Whether you’re planning a move to Seattle/King County or have just settled into our area, there may be a few aspects of living in the Pacific Northwest that may have been omitted.
Sure, you may have friends here who will give you tips on trendy hair salons, inexpensive restaurants or bohemian coffee shops. But did they tell you how to get your driver’s license, register to vote or where to find a good deep-dish pizza?
Here are my Top 20 resource links (in bold) and a few more sprinkled in for getting settled into our area and feeling like a Seattleite.
Driver’s License – All roads to Seattle/King County start with the Department of Licensing, the good ol’ DOL. If you drive a vehicle, then you should get to know the DOL now.
King County Services – You may live in the county but outside a city’s limits. Those are areas we call unincorporated King County. They may have their own neighborhood name, like White Center, or are known as the unincorporated portion of a municipality, such as unincorporated Issaquah (which is about the same geographic area as the city itself). Want to learn more about the county’s many government services and the role they play in your life? Start here. (There are city service websites too, such as for Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah and Federal Way.)
Voter Registration – To participate in America’s election system, you have to vote. And to vote, you have to register. Here’s how.
School Info – Want to learn more about the various schools and their districts? See how they rank and learn more at GreatSchools.org.
Earthquake Preparedness – It’s not a matter of if but when a devastating earthquake will hit the Pacific Northwest. Seismologists have been predicting a temblor of 8.0 or greater on the Richter scale in our part of the country for several years. The question is: Are we ready for the big one?
In the Know – If you are looking for a top-notch, unbiased oracle of news and information, you can’t go wrong with The Seattle Times. The winner of 11 Pulitzer Prizes, this family-run, locally owned information engine delivers the finest in local news, insights and features for the Seattle/King County area. I subscribe to the digital edition and highly recommend the Times to all my newly arriving home buyers.
Life is Local – If granular, local news – sprinkled with some opinion and commentary – is what you’re after, then you may want to sign up to your neighborhood feed at Nextdoor.com. You will get to meet the neighbors and learn much more about the local goings-on (for better or worse).
City Development – I like to track the many construction projects taking place in Seattle. One of my sources is SeattleinProgress, a resource for major projects – from office and residential buildings to major refurbishments and expansions. (Kudos to Ethan Phelps-Goodman, a long-time software developer and data scientist, who built the site for real estate professionals and the general public.)
Events Calendar – I have found this unofficial site to be one of the better sources for events information. The info appears to be accurate, which says a lot when confronted with pandemic-related changes.
King County Transit – Getting around the county through the Metro bus system can be a fun knowledge-gaining experience. Not only do you learn how to use the various forms of transportation but also get to see different neighborhoods and develop a sense of connectedness. Tip: Get one or two Orca (digital payment) cards to avoid fumbling with your wallet or loose change when attempting to pay.
Rolling on the Rails – In addition to traveling on wheels, there are many rail-based, public transportation options in and around Seattle. (Link light rail is expanding service North, South and East, prompting some people to ditch the car in favor of a home within a short distance of new stations).
Reading Right – Seattle is rated at or near the top for literacy in the U.S. and the U.N. appointed it a City of Literature. Yes, it’s safe to surmise we like our libraries. Take advantage of their services both in Seattle and King County’s library systems.
History Lesson – If you are going to live here, don’t you think you should know its history? I have tapped into the best local teacher around – HistoryLink.org – a wonderful encyclopedia of history and heritage. Conceived in 1997 BW (Before Wikipedia), the site contains more than 8,000 researched articles on a wide range of topics. Scroll to the bottom of the front page, check out the Today in Washington History section and get lost in a rabbit hole of tales of time gone by.
Medical Care – You will learn quickly that the place to get sick is on Pill Hill, the nickname for the concentration of three major hospitals within a five-minute walk of each other in the center of First Hill. If you need urgent care, you can’t go wrong with Swedish Medical Center, Virginia Mason Medical Center or Harborview Medical Center, the state’s only Level One trauma center.
Best Burgers – Want to know where to get a good burger? Here are my personal favorites.
Uniquely Seattle Foods – Then there are foods that Seattle started or made better.
Best Bakeries – Looking for a delicious doughnut, perfect pie or delightful Danish? Check out my favorite five bakeries.
Sky High Views – Sure, the Space Needle offers amazing views. But did you know there are (arguably) five better vantage points across the city?
First Road Trip – Once you’re settled in, I highly recommend a trip around SR-101 on the Olympic Peninsula. There is so much to see and do.
And there you have it – 20 helpful links for any newcomer to the Seattle area. I hope they make your arrival a bit more informative and enjoyable.
Oh, and there is one bonus link that you should bookmark – WillSpringerRealtor.com – for when you’re ready to buy or sell a home in and around Seattle!