5 comments about Relocating to Seattle and Surrounding Areas: Everything You Need to Know Before You Move and After You Get There! (Relocating).

1. This is one of the very finest "relocation" books that I have had the pleasure of perusing. My career consisted of forty years in the Navy (1948-1988) and twenty different living locations. If ONLY Guy Steele had been around during that period of time to provide advanced information about even just ONE of my living locations, it would have been a blessing.

   Altho I have visited Seattle from time to time, Guy almost challenges me to try it out for a permanent residence. After reading his book, can I leave Honolulu and head for Seattle? No! But almost!




2. I tend to be a big list maker and have drawers and files crammed full of newspaper clippings and magazine articles. Considering a move to the Seattle area from the mid-Atlantic, I picked up Mr. Steele's "Relocating to Seattle" and found that I had hit the jackpot! Sort of like One Stop Shopping - I found all the information I could possibly need for anticipating and making the move westward. He even had advice and suggestions on topics I hadn't even thought about! Also, expecting - as with many travel books - rather dry text, I was thrilled to find that Mr. Steele's book was a truly enjoyable read! Lots of personal annecdotes and well-placed humor made it a book I will hang onto for years to come.



3. I tend to be a big list maker and have drawers and files crammed full of newspaper clippings and magazine articles. Considering a move to the Seattle area from the mid-Atlantic, I picked up Mr. Steele's "Relocating to Seattle" and found that I had hit the jackpot! Sort of like One Stop Shopping - I found all the information I could possibly need for anticipating and making the move westward. He even had advice and suggestions on topics I hadn't even thought about! Also, expecting - as with many travel books - rather dry text, I was thrilled to find that Mr. Steele's book was a truly enjoyable read! Lots of personal annecdotes and well-placed humor made it a book I will hang onto for years to come.



4. Having decided recently to look into making the big move cross-country, I checked out this book and found it to be a much better than average moving guide. After reading it, I felt like I lived there - maybe not quite a native, but not a newbie either! The author is clearly very familiar with his city, and his stories contain just the right blend of humor and insight. All in all, I thought it was a very enjoyable read...and I just might move to Seattle!



5. The author of this book relocated to Seattle himself, so he has the right type of info needed for those planning a move with no previous info on the city. He gives significant info on the neighborhoods and surrounding areas full with crime rates & community junctions. The problem with this handbook is that it is old (2000). I am certain things have changed in the last seven years. This would be an excellent guide if the author updated the info, other than that I think the info provided covers more than most.

3 comments about Greater Seattle Street Map Book.

1. The best set of 8.5x11" maps I've found for the Seattle area.
   The 42 maps are clear and easy to read. They cover from
   Lynnwood to Kent, and West Point to Sammish/Issaquah. I've
   been using a five year old version and really wanted an
   updated version.

   It doesn't cover anything on the otherside of ferries. It
   would be better if it also went upto Everett.




2. This map is clear and easy to follow, even for a first-time visitor



3. Book is clear and well laid out. Color. Thin format. If you need a map that goes further north than Lynnwood or further south than Kent, you need to get the larger Thomas guide. Occasional errors in showing streets that go through when in reality they dead end. Useful tool.

5 comments about Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to and Living in Seattle Including Bellevue, Redmond, Everett, and Tacoma.

1. this is good comprehensive resource for those moving to seattle. its full of useful information. i used it to read about different neighborhoods, figure out where to buy furniture, how to set up my phone, and get general information about the city from across the country. its great



2. This book was too much info just thrown together. There seems to be no diagram for organization. The info that is documented is not what I had hoped for. It reads more like a novel than a handbook. The maps provided are too small & undetailed. The overview is all right. The author does give useful numbers & websites. But there was too much about moving to & not living in Seattle. I was hoping for some real insight into Seattle. Moving is going to be intense. The book does not offer enough info on the ins & outs of the TRUE Seattle.



3. I am enjoying this book immensely in preparation for a "scope it out" trip my husband and I are taking with our toddler in a few months. Yes the info could be found elsewhere with endless hours of research, but in this book is is right at my fingertips and is well written and organized.



4. I purchased this book for my son when he moved to the Seattle region. I was concerned some of the information would be outdated because it was published 3 - 4years ago. My concern was not warranted! The book offers extensive information on everything one would need when moving to a new place. From things like where the post office is in each regional area, to the process for voter registration, to home costs, school information, motor vehicle requirements, and on and on.
   Wonderful book for a newcomer to the Seattle area and the state of Washington!



5. I purchased this book when I was moving to Seattle (naturally) and it was certainly worth the money I spent on it. It was a handy reference guide to the things I would need to do once I moved, as well as a directory of information about places, shops, malls and other kinds of services that are are necessary and useful.
   
   However, since most of the same information is available on the Internet, I would have appreciated a critical assessment of various aspects of Seattle life described in the book. For instance, I would have preferred something like "ABC and XYZ malls provide the best quality of service" as opposed to a listing of addresses and telephone numbers of twenty different malls.
   
   Still, there is a lot of useful information and advice in this book, and I would definitely recommend it.

No comments about Rand McNally Street Of Seattle, Washington.

2 comments about Dad Duty Seattle: Dad-tested Kid-approved Adventures That Won't Bore Your Socks Off.

1. THE ONLY GUIDE BOOK RECOMMENDING THE TOWN DUMP AS A TOP ATTRACTION! As a Dad of two small children living in Tacoma, Washington, I heartily recommend this book to you other Dads in the Seattle-Tacoma area looking for activities enjoyable for your kids AND you!
   
   I received this book as a gift from my children for Christmas, and it ended up getting passed around between everyone all morning because it is hilarious! It is an incredibly entertaining, easy read and there are some really great ideas in here from someone who obviously has a lot of experience entertaining children in Seattle. Every listed attraction includes a summary plus an awesome "bore-o-meter" which rates the attraction on things like machinery, loudness, largeness, sugar and rhythm -- not typical categories of merit, but very applicable if you have kids!
   
   There's even a Dad Duty "Cheat Sheet" that includes a quick listing of attractions, along with bore-o-mete ratings, duration and drive time. I suggest tearing this out and keeping it on your fridge or in your wallet for quick ideas on the go.
   
   Here's an excerpt that explains Vent's philosophy in a nut shell: "Avoid the 'riums' and 'seums' such as aquarium, planetarium, museum, auditorium...ad nauseum! Save these outings for the in-laws and school fieldtrips. Don't worry, your kids will get cultured, but you can concentrate on adventures that knock your kids' sock off - or, at least get something useful done like a trip to the dump."
   
   If that rings true for you, then you will definitely get your money's worth out of this book.



2. I was very excited about this book but was a little disappointed when I received it. It is only 81 pages and in total there are a scant 16 core activities that it suggests around the area as being "dad friendly." Unfortunately several of these ideas are seasonal so that leaves even less to do in the winter months. I wish it had been fully developed into something else, like including area hikes, stay at home activities and just plain more stuff.

No comments about Access Seattle 6e (Access Seattle).

1 comments about eat.shop.seattle: the indispensable guide to stylishly unique, locally owned eating and shopping (eat.shop guides series).

1. When I found out in April that I would be moving to Seattle in August, I naturally started researching the city: looking at housing costs, learning the available options for public transportation, checking out the neighborhoods, etc., and bought a couple of travel guides to get an idea of what I can look forward to once I arrive. I was bit disappointed at the small number of restaurants and shops featured in these guides, especially when different travel guides started churning out the same names. Wanting a book devoted solely to restaurants and stores, but simultaneously wanting something less inclusive than a Zagat survey guide, I ordered this book, sight-unseen.
   
   I am very pleased with it. It features 90 different businesses, which is, I think, a perfect number. Any more would be overwhelming, and any less would make you rethink your purchase. Each business has a two-page spread including pictures, shop owner information, business hours, payment options, and a paragraph describing the business, often with personal anecdotes. The neighborhood maps make it easy to get an idea of where everything is.
   
   However, I do have two small problems with the guide:
   1) The restaurant section provides cost estimates in the "$-$$$$" notation typical of travel guides. Usually, the $$$$ marking means that your meal will easily be over, say, $60 a person, but after searching every possible page that would contain the specific ranges the author is using, I can't find any such key. Checking the eat.shop.guide's website provided no further clues as to what I will be expected to pay once I commit to a restaurant and sit down for a meal.
   2) The book is very poorly edited. Typos, misspellings, and general inconsistencies are found everywhere. For instance, at Green Leaf, is the "Soda Chanh Muoi" really a Pickled Lemondade Soda? Is the owner of the Capitol Hill shop "Fleurish" named Nisha or Neisha? This is, of course, not enough to render the book unusable, and is really only a small problem. Still, it's a little annoying.

No comments about Insight City Guide Seattle (Insight City Guides (Book & Restaruant Guide)).

2 comments about The Rough Guide to Seattle 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. Finally, I got to throw away my outdated copy of Seattle's Rough Guide. And that's only because the company issued an update last summer. It keeps current with newly opened cafes and restaurants. It is accurate on prices and descriptions. If you are traveling carry-on style to Seattle, take this one and leave the rest at home.



2. I normally buy the lonely planet series of travel guides but the new version isn't coming out until Feb. I am traveling to Seattle next week so time was a factor in making my decision. I've compared the rough guide to Fodor's and Frommer's guides and the rough guide seems to be the best one in terms of practicality. It has more information on the neighborhoods and public transport. The maps are better organized and easy to understand, similar to the maps on the lonely planet. It is also very well organized and easy to read.
   
   I still prefer the lonely planet because the maps are more informative, has all of the practical information, and comprehensive. But the rough guide is definitely a close 2nd.

3 comments about Mountain Biking the Puget Sound Area: A Guide to the Best Off-Road Rides in Greater Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett.

1. With 3-4 excellent guidebooks already covering these areas, this one is really a rehash of those books. In addition, many of the areas covered have incorrect landowner and access information, as well as poor instructions on how to ride the loops for maximum fun. Look to Zilly's books and local group rides for the best trail guides.



2. I wonder about the previous review and if writer isn't a friend of Zilly's. Did he even read Criscuolo's book and use it out on the dirt? Puget Sound Mountain Biking has several rides mapped out that have never been published in any book. For example, the Black Diamond Coal Mine and Tokul Creek. Maps are much more detailed than Zilly's books plus Criscuolo provides relevant commentary on the thrills or lack there of on each trail.



3. I just returned from a trip to Seattle. I bought all three Mountain bike guides available and I found Criscuolo's book to be the best. His maps were better that Zilly's, directions were better, and the descriptions of the trails were more accurate. I also appreciate that the trails in Crisculol's book are rides that are mostly 10-30+ miles. Zilly's book "Kissing the Trail" is loaded with "rides" that are 1 to 5 miles.