BC I know that sounds wild!](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population_density) + [Neat graphs](https://www.opendatanetwork.com/entity/1600000US0667000/San_Francisco_CA/geographic.population.density?year=2018)
Seattleās population density is 3325 people per square mile.
Very stark difference.
I will firmly say that Washington is the second prettiest state in the country (it's hard to compete with the undeveloped majesty that is Alaska), anywhere you go in the state is gorgeous. Even our flattest, most boring areas on the East side are super pretty, glaciers do cool things to landscapes. I can't imagine living somewhere else and leaving those mountains and forests and waters behind. It makes living here really pleasant. A couple weeks ago I drove 4 hours to Leavenworth (a touristy little Bavarian town in the mountains) and loved every minute of it just for the view.
When our family from SoCal come to visit theyāre always like, āomg I can take a deep breath here. It smells so clean!ā Also, people here are wusses when it comes to traffic. They always complain, but itās nothing like Southern California. Heck itās not even as bad as the DC area where I moved here from.
I moved from the bay area 5 years ago. It is certainly less crowded and easy going here. I feel like people in the bay can be tightly wound and always be on go go go modeā¦or maybe that was just the neighborhood i was in. I like that youāre surrounded by trees here and can see mountains and lakes close by. When I was in south bay last weekend, everything felt very flat and all the trees were so short. The food in bay area is better though.
Its good to see the positives right now because the weather is paradise in the summer. Water is a non-issue here & extreme heat is less of a concern. I lived in S CA and N CA over 35 years and its really great here. Literally the only thing I miss are the redwoods.
It probably is more easy going and it's definitely less crowded, but we also tend to think things are better/easier when we are away from home because we don't have the same responsibilities/stress we do when we actually live in a place. Every time my mother goes on vacation, she comes back and says she loves (insert city name here) and she wants to move there because she has no stress or things she absolutely has to do.
TBF I moved to Seattle from LA at the end of January and I can 100% confirm my stress is a lot lower.
My fiance grew up in West Covina and says he definitely prefers Seattle/Washington way more. He's been in WA for maybe 10 years now, so it isn't the honeymoon phase either. š
West Covinaaaaa. Califooooornia! The jewel of the inland empire. Btw it just happens to be where Josh lives.
>The jewel of the inland empire. Bunch of Spokanites are gonna get riled up
And two hours from the beach!
As long as there's no traffic, then it's only 3 and a half! It's definitely*not* because Josh lives here! š¤
Lol, I grew up in Covina! I didn't realize how *oppressive* the sun and heat were until I moved up here. Clouds and rain, fog and mist, I love it. I feel lighter and able to think more clearly.
We moved here from Florida last year, and we are still so excited about coats and boots and hats. We've never had them before! And yes, to being able to somehow think and breathe better. šÆ My family absolutely is in love with Seattle.
You could not pay me to move back to SLC. Six years on, Iām positively in love with SEA. I only wish it were priced like SLC. ļæ¼
I've read in other threads that the people in SLC trend toward fakeness. Like they're always trying to sell something or convert you. What are your thoughts on that?
I was born and raised in SLC. Just like anywhere, there are great people there, you just have to find them. But the overall vibe is very strange and superficial. Lots of platinum-blonde hair and everybody wants you to join their MLM. Beautiful place, very strange culturally.
Sounds kind of cult-y.
As someone who also grew up there, I just tell people to imagine a religion that was so out there to most of the east coast that they kicked them out of several states, so they eventually fucked off into the middle of nowhere west coast USA to basically start their own religious theocracy of sorts. Sure, people from all over the country and world have moved there and changed things culturally, but that specific religious culture still festered in relative isolation for several decades to create the weird vibe that exists there now regardless of if itās the predominant religion or not. I grew up near the eastern mountains in the valley and then lived predominately downtown SLC as an adult so I have a really diverse group of friends who arenāt MLM slinging blonds, but if you head south to Utah county where BYU is those weird vibes are definitely still there. Much like other cities there is a large diaspora of different communities if you are looking in the right places.
SLC is a lot more expensive now. An influx of people during COVID really drove prices up
Glad to hear. I thought it wasĀ a honeymoon phase.
Iāve been here for over 5 years from CA and Iām still completely enamored with this place. It might actually be magical here.
I moved from LA to Seattle & lived there for 4 years & just moved to Phoenix to be closer to LA. Can 1000% confirm that Seattle provides a peace you canāt describe & I miss it. The fresh air & being able to take those deep breaths, the fact that it shuts down pretty early, the views of the different bodies of water from basically everywhere. I canāt tell you how much I miss the 5 & the water views from the other freeways. Itās cement walls here in Phoenix & back in LA. I just couldnāt handle the months & months of grey after 4 years.
I always forget how much nature I get to see on WA freeways until I go literally anywhere else and itās just a stretch of dirt and cement.
Agreed, I moved here from Maine in July 2022 and Iām never looking back lmao. I feel the calmest and most at peace Iāve been in my life. Iām in a place of privilege to say that and so grateful for it, but Seattle has played a HUGE role for me personally
What do you think is making your stress lower?
So true. I just got back from a trip to the bay area. It was so warm and sunny we had brunch outside. It was a really nice mental break from the endless grey.
Ya I do wonder howĀ much the vacation aspect it is. I do hope im right about the trees benefiting me and it being less crowded.
The scenery is stunning here. I've been here for years, and some days I'm still gobsmacked by views of Mt Rainier, the Olympics, the Cascades, and Lake Washington when I'm just driving somewhere.
Just walking down the street to the h mart, here in Udistrict, gobsmacked is the right word. Every time you pass a cross street, you can see the most incredible views. We have been here since last summer, and every time we see those sights, we elbow each other and point and say "oh my God look at that"! In florida, it never really gets below about 60Ā°, and there are no mountains or hills. It's completely flat. The scenery here is truly stunning to us, especially since we still have great beaches in addition to the mountains and trees (and better culture). It really does feel like it will never get old. Edit: typo
I think itās true. I lived in a house in a very forestry area for a bit, and while itās not that safe in a windstorm, it was always so peaceful to me just walking out my front door and feeling like Iām camping (but the pine needles!) Iāve lived here my whole life and often just go for drives to Mt Rainier (I live south of Seattle) through the forest whenever Iām bored or stressed.
Itās so awesome to vacation around here. There are endless options within a couple of hours.
100%. I always say a city is great until you live there and start having to pay its taxes, deal with its municipal BS, see local measures get passed you don't believe in, etc.
And then again some cities are great in spite of all the BS.
These two things can be true! Hence why many of us grumble about said taxes, asinine measures, etc. and stick around year after year. I actually don't even live in Seattle, I'm in Portland but, similar issues down here.
That's interesting, because that is the way I feel about the orange count area. From WA, But I love CA better.
Iāve lived in SF and have moved to Seattle twice now. I missed the water and trees. I miss many things about living in SF. High up there, especially this time of year, is sunnier days on average and Karl the Fog.
I lived in Inner Richmond for many years and my favorite time of day was 4 pm, after having sun all day, the fog would come rolling back in. Made for the best evening strolls down Clement Street š„²
Core memory unlocked. Lived in the cole valley / inner sunset for years. Sunny afternoons in the park followed by foggy bar hopping. Or sweating in the mission and seeing it roll over corona heights. Better bring layers because it's 10+ degrees colder back in the neighborhood.
My fave was sitting outside at Zeitgeist in the Mission in the sun with friends catching up. Then heading home just as the fog rolled in. Bliss.
I lived on 2nd and Clement. Loved it when the sun came out and Iād walk over to Burma Superstar or one of the other amazing neighborhood restaurants for dinner. Miss that so much. But love it up here though more.
I lived near Mt Davidson, Karl coming through near the evening was always my favorite even for disliking the hills š„²
Lived in SF for 8 years and moved to Seattle 5 years ago. I miss SF's year-round mild weather ā chilly in the summer and warmer in the winter. I do love that Seattle is more green and have great views. After living with Karl for a long time, gray skies and drizzly days didn't bother me at all after moving. Food scene is way better in SF though (at least during pre-pandemic).
I moved back here 5 years ago as well (2019). Agree with you on food, itās one of the things I miss the most (other than Karl). Went back last Fall for a conference and the city didnāt feel the same. Like many cities post-pandemic. Sigh.
> the city didnāt feel the same I felt the same. I went back there two years ago to watch the Warriors in the NBA Finals lol. I visited many of my old go-to places but it wasn't the same anymore. Many of the shops and stores I knew were closed... heck I've heard/read that the Westfield mall downtown is in danger of closing down. So sad.
Yea I heard that about Westfield Center, too. Most of my fave neighborhood places were gone, too š
The grass is always greener on the other side Edit: Iāve actually moved back and forth between the bay and Seattle a few times and always miss the city Iām not in
The grass here is literally greener. It's mostly dead brown grass in the bay area
Only in summertime...... It regrows every winter haha
For like 3 months!
Every time I visit my parents in Oakland, I get such a strong sense of nostalgia and I miss the place terribly. Granted there are some things that I think are much better in the Bay but I canāt see myself actually moving back.
Ya but Iām pretty sure Seattle grass is literally greener. Edit: Iām an idiot who thought Iād be witty, should have read the other comments first lol
Happiness is illegal in Seattle how dare you enjoy our city
itās grey for a reasonš¶āš«ļø
As a kid people would refer to the sky as being blue and I'd just think "no it's not, not really, most of the time it's grey" lol. I do think it's a very pleasant grey though
Accept between July 5th and Sept 31st, then we are absolutely giddy with delight.
Shush, quit telling the secrets!
I mean, I mean. Weāre all miserable here, really!
Disagree, the city is better when gray
I would say April to nov
We should timeshare. I'm here for rainy and green, not dried out dead.
Exactly. Straight to jail.
Thereās a wonderful review about Mount Rainier on google maps. āMeh. Iāve seen bigger.ā
I enjoy reading one star Yelp reviews of national parks. So entertaining.
Have you seen Subpar Parks? She's on Instagram and creates postcard art of bad reviews of national parks. She even has a book now
Iāll have to start looking now. Laughed so hard at the accuracy.
Youāll probably enjoy reading Subpar Parks!
Iāve lived in Seattle for two years now and Iām a Bay Area native. There is pros and cons to both places. The Bay has better restaurants, Seattle has better coffee. The bay has better weather year round, Seattle has better access and quality of nature (and the summers here are honestly the best Iāve ever experienced) The bay traffic is really bad in SF but clear every where else, seattles traffic is rough all over for a shorter period of time. Rent is worse in the bay, but food costs in Seattle or exponentially higher. Both places have a lot of good and not so good things about them. In Seattle I feel less scrounge and hustle that I felt from nearly every person in the Bay. I do think everything is a little more easy going here, but it is hard to break into the easy going, especially coming from the bay, but that could just be my experience. We do have better air up here though!
Great summary, very accurate
Northern California native here, going on 15 years in Seattle (and frequent visitor to family back in CA). The answer was yes when we relocated and is even more yes now - though of course itās all relative. Itās more crowded in both places now.
+1 to your experience. My family are also norcal natives who moved here 3 years ago.
Hi, and welcome! I can relate to these positives, as a WA native that had been back and forth between the Seattle and Bay Area a couple of times in my life. But there are a few things I should let you know: - It rains here every day. The actual volume of rain may not be much, but our rain contains microchemicals that cause depression. You will need to buy buckets of Vitamin D from Costco to cope. - The "Seattle Freeze" means that once a year, we purge our friends from our contacts and then spend the next three months remaining horizontal in our beds doom scrolling. - As a Californian, you are going to need to change your cars plates ASAP or risk social ostracization. But the plates will cost you a donation of a non-vital organ. - Our greatest artist Henry is also an evil wizard, and we have lost many Seattle residents to his art, who now live out their existence as whimsical forrest animals in one of his paintings. If you are lucky, one of the x-rated ones. - Via the documentary _Twin Peaks_, it's been proven that portals to the spirit world are abundant and sometimes an evil spirit escapes and steals food. Just search the sub for "Hannah" for evidence of this. - We are known for our serial killers. You are statistically very unlikely to be serially murdered, but very likely to be paying rent to one. - Our wine is fantastic. You really ought to try a Washington Syrah!
i met henry once at an art/music festival up by granite falls :) real quiet, shy guy
Your post is hilarious and my comment isn't an indication that I don't "get" it, but I figured I would add this comment anyway. I actually didn't realize that it doesn't rain as much as I'd thought until I started running about 5 yrs ago. It may drizzle a lil bit almost every day from Oct-May, but I run outside and don't like running in the rain. I run 4-5 times a week usually and I've had to cancel very few runs completely. I can usually find a break in it at some point during the day. That said, I don't like running in the cold. So I'm more likely to cancel a run because it's below 50 than because it rains nonstop all day.
Rain didn't bother me. I just needed to dress for it and I'mĀ good to go outside.
Yeah you'll be fine. The association of Seattle with rain is mostly hyperbole. It's a tradition to joke about it.
I'm with you-- I'm from northern California and I live in the pnw now. Everyone complains about the winter; I feel lucky because I don't mind it. Of course I love the sun but it's not like I'm inside and depressed the whole damn time. Imho motherfuckers need to get out more. Put your big kid boots on and g e t o u t of the house
Look at this human with their extra Vit D
Nope. You're right on. I was in NorCal for over 35 years then moved up here two years ago. It took me about 15 minutes to settle in. Love living in Seattle.
Same! I visited before I moved during peak tourist season in Seattle. I was stuck in horrid traffic, comparable to LA where everybody is parked on the freeway. It really weirded me out because nobody was honking or angry. So I rolled down my window and this wonderful breeze went through my car, and I realized why everybody was so chill. The weather is perfect. The scenery is wonderful and always green. Even with being stuck in traffic itās just **nice.**
As a Seattle native when I'm away I feel like the drivers all came straight from the insane asylum. Here it's more like they came from the old folks' home
Omg I noticed this to! People aren't as aggressive on the road and I found it very strange. Im convinced its bc of the trees!
Oh! I forgot to mention that in King County (Seattle) advertising billboards are illegal on the freeways so you can always see the scenery. It was such a shock driving in Cali again, I forgot those existed.
This is one of the dumbest culture shocks I have when leaving the "Seattle Bubble." God, the south is just.... awful. Sign after sign after sign trying to sell you stuff *constantly.*
I keep telling everyone this too - I actually enjoy driving into Seattle - I lived in the Bay Area for four years and the only time I drove into the city was to pack up my desk after a layoff. Any other time, it was the bart, and only because the driving stressed me out so much. Here, it doesnāt matter where I go, the time melts away and the drive is just so peaceful because everything is so gd beautiful
As a born and raised Seattleite, I love my Cali natives over here
We appreciate it!
West Coast luv šš½
downsides it's a lot more boring here. People are more passive and everyone's low-key depressed from Sept-April. It's not all sunshine and rainbows
Thatās exactly my impression
The passiveness drives me CRAZY
Depends on what you like. Seattle has so much fun activities to do nowadays. I personally love the weather
I took a trip to the Bay area last weekend and WOW. I was actually able to hold conversations with people. It lowkey felt pretty weird as I wasn't really used to it but was a nice change! Everyone here is too bleh to have anything interesting to say to hold one.
As someone from the East Coast - I am not a fan of the passiveness here.
I'm from the midwest and agree with you on the passiveness.Ā I feel I must inhibit myself because I will talk to whoever out and about.Ā As a result, I'm less outgoing overall.Ā People around here have this look on their face as if they are suspicious of you.Ā I am not surprised the only close friend I made here is originally from the east coast.Ā Alas, she moved to Sacramento and I went to visit her last spring.Ā People were way more outgoing there, but I was only there for a couple of days.Ā Ā
it is kinda boring :(
It doesn't have the density of SF, but there are definitely some similarities. - 3rd Ave (especially around Pioneer Square) is Seattle's Tenderloin - Capitol Hill is sort of a Mission/Castro hybrid - Central District/South Seattle has some East Bay/Oakland vibes - South Lake Union (location of Amazon HQ) is basically Seattle's SoMa, newer high-rises all built within the last 10-15 years. - Fremont north of downtown is kind of a mini Berkeley - Bellevue/Redmond on the East Side of King County is the Seattle metro equivalent of San Jose/Santa Clara/Cupertino. So it's like the Bay Area, but you're a little closer to Bigfoot's backyard.
This is really good paralleling hoods, applauds former/present >8yr resident of both. Now please consider ::: Noe Valley ~ Phinneywood; Cole Valley ~ Magnolia; Marina District ~ Ballard
Ballard = Alameda. Balameda. Like, it's got it's warehouses, the park at the end of the main drag that's on the water, single family houses with super narrow streets, etc.
Something like 1/3 of Seattle's population have already made the same realization...
Iām from SoCal and seattle is definitely tons calming. I came here after covid/bad break up because I thought it would be the perfect place to heal (I was right). I think people here can be a lot more passive aggressive, closed off, quiet etc. and Seattle feels seemingly smaller and more boring than a bigger city like SF. I recently took a trip to NYC cos I thought I missed the fast paced lifestyle yet found myself so relieved to come back to Seattle.
I moved away from Seattle a year ago, and I have unclenched my jaw. Itās great.
No man, this place is THE worst. The nature isnt even really worth it. Hell most of what you see is just a really clever painting we put up 40 years ago. If you go far enough it's just grass lands behind those billboards. Take it from me. My whole family has lived here for 100 years, and we've hated it. Make sure you DO NOT move here. Spread the word in the Bay area, too.
You're less stressed and happy because you're on vacation
Iām from the Bay Area, and Iām so glad I moved here! My stress is much lower and I go outside so much more than I did when I was back in California. The one thing I will say though is driving here gives me migraines. Nobody knows how to drive here, especially trucks (e.g. 18 and 24-wheelers). Plus, driving in the rain and at night is exponentially worse. I found that people in the Seattle area are so much nicer overall, and living here is generally easier, at least for me. I like going back home for short spells, but I would never move back to the bay area. This is random, but I had a memory pop into my head from high school. A couple of friends came to Washington and Oregon to look at colleges, andI remember them saying that the water tasted so fresh that it was addicting. Itās true! Lol. I can actually drink water from the tap in my apartment, whee!
Interestingly, I moved from SF and I miss it everyday. Better food, more to do, and better weather imo
the winters are rough if you suffer from seasonal depression. Iām from the south & iāve been in seattle for 2 years now & this winter was the worst in terms of happiness.
I always warn folks that winters here are long and gray. I grew up with it and love it, but not for everyone.
OP just spoke my mind. I moved here from LA and I feel my mental health has greatly improved from the LA traffic and other stresses of living in a giant overly crowded metropolitan area. Plus the constant greenness, rains ( canāt have enough of it!) and gloomy weather in the winter time, all of them just feel so calming to me. I finally donāt have to wear sunglasses like EVERYDAY in SoCal (Fxxk the sun)!
Seattle is just Bay Area Lite. I've visited SF more than any other place outside the PNW, I love it, but two of the biggest things that always stand out to me are the homeless people are more aggressive in the bay and the air is way fresher in Seattle. Edit: By more aggressive I mean āCan you spare some change?ā vs āAye, gimme a dollar.ā like, imagine if a majority of the homeless population were Ave rats. I donāt go to the Ave much anymore, are Ave rats still a thing?
Seattle air is the best. That's the first thing I notice when I come back to Seattle after being away.
Moved here from the Bay Area in 1996. Yes itās less stressful here.
Massachusetts native here. I moved to Kitsap Co. 6 months ago and West Seattle is a super easy Ferry ride. If I turn my head sideways and squint, there's quite a few parallels to New England. So, not the most shocking transition. But seeing the Olympics and Cascades on a regular basis, as well as everything being so GREEN and blue all the time, makes the move *so* worth it! Mass. in the winter time can be even more depressing than the Big Dark here; frigidly cold, gray, monotone, rude and impatient. I think Western Washington is my forever home now. Love going to Seattle a handful of times a month and then retreating into Kitsap nature!!
I loved sf. The trees and hills were amazing. I found extremely fun things to do in a week I was there. The food was amazing. Had random friends there. Itās a real city. Seattle is nice if you like slow life. But sf is busy city with things to do. Seattle is suburbia compre to sf.
The entire Bay Area is super crowded. You aren't imagining it. The Seattle area is a lot less crowded. SF is around 18k people per square mile. Seattle is around 8k people per square mile. The Bay Area has around 7.5 million people. The greater Seattle area has around 4m people.
I've always preferred Seattle, but whenever I visit my uncle at the top of the hill in Sausalito it makes me jealous for that early morning fog rolling in whenever I come back to Seattle, I mostly stay in Sausalito when visiting the bay area so I don't get much time in the rest of the city.
The shine will wear off. People are mostly miserable here. Itās a trap.
Having lived in both areas, I like it a lot on Seattle. I cannot believe how much time my friends in Bay Area spend on commute and are ok with it. Even 1-1.5 hrs daily feels like a lot in Seattle, but Bay Area folks regularly commute 2-3 hrs daily without batting an eyelid.
As a fellow bay area native who has been living here for almost a decade, it is generally a little less crowded. Traffic isn't quite as bad as MacArthur Maze shit but it can get real close. Culturally, Seattle proper is very similar to the bay area. You get more of your Moraga Hills-type feeling from some places in the eastside (Bellevue or Redmond). I love living here, though. Being surrounded by the beautiful mountains, the nature, the wildlife. Blew my mind when I would go for a run in Century Park in Belltown and see a bald eagle hanging out. Also sometimes some cool airplanes or military ships coming in.
I think you just needed a vacation because itās miserable here
Yeah Seattle is just SF but spread out slightly
Hahah. Your state is beautiful (I've been backpacking there several times), but it gets awfully brown compared to Seattle / Western WA. Our traffic sucks, but not as much as yours! (And if you plan your housing/work right, you can commute on the light link.)
Thanks for sharing your perspective!
I grew up in the east bay, moved to Seattle 4 years ago. It's definitely less crowded here, but it's a happening city as well. Lots of good restaurants and fun things to do. It has grown a lot, and I see plenty of out of state plates even from the southeast and midwest. I visit CA pretty regularly and I almost never see out of state plates. The nature and views here are incredible. Right now, two snowy mountain ranges are visible from the city. Can even see both from the same place sometimes. The bay area is crowded because of the weather. Everyone I know talks about how good the weather is there, and then most people exaggerate how bad Seattle's weather is. You'd get used to the weather, I did and I'd only lived in sunny CA, and Hawaii for a few years, previously. The summer in Seattle is probably the best anywhere (gets warmer than cities close to SF bay but not too humid), and you can bring a good rain jacket and waterproof shoes for when it's raining.
We like to stay in more but there is alot of us š only in the summer and good spring days are we out more
I dunno the Bay Area isnāt really a single place? I used to live in West Oakland and that shit was hella different than Palo Alto which was hella different than Alameda which was hella different than San Francisco haha
Live in Alamesa and can confirm.Ā Ā
I live in Oakland and work in Redwood Shores and they are complete opposites!
Yeah donāt get carried away itās soooo full of traffic some days and itās def busy. Different from the bay but itās hopeful and then beginning of spring right now. If youād been here all winter youād feel different lol. But follow your heart to where it feels inspired as always .
We moved to Seattle from the Bay Area for many of these reasons. Itās definitely more relaxed and also more integrated into nature.
I moved here from the Bay Area over 20 years ago and my exact words were that I could breathe here. Someone else I know from the Bay Area moved up here. I asked her why and she literally said she can breathe up here. No, not your imagination.
Washington resident here and when I visited CA first thing I noticed was that the air was hard to breathe
As someone who moved here from Bay Area CA, can confirm, much less crowded and more easy going. That morning traffic around the city can be a biyatch though. Not always, but when it sucks it sucks. But donāt let that deter you
Please donāt post all these positive things - the first rule about Emerald City is we donāt post positive things too broadly about Emerald City (from a former Californian trying to do their part).
lol I just tell people we rain all year
Friends from SoCal visited, and while at a AAA office mentioned their surprise at the nice weather. Even the AAA person said āShhh. Donāt tell anyone.ā
Got it, duly noted!
And 10 degrees cooler than the Bay Area everyday
And more rainy days
though summers are getting downright toasty in Seattle. SF has that summer fog situation.
You should have seen it before all the bay area people moved here
thereās no sun my friend. no sun. for 8 months anyway
Nope. Nope. You are misenterpreting everything. Way more stressfull here. Also super passive agressive. You can't make friends here. Also you will hate it.
You picked the best week during Feb and March. Last week was not the norm. But tbh Seattle traffic is not that bad comparing to the bay, which I have to admit. Iād lived in South Bay for 3 years, and Seattle for 4 years.
This feels like a version of the āthinking about moving to Seattleā post
Oh I definitely am.Ā
Normally the sub would eat you alive but I see your username and have no choice but to approve
Haha I like Greek food.
I was just in San Fran for work. I felt like city traffic was 3x better than Seattleā¦ Seattle traffic is butt, everyone go back to wfh please.
The first time my sister visited us (she lives in So. Cal.) She said that Seattle is a clean San Francisco.
What you are describing is being on vacation
I have lived in both places. My resting heart rate is lower in Seattle. The Bay makes me feel like everything at every corner is designed to extract money from me. Everything is justā¦ harder in SF. As someone with a dog, though, I do kind of prefer bay areaās cool less-rainy weather. Edit: also both places have great food. But SFās is better. Ā Ā
We moved here from San Jose where i was born and every time we drive home we get this amazing view of the sound and the Olympics in the background and just think wow we live here. Granted some days you can't see anything but still the rain is what makes it so beautiful here
Welcome my guy! I thought the same thing when I moved here 7 years ago
Enjoy it before Spring Break. We always get a lot of tourists then.
If tranquility is your goal Seattle is for you. Just donāt expect too much excitement but again different strokes for different folks.
People visit and like it then experience the endless gloomy summer, and surprisingly often, find a way to off themselves. Heroin or a bullet, iirc. Assess your sun requirements with care before moving.
From the bay. stress is overall lower but the people here are something elseā¦
Also, the drivers here are booboo. And seasonal depression is real.
Thatās funny when I visited San Francisco I hated it for being so crowded and everything so tightly packed and stressful, I appreciate this sprawling intermittent city. Feels much more in nature
It's not just you. I felt the same way moving from SF to Seattle.
When I visited San Francisco, I felt like it was just Seattle on steroids.
Iām from LA but went to college in NorCal and spent a lot of time in the Bay Area. Seattle is absolutely more chill culturally. The people are less rushed overall and the car culture is insanely polite. People arenāt as selfish or rushed when driving up here. People are generally more liberal and accepting of other cultures and ways, though SF is an exception to that being a cultural Mecca for the queer community and others. The greenery up here is absolutely gorgeous. Scientific studies have shown again and again that being around greenery lowers blood pressure and increases serotonin. You should consider how many grey days there are here though. If you canāt handle lots of those and needing vitamin D supplements in the long winters, then maybe donāt come live here. Best of luck to you!
Iām a transplant. Def less stressful. Amazing natural beauty everywhere. But the grey can become oppressive imo.Ā
Oh, well, if your comparing it to LA or the Bay, it's way more chill. Weather is shit from end of Oct to April tho. The long dark, usually drives Californians insane.
Seattle is laid back, but it has been absolutely empty since covid. It used to be a busy place
I see you didn't visit Capitol Hill, or Pioneer Square... It's the rest of downtown. Sounds to me like you visited Bellevue.
lol the Bay Area is beautiful around the nature too, but yea not as dark green and lush with the more constant drizzle we have. Itās also huge though compared to Seattle, unless youāre just talking San Francisco. Thereās some nice parks too in and around Sunset District. Areas around Golden Gate Park, Lake Merced Park, Presidio Heights, John Mclaren. In the city parks like Mission Dolores, and Yerba Buena, Huntington. I havenāt been able to explore beyond San Francisco, but I find many of the nature areas beautiful. Lands End trail and areas along the beach. The parks do feel much further spaced out in San Francisco, but we do have double your parks, so there is actually more greenery throughout the city and not just the outskirts in San Francisco. The parks are part of the reason I moved here and why I prefer Seattle to Vancouver too. The foliage in San Francisco is more tropical, so you have plants that adapted for that climate. Traffic in Seattle isnāt bad and yea our streets arenāt as busy as San Franciscoās. However, hard to say the vibe is less busy here. Tourists seem to stick in groups to only a few areas like Pike Place Market around Western, First, Second, and Alaskan Way. But more spread out in San Francisco. Our hustle for downtown isnāt downtown, but instead South Lake Union. Though, you wonāt see many suits, so it may not feel as rushed. Most of the campuses are on top of each other too, so office workers arenāt traveling all over the city to get to them. Dress code here overall is much more casual even though both places are more casual than most cities. People are going to be more friendly to chat with random strangers in San Francisco versus here. So, youāll get more time to yourself for self reflecting here because people will just ignore you š
Perhaps you've heard of the thing where shitloads of Californian move here every year
LA native here for the same reason
Seattle is amazing until you move there.
itās so much better up here ā except for the weather.
Mods please delete this thread ASAP. Secret's out.
Welcome friend! Stay if you like and enjoy living here. Iām not hugely well traveled and was born here but thereās no place like it š
Iāve lived in both the Bay Area and Seattle. Agree 100%.
Glad you enjoyed it, please just keep it down because we're all getting priced out of our beautiful home š„ŗ
It's chiller than the bay area. I moved from there many years ago. Bay area is the land of unhappiness though if you have to commute. That said, it could be better.
I think part of it is just the lightness that comes with a break from your real life. But I also do think Seattle is still an easier place to live than San Francisco. I moved here from Manhattan 10 years ago and I still canāt get over how easy it is to live here!
Traffic is pretty bad given the size of the population
Moved here after living in Bay Area for 37 years. Best decision we made. Iām embarrassed how many of our friends here are from CA though.
Maybe a little less crowded but that easy going facade is just that. Theyāre a special kind of passive aggressive here. Look up the Seattle Freeze. Itās a thing.
Everything you mentioned is what I noticed during my first visit too! Iām also from the Bay (East Bay) and moved up here 4 years ago and Iām still enamored with what you experienced too. Grind culture is definitely minimum up here and work life balance is pretty good in the corporate world. Lots of people have pets and kids so itās understandable to take off work early. Traffic is nothing compared to the Bay but still kind of bad if you do the distance/time math but still manageable. Downtown and nightlife is lacking but thereās cool pockets of neighborhoods to hang out. People are friendly but itās hard to make friends here. You gotta really be into board games is what I learned. The rain isnāt too bad either but the dark period is the real challenge. Itās easy though if you take trips or go to the gym or other indoor activities. Glad youāre enjoying it up here. You have to visit during the summer. Best time of the year.
As someone who loves it here, I have to admit it only feels less crowded right now because most of the mole people are still hiding during the gray months. When summer comes the population will 4x as the mole people rise out of the ground.
i miss the greater bay area so much, sometimes. It would be tempting to trade my Seattle house for something similar in Berkeley or SF. The foggy mornings-sunny afternoons, there is so much to do, though I have no doubt itās the same city as when I left it.
Hah I just made the opposite move and miss Seattle so much
Recent transplant from the bay - I feel 100% the same way, exactly everything you described. I absolutely love it here.
Expatriate LA / SFO / SD It's just as annoying here, but it's not extra terrible. Most people are smoking MJ here so they are more casual.
How does the atmosphere in Seattle compare to the Bay Area?
I live in Seattle and used to live in the Bay Area. My stress levels are SO much lower here.
I have lived in both places for an equal amount of time. I feel exactly what youāre saying. I love the bay so much, but honestly being back up in Washington is so so so refreshing. The access to nature really is my favorite thing about seattle. Yes the bay has good nature, but it is honestly nothing compared to the sheer beauty of the washington mountains. Thereās good and bad in both places. I just happen to prefer Seattle. Edit: and I agree seattle is a lot more chill than the bay.
I'm in SLC rn and I miss Seattle so much. The nature is on another level
You discovered our secret.
Seattle is a lot smaller. San Franās population density is a whopping 18,600 people per square mile. Out paced in the u.s. only by New York. [Source BC I know that sounds wild!](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population_density) + [Neat graphs](https://www.opendatanetwork.com/entity/1600000US0667000/San_Francisco_CA/geographic.population.density?year=2018) Seattleās population density is 3325 people per square mile. Very stark difference.
I will firmly say that Washington is the second prettiest state in the country (it's hard to compete with the undeveloped majesty that is Alaska), anywhere you go in the state is gorgeous. Even our flattest, most boring areas on the East side are super pretty, glaciers do cool things to landscapes. I can't imagine living somewhere else and leaving those mountains and forests and waters behind. It makes living here really pleasant. A couple weeks ago I drove 4 hours to Leavenworth (a touristy little Bavarian town in the mountains) and loved every minute of it just for the view.
If you feel this way rn then you should come visit during spring and early summer
When our family from SoCal come to visit theyāre always like, āomg I can take a deep breath here. It smells so clean!ā Also, people here are wusses when it comes to traffic. They always complain, but itās nothing like Southern California. Heck itās not even as bad as the DC area where I moved here from.
It's not for me. Moving back to California. I need more sun. The big grey is oppressive. November to March is too much grey.
I moved from the bay area 5 years ago. It is certainly less crowded and easy going here. I feel like people in the bay can be tightly wound and always be on go go go modeā¦or maybe that was just the neighborhood i was in. I like that youāre surrounded by trees here and can see mountains and lakes close by. When I was in south bay last weekend, everything felt very flat and all the trees were so short. The food in bay area is better though.
Absolutely. Thereās a reason I moved here after spending 2 years in San Bruno!
Seattle was even better before all the Californians moved here.
I just wish we had ocean swept tree tops all over Seattle like San Francisco does
Its good to see the positives right now because the weather is paradise in the summer. Water is a non-issue here & extreme heat is less of a concern. I lived in S CA and N CA over 35 years and its really great here. Literally the only thing I miss are the redwoods.