Seattle, WA Driving Tips
I think that driving in hill-top roads or lakeside roads is the way to go when you're in the city. It gives you maximum views, and most of the time there's less traffic. Everyone tend to use main roads instead of the back-roads. If you take the hill-top roads, usually you get some amazing views when
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you're on top, or when you're on the valley its great to see how steep the roads are. When you're on the lakeside roads, its kind of self-explanatory how awesome these are. The clear water of Seattle is just something to be experienced. Also these roads would lead you to some interesting bridge architecture that are arguable engineering marvels, such as the two floating bridges of Lake Washington, which I think are very rare in the world. We also have a few of those bridges that go up when boats that are too big are going under, the Fremont Bridge, Ballard Bridge and the University bridge. Just make sure to be careful when you're driving in the snow. Seattle doesn't get enough snow for our drivers to know how to drive in them. The hills also add a challenge, so basically the whole city shuts down when it snows.
Seattle, WA Buying Tips
I think that a lot of people use craigslist to get a car in the city. I am not a very good driver and I can't drive stick, but I've always heard from my friends and family that it is not a good idea to be driving stick shift in this city because of all the hills. I would also advice to consider park
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ing, it's hard to find parking in the city, unless you're willing to pay $10 per hour in a car garage. Because of this, it's more convenient to buy a small car that would fit in small city spaces. It's so much easier to park, and it's easier to find small spots. I use car2go sometimes, it's a car sharing service and It's a great seemingly inexpensive way to get around the city, but don't use it during traffic hour since they charge per hour. I also don't like big cars or SUVs because I know that I'm not a good driver and the city is filled with runners, walkers and bikers and I'm always terrified of accidentally hurting anyone. I feel that this dilemma is better dealt with if I'm driving a car that can't hurt anyone. I'd rather be the one to get hurt if I was in a collision rather than hurting other people, but that might just be me.
Favorite Driving Memory
I really like how green it is here. There are trees everywhere and it makes the urban environment feel more homey, and less busy. It's surrounded by water, so the view is always beautiful. One of the amazing things about driving in this city are the variations of elevations in each neighborhood. The
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hills and valleys make up for beautiful views and interesting landscape. Add all of that up, trees, hills, and water, each road seem to have their own character. Also, even if it is such an urban area, other drivers are very polite. Maybe its the Pacific Northwest state of mind but, four-way-stops are weird in this area because instead of following rules, in smaller intersections its almost a routine to let other drivers go. It's a kind of driving dance only Pacific-Northwesterners would understand. The past few years also welcomed more bike lanes and smart cars like the one I have, and so much construction, these add more variables when driving, and reminds you how urban the city really is even if its peppered with greeneries.
Favorite Road
Lake Washington Blvd
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I just love driving around Lake Washington coming from the Arboretum around the Madison Park Area all the way down to Renton's Boeing Field. When I was in high school, this was the route I take coming from home (Seward Park area) to my school (Franklin High School). This area seems more peaceful and
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have less traffic there are hardly any traffic stops or four-way stops. Now, I go here because I worked around the Madison Park Area. But I like the peacefulness of the Lake next to you. I also like the view of the floating bridges, both I-90 and 520. I like looking across the lake to Mercer Island and the Eastside and dreaming of one-day owning a waterfront house there. Or looking at the hill-top houses of Leschi and Mt Baker. Now 10 years after high school, this drive also offers nostalgic moments of reminiscing skipping class to go to the Lake, finding a quiet dock and just dreaming about life. It's always clean, and the trees offer welcoming scenery during the day, and mysterious shade at night.
Seattle, WA Driving Tips
The roads here are more congested now that bike lakes have taken over everywhere. If you used to live here but haven't been in Seattle for a few years, please allow for both extra time to get anywhere, as well as extra space for the increase in bike traffic.
Seattle, WA Buying Tips
There are three areas that tend to have a great deal of dealerships close together. The Roosevelt district, Lake City (likely the largest of the three), and then farther south, in Renton. Personally, we have gone to Renton, as the dealers there all seem to be able to make time to meet and arrange
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for test driving sessions, as well as pre-selecting cars you might be interested in if you call ahead and give them some basic parameters. I'd also suggest that you have a method of financing set up ahead of time. Often the deals they offer are good, but your credit union may be able to beat it.
Favorite Driving Memory
A few years ago I was attempting to drive home from my job in West Seattle. In order to do this, I had two main choices at the time. I could either get on the West Seattle Bridge and take it until I got to the Highway 99 on ramp, or go a bit farther and get onto Interstate 5. Getting to the Roose
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velt area would be quicker with I-5, but typical for Seattle then (and worse now), for every 15 minutes I'd leave after 3, the extra 2-3 minutes I'd add to my commute. On this particular day, I decided to try 99, as I was running late. This was before the downtown construction and underground tunnel digging began. So I began to get onto 99 and got about a half mile before everything there came to a standstill. It turns out that there was a police incident there, with a shooter apparently involved. So while on a good day, taking 99 would give me great views of Puget Sound, downtown Seattle, Space Needle, and Pike Place Market, here I was in absolute gridlock. I decided to take advantage of the fact that there are plenty of downtown exits, and took the next one, parking for an hour or so and watching the same mess that I was just in slowly dissipate.
Favorite Road
Sand Point Way, from 45th ave NE to Lake City.
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Normally the traffic is light, and the road passes by lots of trees and natural habitat. I have seen Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, ducks, geese, songbirds and woodpeckers with regularity while driving this road. It also passes by two parks and a beach, so if I get the itch, I can take a quick jaunt th
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ere as well. Given this road is close to where I live, that makes it better.
Seattle, WA Driving Tips
The sheer volume of people that moved to Seattle has increased the bad drivers that are rude and ruin the driving experience. In the decades I have lived here I seen less and less basic things like no signal lights used to it is rare to see someone thanking you for letting them through or getting
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in front of you. No more hand waving as it used to happen frequently. I still thank people. I see a lot of California friends tend to bring those bad habits and lack of courtesy.
Seattle, WA Buying Tips
I suggest smaller hybrids as traffic is intense a lot. I suggest the auto dealers along Grady way in Renton, WA as a starting point then to Tukwila...before going into the major city ones in Bellevue or Seattle. Reason being it is better to test drive around the suburbs and freeways to get a goo
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d feel for a car. Renton is perfect for that because its in the middle of the two major cities practically. And if the sales guy is ok you can hop onto a bridge!
Favorite Driving Memory
I truly enjoy driving along the water front areas of Seattle. There are plenty of good areas to drive to that have water along the side. I especially enjoy it in early summer when it makes you feel like you are not in Seattle as its hotter than we tell people. We usually want people to believe it ra
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ins all the time so we make sure no one knows we have sunshine too! I can open the sun roof and just drive! Usually it is to a place I need to go and I typically will chose the longer winding roads along the water instead of the freeway. Besides, the sights and sounds of people are pretty cool to see too. Well, I am a guy, there are places where you can see some pretty attractive women. But, the overall experience of driving along Seattle waterfront areas is just amazing.
Favorite Road
Lake Washington Blvd, Kirkland.
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Its fun to do. There are signs for no cruising, but I still do. It is one reason why I'd cruise along the area. Juanita beach is there and its fun to see all the people during the summer too. You can drive a long way and connect all the way around the water, sometimes you have to cut across a
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few roads but eventually you can wrap around the main area of Seattle.
