Hi, thinking about taking a job assignment in Seattle. A little wary of the rain but hear it's beautiful. I've been in Phoenix and San Diego the last year so rain will be a huge change! BUT what is weather like April-July, when is best time to come, what kinds of things are there to do there (I know tons but ideas are always nice!) Thanks!

Sorry, to clarify--i know there must be tons of things to do, I know very little so far about the area. AND my job placements are only for three month periods. Thanks!

July through September are the driest months, but any month can be glorious. You know about the April showers-May flowers bit, of course. Right now it is 65 and overcast, but it was blue skies yesterday. Showers expected tomorrow. Seattleites do not wear raincoats or carry umbrellas. Daytime temps will be mid-50s to mid-70s with warmer days in July, of course.

What to do? My goodness...an embarrassment of riches. Climb, hike, walk, skate, experience the Olympic Peninsula, visit our local volcanoes, fish if you are so inclined, kayak ditto. Go to the movies, the theater, the opera, walk around Green Lake or along the shores of Puget Sound. Visit the San Juans, visit Victoria and Vancouver. Learn to fly.

Go to www.experiencewashington.com and seattleinsider.com for more ideas.

If you like outdoor activities, the best time to visit is July to October. Mountain trails will be snow free and the weather will be good.

Uhh...Seattlites don't wear raincoats? Most of the city is in parkas November to April.

Oh-and regarding what kind of things there are to do here: People who enjoy outdoor activities do best here. Though there are all of the city amenities you'd expect from a mid-sized city, people used to a huge array of cultural events (ie on the scale of NYC, SF or LA) will be disappointed. It's really not a very big city, which appeals to some but not others.

Best of all, there are lots of flights daily to Cali.

(Just kidding darbyvt... )

And they drink lots of coffee in Seattle, hehe.

darbyvt, Seattle and the surronding areas, everything mentioned on this thread, are so beautiful. I am sure you will really enjoy yourself. I wish I could spend three months in Seattle. I envy you.

You're right, christy1...I do have a yellow parka that I have worn about six times since November on a "just in case" basis. I think I put the hood up twice. To be fair, though, I do not go up into the mountains, and I try to avoid going out when those "just in case" days show up. There are advantages to being retired.

Are you looking for city activities, museums, music, groups or organizations, outdoor activities... what kind of things are you interested in?

Volunteer Park including the conservatory, art museum, and climb up the water tower

Washington Arboretum and the Japanese Garden

Spend the night at Captain Whidbey's Inn on Whidbey Island

Outdoor festivals:
Bon Adori
Folklife
Bumbershoot
Seafair
Gay Pride Parade
various neighborhood street fairs
neighborhood summer farmers markets

The usual (tourist) suspects:
Pike Place Market
Pioneer Square
Seattle Center and the Space Needle
Woodland Park Zoo
Greenlake
Chinatown
Ballard Locks

activities:
ride The Duck
Pioneer Square underground tour
take a ferry ride
go up in a float plane
rent a canoe on Lake Washington
rent a kayak on Lake Union

cul-cha:
Seattle symphony
Seattle opera
PNW ballet
local and visiting dance companies
mainstream theater companies
indepentent live theater and performance groups

music venues:
Paramont
Moore
Jazz Alley
Crocodile Cafe
New Orleans
Triple Door
Showbox
Tula's

nature:
San Juan islands
Snoqualmie Falls
North Cascades Highway
Olympic Peninsula
Mt Rainier
Mt St Helens
Washington coastal beach towns

neighborhoods to visit:
Capitol Hill
Belltown
Fremont
Wallingford
Ballard
West Seattle
Madison Park
Queen Anne
Eastlake
University District
Magnolia
Central District
Rainier Beach
Columbia City
International District

city beaches:
Alki
Golden Gardens
Madison Park
Madrona/Leshi
Myrtle Edwards

Suze, thanks for that great list! I hope to visit Seattle this summer (keeping fingers crossed) and this gives me a great start for planning.

Wow Suze---good lists; I'm going to save them as reminders for when we have out-of-town guests. We're stuck in the arboretum, hike Poo-Poo Point, and Bainbridge ferry rut.

I wonder if Darbyvt has lost interest---no comments or questions lately.

ah shucks, happy to help... blame it on a slow friday afternoon at the office!

Yes, and now it's time for me to head home. Can you see out to the west just now? It is lovely, with the clouds/sunshine mixed. Have a great weekend.

As soon as I step out the office door I'll be looking west (at the water, mountains, sky). Hurray and thanks for the good wishes. It's a beautiful afternoon.

No no no! I haven't forgotten, reading everything, just working a lot! I am so overwhelmed, Seattle sounds amazing! As far as activities, since I grew up at the beach my ideals are anything on water, boating, fishing, etc. Love camping and hiking, live music...but never lived in such a big city, am open to doing anything, as long as there are lots of young people and things to do--especially on my own since sometimes travel nursing gets lonely!

However, as of right now there are no job offers for pediatrics in Seattle, still waiting....I did hear about a position in Pullyap (spelling?). Any thoughts on that area? How far away from Seattle, could we live there? I'd prefer to work at Swedish or Seattle Children's but...Thanks for all the great replies! If not now, I'll get there someday at least.