I am wondering if you need a car to live in Seattle, any input?

Question

How did you like it if you have lived in Seattle or how do you like it if you are living in Seattle? Other than job reason, any other reasons that make you stay in Seattle instead of moving to other states? I learned that Seattle rains a lot, is it depressing there?

Answer 1

I love it here. I would stay here strictly for two reasons - the weather and the scenery. I love the mild climate, even though it's rainy in the winter months. Where I come from it snows in the winter, and so I'd trade it for rain anytime!

The scenery here is gorgeous. Snowy mountains, water, green trees...it's breathtaking.

It can get depressing here in the winter, but it's not so much about the rain as it is about the number of daylight hours. Because we are the northern-most metropolitan city in the continental US, we get fewer hours of daylight than any other US city during the winter months (on the flip side, we get more daylight hours in the summer months)... The daylight hours in the winter are mostly cloudy and gloomy, so it's more the darkness that bothers people (particularly those with SAD) than the rain.

As for needing a car...it's not necessary. It's useful, but absolutely, you can get around by bus or bicycle. Besides, nowadays, you'd have to pay at least an extra $50+ just to park your car at your apartment building.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 2

As a native of Seattle and having travelled to all parts of the United States, I find that the area that has the least extremes in weather is the pacific northwest. The rain here, for the most part, is equivalent to a mild shower or a light rain most of the time. The midwest, central and east coast states, when it rains, it pours. Literally, the sky opens up. There is that old saying in those regions--wait 5-10 minutes, the shower will let up. Meanwhile, if you are caught in that brief period of 5-10 minutes, pull out the soap so can wash the car or take a shower. Here mostly are the soaking type showers or rain.
As to needing a car, if you stay within the proximity of King county, the public transit system is good. Not great--too much political manuevering behind the scenes with transportation issues. Now, Walt Disney World would be an excellent example of efficient people moving systems. They have the best logisticians and transportation specialists equal to if not better than most cities. If you want to truly experience Seattle and greater Seattle sites, you will need a car. A person is only 1-1.5 hours away from any type of recreational and sporting events, mountain climbing to hiking, skiing or skating, fishing in local lakes or deep sea/lake fishing. Travelling around the pacific northwest is like touring the northeast corridor during the spring and fall. Nothing but green year around except for those trees and plants that shed their leaves for the winter. There are many islands to explore either by car or ferry and walking. Please contact the Seattle Chamber of Commerce or Visitors Bureau either by mail or internet. Have fun when you get here!!!

Answer 3

If you are a city person, you absolutely do not need a car to live in Seattle. The urban neighborhoods are hooked up with very good bus service - not as aesthetic as light rail, but totally functional - and cab service is ok. For those occasions when you really do need a car - say, getting furniture at Ikea - you can rent a Flexcar by the hour. (They have trucks too, and the rate includes insurance and gas.) Seattle has all the typical urban stuff - good restaurants (especially good Thai and Japanese food), decent theatre, live music, museums.... It's a pretty liberal city, very relaxed, and as others have mentioned, the surrounding area has lots of terrific outdoorsy recreational opportunities. The rain is not as bad as it's made out to be - it's the near-total cloud cover from November through April that can be depressing. But so long as you stay active and get outdoors when there is some sun, you'll be fine. As you can tell, Seattlites love their city. If you're looking for fun urban neighborhoods, try Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, and Belltown first.

Answer 4

I love to live in Seattle. It is depressing as it rains most of the times and it looks dull. But if you like the rain, then seattle is the place for you.

It's beautiful. If you are a nature lover, you can have fun-filled weekends every week. You can get lost in the heights of Mount Rainier or on the shores of puget sound or in the ruins of old city buried under new Seattle or on the top of Space Needle or in the woods of Olympic National park or sweet songs of Whales in the ocean.

If you are not, then don't go. Las Vega suits you better.

It will help if you have any 4x4.

Answer 5

Here I am, to the rescue, to bomb the typical Seattle stereotype. Seattle is not any more rainy than Anchorage or New York. We have our droughts and dry spells.
As for cars, if you live in the downtown area, you can get by without a car and the bus can take you just about anywhere. If you don't live in the city, it is better to have a car on hand.
I like living here just south of Seattle. The people are cool with a wide variety of cultures and styles.

Answer 6

Most cities in Seattle have buses. I liked Seattle because it was cosmopolitan. When it rains, it rains for several days but not continuously for months as people think and i did not find it depressing. I loved it and only moved to join my family in another state.

Answer 7

Its not depressing the summer is soooo fun! You get clear skies some sun not 2 much!There are things like the bite of seattle free food yay! and concerts were radio stations come And last year there was a huge makeover stand! ITS COOL ansd winter u get sum sno sumtimes but not i cant drive snow! But you can get lots of ice! The traffic can get bad but its nice in seattl;e AND COFFEE!!!!!!There are also street performers

Answer 8

Seattle's traffic is horrible, so driving is huge pain, but the public transit system is pretty pathetic. Everyone I know who lives there has a car, even the urban hipster types.

Answer 9

The skies are mostly gray, the rain is o.k. The traffic really sucks, but people are nice and you won't get people shouting, honking or flipping you off often, pretty much never. It never gets too cold or too hot, the summers are great because it never gets too hot and because it rarely rains and it's sunny. I would encourage you to ride the bus, because very litle people use this form of transportation.