I know there is a discussion on VAncouver here but I am considering moving to Seattle, as I may have an opportunity there. I visited Seattle last summer and also made trip up to Vancouver from Seattle. I found Seattle to be much more liveable, more "quirky". The most beautiful nature I have seen surrounds the city(almost New Zealand like) Well any thoughts or tips from Aussies who have been to both cities. The only advantage I saw over Seattle in comparing it to Vancouver is that Vancouver does have more people living in the CBD, but Vancouvers CBD is very unbusiness-no corporate hq's. Very shiny and glassy but boring. Seattle seems so cool!!!!!I dunno! any thoughts!!

Seattle has Melbourne W class trams running along its Waterfront. As far as cities go Seattle is more like a damp Calgary by the Sea. Seattle's skyline reminds me of Melbourne with its Rialto wannabee dominating over the Docklands. Seattle like Portand, OR south of it, are cleaner than most Yank cities. Many say they are the closest thing to Canadian-like American cities. Green and progessive.

As for comparing it with Vancouver, well Van City or Van Kong is much more resi-dense at its core. Seattle has an amazing corporate centre or CBD (like Calgary but after 7pm its on the tranquil side...thats Canuk speak for dead. Actually Seattle's not that bad; ... on life support perhaps as they do have a Denny's downtown open 24/7) but its happening in the fringes of town. Its still a really lovely city though. Its just a little quiet after dark and certainly more intended for the motorist. Seattle loves its freeways where Vancouverities consider cars evil things (and people that drive them even worse) and the city is very much planned according. You walk in Vancouver or take public transit.

Have a great time in Seattle. Be sure to hop on over to Victoria and Vancouver but forget about a car. Take the ferries and take public transit to get around.

Haven't been to Seattle, but to agree with Tri-City-Guy, Vancouver has a great nightlife, walk down Robson St at 11pm any night of the week and there'll be shops open and people wandering around. Vancouver also has great public transit (they were expanding the skyrail while I was there) and Stanley Park is great (unless your female and there after dark).

But I suppose the biggest difference is that Vancouver is in Canada where as Seattle is not....

I haven't been to any of the two cities, but from pictures I could probably compare Seattle to Vancouver.

Vancouver is about an hour away from Seattle is it not?

I am going to live in Vancouver. It will be my cold city and perth will be my hot.

Vancouver can also get quite hot in the summer, up to around 32*C at a Maximum daily, but 24*C average in summer, but it does get quite cold, it's like Alice Springs really.

Both cities have one of the Cloudiest and dampest climates on Earth. Infact, a cape on the Washington coast not far from Seattle is recognised as among the world's top 5 cloudiest places. There have been reports of rain everyday for a month in this area. The climate of this area is highly repulsive: damp, cold and cloudy, and I would not recomment moving anywhere near Washngton or Oregon. Go to San diego or somewhere in the mid west or the east coast. I cannot stress that enough.