Uptown Seattle Blog

Moving to Seattle is a Great Choice

October 19, 2009 // 6 Comments »

Affectionately nicknamed “The Emerald City”, Seattle is a place surrounded by the astounding natural beauty of clear waters, snow covered mountain ranges and lush, green countryside. The city’s skyscrapers rise up and stand tall in the middle of all this wonder, giving it a look not dissimilar to that of a jewel. In recent times Seattle has enjoyed a real boost in popularity, and as such it is now one of the Pacific Northwest’s most loved holiday destinations. With all of this amazing natural beauty surrounding it, Seattle is a prime choice for nature lovers and those who simply want to experience beautiful views of the great out doors while still enjoying the modern conveniences of being located in the city.

Seattle is one of the most literate cities in America, with 47.2% of its inhabitants holding a bachelors degree, and 93% having their high school diplomas. There are a total of 58 different public schools here, as well as the world famous University of Washington. Seattle is also home to Seattle University, Art Institute of Seattle and Cornish College of Art, all of which add to the high educational standards of the city.

Job opportunities is the city are near limitless and remain very stable, in fact Seattle’s job opportunities play a key role in maintaining the city’s growth and stability. As other big cities struggle with economic difficulties that have a negative impact on their rates of employment, Seattle has a very stable job market and a bright outlook for the future. There are several employment opportunities in the city for both part time and permanent jobs, and as a result has been voted as one of the most job friendly cities in America.

The mayor of Seattle, Mayor Greg Nickels, is highly committed to “Building strong families and healthy communities”, so you can be sure that the communities here are very well equipped and ready to accommodate for everyone with various different centers and programs. Another high point of community here is easily visible when looking at the Mayor’s Customer Service Bureau, which is very highly respected for the voice it gives individuals, letting them make their views known. Another part of Seattle that is incredibly admirable are the Neighborhood Services Centers; all of them are used to link us each individual community with Seattle’s government. The Neighborhood Matching Fund and Office for Education are also some of the wonderful programs available to the communities of Seattle; they both assist the youth of the city in becoming academically successful and provide funding to assist with general community improvements.

With the surrounding natural beauty, world class academic programs, stable employment and incredible government support for local communities, it is no wonder that Seattle’s housing market is among the top ten in America. If you have plans to either to relocate or to find a good city for an investment property, Seattle is one place you cannot afford not to at least look into. The current real estate crisis brought on by economic uncertainly has barely made a dent in Seattle; with the stable market here it is the perfect place to invest.

In Seattle, one can admire the diverse cultures represented in a number of different fine restaurants that serve various cuisines from every corner of the globe. If you are a fan of seafood then Seattle’s dining will be right up your ally, with seafood being especially popular here and thus served at a great many dedicated eateries, including the famous Jacks Fish Pot. Crab Pot Restaurant and Bar, Ivar’s Salmon House, Crush and the Metropolitan Steak House are all worth a visit if you can make the time. There is also some fabulous Thai food in the downtown area of Seattle as well as Cantonese and Chinese restaurants, or Asian cuisine at the Thai Tom, or Mexican dining at the Agua Verdi restaurant in the city. Anyone who appreciates experiencing different foods from around the globe will certainly appreciate all of the dining opportunities offered to them in Seattle, especially the Canlis restaurant, which has all kinds of dining under one roof.

Seattle has always placed a high value on preserving art and culture, which they city values and treasures. Thanks to the people of the city ensuring that arts and culture keep a place of pride here, they play a part in every day life throughout Seattle. If you would like to experience the arts here, especially the fabulous performing arts, you are able to pay a visit across the Second Avenue, where you will find the Seattle Art Museum as well as the Benroya Hall, which houses the Seattle Symphony; it is considered the United States’ greatest orchestras. While visiting, you will find a hole plethora of activities and events being staged not only here but also at the Seattle Center, where McCaw Hall shows both the famous Seattle Opera as well as the magnificent Pacific Northwest Ballet. If you can find the time to take a trip to the Seattle Art Museum as well you wont be disappointed – there are over 23,000 pieces to appreciate there. You could also consider the Seattle Asian Art Museum, which is very highly acclaimed both nationally and abroad. Finally there is the University of Washington with its two fine art museums; the Henry Art Gallery and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, both of which are not to be missed for art lovers.

If you are visiting Seattle there will be no shortage of entertainment available for you to enjoy. Those of you who consider fine dining the best way to experience a city will be able to enjoy all of the fresh food at the Pike Place Market, which is famous for the high quality of local produce it supplies; a public marketplace full of numerous stands with a huge variety of foods, it is especially popular in the summer time when you can find a number of native berries, wonderfully fresh salmon, locally produced organic fruits and vegetables, Dungeness crabs and of course a wide selection of artisan cheeses. There is also no shortage of night life opportunities in Seattle, with plenty of chances to go to bars, pubs and clubs, all conveniently located in Pioneer Square. You are always ensured a great time with plenty of fun and excitement, alone or with your friends, including lots of dancing and great music played by live bands. Another big entertainment area is the Ballard, which is full of live music venues, bars and old taverns perfect for having a drink with friends.

If you are looking to experience the best that Seattle has to offer in terms of entertainment, then you can visit during the annual Seafair Summer Festival. Both July and August are some of the best times to enjoy the entertainment offerings of Seattle, as there are plenty of street fairs and concerts during this time; although they are also some of the busiest months of the year for the city you will still have plenty of fun, even if you have to share it with a crowd.

Posted in Relocation