Although grunge has long since passed, the music scene is still great. There are a slew of different-sized venues hosting diverse genres of music. Although many college stations are hit or miss, almost all up-and-coming musicians and bands want to get on KEXP, the University of Washington’s radio station. They set the standard for what to listen to and help guide Seattleites who are looking for cutting edge bands to follow. And they give us a distraction while we sit in traffic so bad that it rivals LA and NYC.
Of course, there is one unenviable aspect of living in the Northwest: the rain. While the weather makes some wary of the city, most natives learn to adapt. Rather than trying to stay inside during the wet weather, Seattleites go about their normal daily activities. It’s typical to be walking around the city on a rainy day, cup of coffee in hand, wearing a rain jacket and leak proof shoes. This no-fuss attitude toward inclement weather is characteristic of most Washingtonians; although the weather doesn’t always make it easy, we’d rather be outdoors than in. It’s not surprising that outdoor stores like REI started here; the entire state of Washington is made for outdoor activities. There’s hiking in the Columbia Valley, and skiing in the Cascades Mountains. In the Olympic Peninsula, you can find the only temperate rain forest in the continental United States. A boat ride from Seattle will take you to the beautiful San Juan Islands.
Even when you’re in middle of an urban center like Seattle, it feels like you’re close to nature. Standing at 14,410 feet, you can see Mount Rainier from almost every part of the city. It looms behind the skyscrapers, keeping a constant watch on the city. Puget Sound sits to the west and Lake Washington to the east, so water is always within sight.
Although the terrain, climate, and culture of the east and western parts of Washington couldn’t have been more different, I am happy to have experienced both. Washington is a diverse state, and living in only one spot wouldn’t do it justice.
