The Vibe: Washington Is A Gorgeous State For Awesome People To Explore
Anyone who has ever lived in
Washington will tell you that you don’t live in Washington, you experience Washington. The state of Washington (no, not the
District of Columbia) is a gorgeous wonderland of perfectly landscaped beauty that will take your breath away no matter how many times you see it. It’s a terrain of classic Pacific Northwest wilderness, marked by the evergreens of The Cascades and an unforgettable coast. Don’t forget that there are two volcanoes here, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens which could essentially blow at any time. That’s why people who live in Washington are, by far, the most awesome.
They’ve been cool with gay marriage before everyone else in the country was. They legalized marijuana before everyone else (whatever,
Colorado). As the seventh most liberal state in the country as reported by Gallup, the people of Washington gave the world grunge, Starbucks, the best apples, an incredible tech scene, and the ability to be comfortable and look awesome by making flannel fashionable.
They do it all under a proverbial umbrella (because no one here is sissy enough to use a real umbrella) of overcast skies and volcano peaks. And all they ask in return is to be left alone to explore their own backyard because it never gets old.
Local Flavor: Washington Knows That Beer Deserves To Be Celebrated
A lot of people think of coffee when they think of Washington, thanks to
Seattle’s massive coffee shop and Starbucks explosion of the 90s. But something Washington has given the world that might be even better than coffee is some killer beer. In fact, Washington ranks second for most breweries in a state, only second behind California which is approximately 400 times bigger, so they’re not impressing anyone. Washington also produces more hops than any other state. So, it’s no surprise that the craft beer scene has exploded in the past decade, which is why Washington has gotten so big on celebrating it.
There are at least six major beer events throughout the year across the state that you won’t want to miss. The Inland Northwest Craft Beer Festival welcomes 30 breweries and features over 100 beers to hop your way between. Seattle’s Belgian Fest showcases unique blends like Tripels, Dubbels, Saisons, Wits, Abbeys and Lambics. The Washington Brewers Fest in
Redmond is a massive event where you’ll find over 400 beers from 105 local breweries. And there’s also The
Bremerton Summer Brewfest, the
Everett Craft Beer Festival, and the South Sound Craft Beer Festival in
Tacoma. And if you still can’t find your new favorite beer after all of that, then you obviously just don’t like beer and you might want to have your soul checked.
Cuisine: Learn Every Way There Is To Eat A Mushroom
You’ve probably heard of Washington Apples, considering that 58 percent of all apples grown in the United States are from Washington state. And you might be familiar with
Rainier Cherries, a crop of the fruit developed in the 1950s out of Washington State University. But there’s a possibility that you’re less familiar with the mushrooms and truffles of Washington State. And if that’s true, you’ve been seriously missing out.
It’s popular practice to go foraging for your own truffles when you live in Washington or, as some even call it, mushroaming. Newcomers are advised to take an experienced mushroom hunter with them in the beginning as there are rules, regulations, and important things to avoid (you know, like not poisoning yourself). You could always just make it easy on yourself and visit the Pacific Northwest Mushroom Festival every year in
Lacey where you’ll find mushrooms packed into every kind of food imaginable, from truffle ice cream to bacon wrapped mushrooms and more.
Nightlife: Just Follow The Music
If you’re into a high-energy nightlife scene, then you’ll have to stick to the major cities in Washington like Seattle where you’ll be able to find an eclectic mix of everything from dance clubs to hookah lounges. But overall, the nightlife scene in Washington is pretty laid back.
It’s much more common to spend the evening with a date or friends in a local restaurant or brewery rather than raving until the sun comes up. Live music venues are also a pretty popular way to spend time, especially in places known for their music scenes like Seattle and
Olympia.
And who knows? If you frequent the bars enough, you just might discover the next Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Heart, or Macklemore. Try the Crocodile Café for a truly authentic Seattle music experience. Along with being a personal favorite, this local gem introduced the world to the likes of indie bands including Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, The Postal Service, and The Long Winters.
Safety & Crime: The Suburbs Do It Better
When it comes to crime in Washington, the suburbs are generally the safest option. For example, AreaVibes ranks Seattle with a Livability score of 76, a number that would be higher if it weren’t for it’s crime score of a D, a rate that is 54 percent higher than the Washington average.
However, just five miles outside of the city, the town of
Clyde Hill boasts a Livability score of 86 and has a crime grade of an A+. Olympia’s crime rate is decent enough to earn a grade of a C, coming in 5 percent lower than the Washington average, but the town of
DuPont boasts an A+ in crime and is just 13 miles from the heart of Olympia.
The city of Redmond is one of the better cities with a proud crime grade of a B+ and is safer than 59 percent of cities in the country. But even with an area with an unsavory crime rate like Seattle, neighborhoods are everything and as long as you do a little research, you’ll be able to find an area where you feel safe.
Weather: Rainy With A Chance Of Sun… Eventually
The Pacific Northwest is known for its rainy weather and mild climate. However, there are a few details that get grazed over with these generalizations and the weather you experience will vary greatly depending on where you live.
Yes, it rains a lot in Seattle. But it’s much more like a constant drizzle than a daily downpour. The winter is generally very overcast, gray, and moist with a perpetual feeling of moisture in the air even when it’s not raining. Spokane only sees a reported 16.6 inches of rain annually, but if you’re at Baker Lake Dam, expect upwards of 98 inches. And Mt Rainier records an average of 118 inches over 189 days of rain.
Depending on where you are in the state, January highs hover in the upper-30s to the mid-40s, which is much cooler than most people assume. Summer brings some much needed sunshine and most areas experience a mild temperature in the low- to high-70s. However, Eastern Washington State goes into the upper 80s for a daily average in July, and the city of
Kennewick even averages a high of 90.
Commute: Seattle Is For Walking, Everywhere Else Requires Wheels
Although Washington state is known for being pretty crunchy, you’re going to need a car to get around in most places. Places like Tacoma and
Vancouver are extremely spread out and require four wheels to get around. However, the very notable exception to this rule is Seattle where you could exist forever without a car and never miss it, especially if you’re Downtown.
The city has a Walk Score of 71, Transit Score of 57, and Bike Score of 63. When you head downtown, those scores jump to a Walk Score of 98, an astounding Transit Score of 100, and a Bike Score of 67.
It’s a great way to avoid the Washington commute, too, which IndexMundi ranks the 14th worst in the country according to Census data. But with an average 25.4 minute commute each way, the state’s average pales in comparison to the rise of the mega-commuters of the Seattle-Tacoma-
Bellevue area, who can see their daily drives take up to 90 minutes each way, according to Census Data.
Cost Of Living: The Beauty Of Washington Doesn’t Come Cheap
Unfortunately, Washington state isn’t as affordable as it is beautiful. Washington’s overall cost of living index is 117, 17 points higher than the national index. The housing is the most expensive cost you’ll be faced with here, 47 points higher than the national average, even higher in the most desirable neighborhoods.
There is good news, though. First, Washington is one of seven states in the country that doesn’t have income tax. Second is that you’ll see a significant savings on your energy bills. The electricity rates in the state are the third cheapest in the country, with an index of 88 against the median 100.
The Seahawks Aren’t Just For Seattle
As the only NFL team in the Pacific Northwest, the Seahawks represent much more than just Seattle. And if you doubt at all just how loyal their fans are, make an appearance to just one game at CenturyLink Field and there will be no question.
If you’ve never heard about Seahawks fans being the “12th Man” on the field, that will quickly change. In fact, you’ll hear a lot more than just that. Seahawks fans have broken the Guinness World Record for loudest crowd noise at a sporting event not once, but twice, the second of which reached a deafening 137.6 decibels.
So, when you hear that rumble on game day, chances are you don’t have to pull out the emergency volcano evacuation plan—it’s just Seahawks fans doing what they do best.
Washington Is A State Where Finding Waldo Comes Second To Bigfoot
Don’t worry, you don’t have to believe in Bigfoot when you live in Washington if you don’t want to. It’s not some box they make you check when you switch over your driver’s license or anything. However, you will definitely run into him. Or her. And more than just once.
Luckily, the very high probability is that when you do have an encounter with Bigfoot, it’s just more kitschy paraphernalia for fun. A t-shirt here, a bumper sticker there, a token Bigfoot running around the Washington State Fair.
But when you’re exploring that amazing Washington wilderness for any sasquatch on the loose. I’m not saying Bigfoot is real. But with over 600 reported sightings, Washington is consistently ranked among the top states where you could find Bigfoot. If he were real. Or she. You decide.
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