Advice for relocating to the greater Seattle area

Hi all, I'm considering accepting a position with the navy at their Puget Sound Ship Yard (Bremerton) and wanted to see if there were any fellow climbers working there who’s brain I could pick.

I also have some questions about living in the greater Seattle area:

1. Where is the place to live for easy access to the outdoors (trails, rock, water) for after work activities? (if any)
2. What neighborhood would you recommend for walkability?
3. What gym would you recommend?
4. Do you know any climbers looking for a roommate (I would be moving there in January)

Thanks, David

Hey David,

As a Seattle area native, I don't think of Bremerton as a part of Greater Seattle area. Just because its across the sound mostly so would take a ferry ride or a somewhat long drive. I would think that unless you work a graveyard shift, a non-ferry based commute would be horrible.

Are you willing to take a ferry for your work commute? If so, you probably could live in Seattle. The Bremerton ferry leaves from Seattle downtown waterfront. (There's also another ferry option in South Seattle it looks like) Most of the neighborhoods North of downtown are nice. If you rent, you could live closer to downtown. Buying would mean living farther out from unless you're willing to drop $750k+

Anyways, so if you're not willing to do the Ferry commute option, then Tacoma may be your best bigger city option or just live in Bremerton.

Unfortunately, I can't give recommendations for either of those cities for your questions though! I'd narrow down what type of commute you are willing to endure first. I guess my main point is that living in Seattle and working in Bremerton isn't a trivial thing. Lots of people do it, but they put up with 2+ hours a day spent commuting.

Brian, thank you for the reply. I figured if I lived in Seattle, the ferry would be my daily commute. A 2 hour commute each day is not ideal. I haven't considered Tacoma yet, can anyone give me there thoughts on Tacoma. Same with Bremerton. Also, I plan on renting if that figures into the advice you'd like to give.

I'll probably end up testing each location out first, like 2 weeks in each city, before I decide were to settle for the time being. I only have a truck load of gear that I'll be bringing (I'm currently living in Vietnam) so I think this plan is reasonable.

Does anyone have suggestions for the best place to live in this area to get out after work?

The Olympics have lots of hiking and scrambling, if that's what you want to do after work I'd seriously consider staying on the peninsula somewhere. If you have to have gyms and a large city you may be stuck in traffic or on the ferry every day. Tacoma would be a little closer than Seattle and have a reverse commute drive option to work but would be further from Index and the Exits, the closest climbing options in the area.

Just moved to the Bremerton area (Port Orchard).

My impression is that if you want a short commute to work, you're going to have a longer commute to climbing, which is mostly east of Seattle. There really isn't anything near Bremerton (unless there are some hidden stashes to the west).

Tacoma could be a decent compromise, but you'd be looking at maybe a 45 min drive to work.

If you end up in the area, hit me up, I'm trying to get out most weekends.

I lived in Olympia, WA for two years. It drove me crazy being so far away from good climbing! There are a few boulders scattered in the woods near Oly, and a few chossy and small crags near rainier. Best bet for rock is the exits and Index. If its wet, Leavenworth and Tieton are very good quality. There's a good gym in Tacoma... And water sports will keep you busy I'm sure. Good luck!

I live in Tacoma and like it a lot. Not any farther from "the exits" than seattle is. Also about the same time to leavenworth. It does take longer to get to index, squamish, and the north cascades though, but only about 30-45 minutes.

Climb Tacoma is a bouldering gym near the tacoma dome and it is great. Wonderful community and route setters, thought provoking problems.

Tacoma is cheap, seattle is expensive. Tacoma is grit, seattle is bling.

I wanted to add that getting out after work is difficult around here. The only option really is exit 32/38.

Hit me up when you are coming out, I may have an extra room you could rent.

Hi All, so I'll be moving to the area at the beginning of January and have been looking for apartments in Bremerton for a short commute to work.

Just wanted to reach out to see if any fellow climbers had an extra room for either short or longer term. I won't be in Bremerton until January, so right now my apartment search is limited to the internet, which can be frustrating. So even if someone has a room I can rent for a week or two that would be awesome.

I am also considering staying in Tacoma, any Tacoma climbers out there?

Feel free to reply to my email

Thanks, David
david.failla.ii at gmail

Ashort, I'm just curious how Tacoma is "really no farther away from the exits?"

OP, living in Seattle is expensive, especially compared with the other places you're talking about. However I commuted to Bremerton for a year on my bike via the ferry. It was actually pretty nice as far as commutes. The key is finding a place in Seattle that's easy to get to the ferries from.

Just be aware that The places you're talking about living are incredibly different from each other.

I grew up in Bremerton. I would heavily recommend NOT living there. If you can afford it, get a place in Seattle and commute via biking on the ferry. The ferry commute is slow, but stunningly beautiful and very pleasant. Reasons not to live in Bremerton as a climber:

1) The only climbing gym on the Kitsap Peninsula closed a few years ago.
2) To ski or climb, you're looking at a drive of over 2 hours.
3) Bremerton itself is pretty crappy.

The Olympics are close and gorgeous, but there's not really climbing there.

I'm still open living in Seattle, especially if it's reasonably priced and close enough to the ferry so I can ride my bike. So yes, if anyone has a room they're looking to rent in Seattle, send me a message.

Lived in Bremerton for ~13 years before I climbed much. Absolutely love the Olympic National Park.

For me, the Olympics were too far away to be an "after work" thing.