Your most pressing questions, answered!
The Emerald City.
Rain City.
Jet City.
The Coffee Capital of the World.
Seattle isn’t exactly short of nicknames. And for good reason.
The reason being...Seattle has a lot going on in it, and a lot going for it.
It’s also got a lot of myths about itself circulating all around.
That's Pike Place Market, in Seattle. Image courtesy Benjamin Massello on Unsplash.
So, what are some basics you should know if you’re thinking of settling in Seattle?
Are there any things you’ve heard about Seattle that aren’t exactly true?
Here is Fox in a Box’s official list of eight things you should know about Seattle.
Seattle is cloudy
Image courtesy Omar Prestwich on Unsplash.
That is an aerial view of Seattle, and yes, it does get really cloudy around here.
In fact, here’s a little bit of weather trivia you may or may not know…
Seattle, WA and Portland, OR compete against each other for the title of “cloudiest city in the United States”
Thinking of stocking up on umbrellas and raincoats, and resigning yourself to having to remain indoors for a major part of the year to remain dry?
Think again…
Seattle ain’t that rainy
Image courtesy Ryan Wilson on Unsplash.
It’s true.
Despite all those clouds, Seattle experiences less rainfall than cities like Chicago and New York.
And that too, mostly a light drizzle that you may not even notice.
Just wearing a light rain jacket will do the trick...no umbrellas needed.
Unless of course you’re into umbrella fashion…
Seattle summers are sublime
Image courtesy Vincent Camacho on Unsplash.
With temperatures that are just right, low humidity and fabulous sunshine, Seattle summers are just sublime!
It’s just the kind of weather that puts you in the mood to explore the great outdoors.
Speaking of the great outdoors…
Greenery abounds in Seattle
Image courtesy Frame-It from Pixabay.
Seattle Parks and Recreation alone manages over four hundred and fifty parks all over Seattle.
Tell me that’s not awesome!
If you’re a newbie looking to explore Seattle’s green spaces, start with the Washington Park Arboretum.
Image courtesy Gabriel Phipps on Unsplash.
And, if you’re looking for something a little more substantial than urban parks, Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park are within a two hour drive from here!
It’s home to a lot of tech companies
Our Amazon spheres. Image courtesy Patrick Schneider on Unsplash.
As far as tech companies setting up shop in the city are concerned, we’re second only to San Francisco.
Among the companies we house are old ones like Amazon, Google and Microsoft...and even newer rising stars like Snapchat and Dropbox.
We should know, we’ve hosted some of their team building events.
It’s a great place to grab a coffee
mage courtesy 34315241 from Pixabay.
And when I say “coffee”, I don’t mean the taste-optional, aroma-optional keep-you-awake tonic spewed out of workplace coffee machines.
I mean warm brews rich in aroma that make for an authentic coffee experience.
After all, we are host to the original Starbucks.
But that doesn’t mean highflying chains are the only option to grab a coffee in Seattle.
There are hundreds of independent coffee shops here, run by dedicated enthusiasts, who take special care in brewing up their brew...and sometimes you may even find a flavor or an aroma you have NEVER experienced before!
The food scene is dazzling in its diversity
Image courtesy Elle Morre on Unsplash.
From curries to cornbread, from tofu to tacos, you can find almost any kind of dish in our city.
Best of all, the food scene is constantly growing and evolving.
Even long-time city dwellers can find a new favorite haunt from time to time!
Pro tip: If you’re new here, make sure to try out locally caught seafood.
We have no income tax
Image courtesy Markus Winkler on Unsplash.
It’s true.
Seattle at present does not tax personal income, although there are plans to introduce some taxes for higher income earners.
But we do have a sales tax and that can go up to 10%.
Things to do in Seattle
Seattle has great weather - uber pleasant sunny days and good cloudy days - which means you can go out and experience Seattle all round the year.
Here are a few things you can do:
Catch a glimpse of the city from the Space Needle.
Stroll the university campuses - we have a few.
Check out the farmer markets (especially Pike Place Market) and Kerry Park for some amazing photo taking.
Explore the parks and nearby national parks.
Tour the museums - the Art Museum, the Pop Culture one, the one devoted to history and industry, and the Nordic Museum.
If you’re a business, go for a team building event at Fox in a Box.
I hope this list of eight Seattle facts comes in useful as you experience Seattle!
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