“Seattle Nov 2014 Seahawks Fan”byMobilus In Mobiliis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Other cities can claim to be the best NFL fans all they want, but Seattle has proof. They’re in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the loudest crowd noise at a football game. And, not to name drop or anything, but that was even before they won the Super Bowl. That’s right. Go ‘Hawks.
“Sounders want you!, in green sunglasses and blue and green scarves, eager Seattle Sounders fans, International District, Seattle, Washington, USA”byWonderlaneis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Seattle Sounders fans actually sold out the football stadium (the other football) before the Seahawks fans did. Soccer (or futball, depending on your level of pretentiousness) is huge here in the city.
“Seattle Harbor tour tourists”byJames Brooksis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Seattleites have a rep for being cold and standoffish. The cloudy disposition has become so well-known, it’s been branded as The Seattle Freeze. In reality it’s not as mean-spirited as people make it out to be. Tourists and Californians moving in have crowded up the place a bit, and made natives a little grumpy. Get to know them and they thaw right out.
Portland is like Seattle’s nagging little sister—who grew up to become super hot. Both cities, while kinda similar but mostly very different and constantly battling it out for which is better. Sorry, Portland, but Seattle was hot first. Everyone knows you’re just riding Seattle’s coattails.
A lot of cities have their own variations and styles of hot dogs. But you haven’t experienced true hot dog love until you have one Seattle style. These can be topped with a lot of surprising choices including barbecue sauce and cabbage, but the cream cheese is mandatory. Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you try it.
Some people will tell you it rains like crazy in Seattle. Others will tell you that the stories of the rain are hyped and New York City gets more rain. The reality is that both are true. It rains a lot, but it’s more of a steady drizzle, which is why places like NYC technically get more inches. In conclusion, you will see rain.
Even if it’s not quite as rainy as you expected, there is no mistaking that there are far more gray skies than not. Some people love it. Other people love to complain. What side of that puddle you land on is up to you.
Unless you want to look like an outsider, ditch the umbrella. No one uses them. This isn’t Oz, you won’t melt in a little rain. Embrace it.
When the sun comes out, there isn’t a single person to be found indoors in Seattle. Everyone finds a reason to get out and enjoy the sunshine while they’ve got it and soak up every last ounce of vitamin D.
Just kidding. Grunge will never die. At least not in Seattle. If you can think back to how big the grunge scene was in the 90s in your city, multiply that by about 100 and then add in every album sold by Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Nirvana and you’re in the general ballpark of just how big grunge was to Seattle. The trends may have died off, but the roots of grunge will live on forever here.
Seattle is known for being ground zero to the grunge music explosion of the 1990s. But it’s also home to legends including Jimi Hendrix, Quincy Jones, and Heart. Oh, and you’re welcome, world, for the vocal stylings of Sir-Mix-A-Lot. And big music isn’t still coming from Seattle. The city gets credit for bands and artists like Macklemore, Modest Mouse, and Band of Horses.
Nirvana’s frontman will be forever linked to Seattle. But that’s not where he was born and raised, contrary to popular belief. He lived in Seattle for a time during his career and, yes, he died there. But he’s originally from Aberdeen. And, yes, there is a big difference.
It’s kind of cool, right? It’s okay to say no. Pretty much everyone thinks it’s gross, too. But it’s just become one of those Seattle things.
The people of Seattle teamed up with everyone else around Washington in voting to allow gay marriage and for the legalization of marijuana. And chances are, they did it before you. Seattle’s recycling laws have also been ahead of the curve across the country, and now their composting laws are taking off before most other cities too.
Every time you order up a triple grande, half-caf five-pump hazelnut skinny latte with sugar-free syrup, make sure to tip your hat to Seattle where all that ordering madness started. And then tip your barista for getting it right.
Starbucks isn’t even a drop in the coffee pot when it comes to java in Seattle. Just know that whatever complex coffee shenanigans are going on there right now, you won’t even hear about for another year.
What really ends up defining the culinary underbelly of a city is the food that isn’t necessarily the best, but that everyone always ends up eating anyway. Philly has cheesesteaks, San Francisco has the super burrito, NYC has pizza… Seattle has teriyaki. Some teriyaki joints are better than others, but it doesn’t stop these places from popping up all over the city, making it the fast food of choice for locals.
Perhaps you’ve seen a photo or two of the Space Needle. At 605 feet tall with an iconic look, it’s basically the Eiffel Tower of the Pacific Northwest. But no one from Seattle really goes there. It’s nice to have it, but it’s a touristy thing.
It’s one of the oldest running farmer’s market in the entire country. And overlooking Elliot Bay, it’s where you’re going to find the absolute freshest seafood in the city. Along with fantastic sandwiches and donuts and anything else your hungry little heart desires.
The close proximity from downtown Seattle to so much breathtaking nature means that pretty much everyone is an outdoorsy person to some extent. You’ll find hikers, climbers, cyclists, kayakers, runners… You name it, someone in Seattle is doing it right now. All that green is how it earned its name as The Emerald City. And with the Cascades just a short 40 minutes away, that comes as no surprise.
This one probably doesn’t need to be explained. It’s just a fact. Seattle is every bit as liberal as you think it is. In fact, probably even more so.
Yes, flannel still lives on in Seattle and it goes with everything, thanks for asking. So does fleece.
Part awesome, part creepy, The Fremont troll has become the unlikely landmark of Seattle. Appropriately placed under the bridge, the Fremont Troll even has his own chia pet created after him.
Since coffee is one of Seattle’s biggest claims to fame, someone decided to capitalize on it by starting coffee stands where baristas are clad in nothing but bikinis while they serve you. Yes, it started here. No, it’s not a particular point of pride for most of the locals.
Speaking of fast food, a list about Seattle wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Dick’s. This local chain is more famous for being famous at this point than it is for the food. But that doesn’t stop it from sneaking its way into pop culture references likes songs by Sir-Mix-A-Lot and Macklemore and in movies filmed in the area.
There are a ton of great tech and startup jobs in Seattle. But, it’s true that Microsoft and Amazon, two of the world’s modern superpowers of business, are both headquartered right here in Seattle and they work there, too.
If movies could be trusted, then Seattle would be in a constant state of flash-flooding due to the non-stop downpour and it would be completely rational to commute to and from work daily using public transportation and the ferry. Hilarious.
Hey, go for it if you want, you rebel, you. But enjoy that $56 ticket. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.
How many places can say that they have a 14,410-foot high volcano right in eyeshot? Seattle can! Forget the clouds, the breathtaking Mt. Rainier is why the gorgeous skyline can resemble more of a green screen than anything else. Feature Image Source: Moore Coffee Shop Facebook
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Seattle? Tell us in the comments below!
