SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND WELCOME TO GREATER PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON Quirky. Hip. Eclectic. Lush. Rugged. Intellectual. Artsy. These are just a few of the words one might use to describe the Greater Puget Sound area, which includes Everett, Olympia, Renton, and Seattle. These cities combine a vibrant urban life with a strong connection to their lush environments. Contents Climate and Geography 02 Cost of Living and Transportation 03 Sports and Outdoor Activities 04 Shopping and Dining 05 Schools and Education 06 GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND l 01 SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND CLIMATE If there is one thing for which the Greater Puget Sound area is known, it’s rain. Instead of heavy torrents, rain typically comes in the form of a constant, light drizzle, escalating to thunder an average of only seven days per year. Although it does snow occasionally, accumulation is rare. Average High/Low Temperatures January 47oF / 37oF Low 76oF / 56oF Average Precipitation Rain 37 in. Snow 6.8 in. GEOGRAPHY The Greater Puget Sound area is a geographical hodge-podge that marries islands with mountains and water with forests. The vicinity is home to a North American rain forest that provides a dense green contrast to the modern cities around Puget Sound. GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND l 02 SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND COST OF LIVING Seattle isn’t large as it is only the 15th largest metro area in the United States, but it’s growing fast. The result is a fairly steep cost of living. However, the surrounding cities in the Greater Puget Sound area may prove to be much more affordable. Additionally, each city in the Greater Puget Sound area has a utility index that is less expensive than the national average. Housing Everett Olympia Renton Seattle House House House House $230,800 $240,800 $282,400 $437,400 Rent Rent Rent Rent $965 $926 $1,165 $1,131 TRANSPORTATION Highways State Highways 99, 513, 519, 520, 522 Interstates I-5 /I-405, I-90 Airports Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Department of Motor Vehicles 1000 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 http://www.dol.wa.gov GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND l 03 SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT It is impossible for rain to ruin the day in the Greater Puget Sound area because there are too many things to see and do, both indoors and outdoors. In fact, the city offers a rare hybrid of urban culture and outdoor adventure that is satisfying to athletes and intellectuals alike. Your inner tourist, for example, can ride to the top of the Space Needle, watch fishmongers throw fish at Pike Place Market, or sip a cup of coffee at the original Starbucks. The outdoorsman in you, meanwhile, can sail on Lake Union or hike Mt. Rainier. And, if you’re still looking for more to do, you can satisfy your inner artist at one of Seattle’s many museums, like Chihuly Garden. Each city in the area has it’s unique charm and it’s own festivals. SPORTS Pro Teams MLB: Seattle Mariners MLS: Seattle Sounders NFL: Seattle Seahawks Major Venues Centurylink Field Safeco Field OUTDOORS & ADVENTURE Parks & Trails Fun on the Water Attractions Discover More Heritage Park Capital Lake Chihuly Garden & Glass everettchamber.com Howarth Park Cedar River Forest Park Animal Farm gorenton.com Liberty Park Green Lake Seattle Aquarium outdoorsnw.com Olympic Sculpture Park Lake Union Seattle Great Wheel visitolympia.org Waterfront Park Silver Lake Woodland Park Zoo visitseattle.org GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND l 04 SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND SHOPPING & DINING No-Beans Cuisine Diverse Shopping The area specializes in fresh seafood and Although it has all the big brands you’ll sustainable, locally sourced fare, both find in any major metropolis, check out of which have earned it a top spot on Westlake Center Plaza and Pacific Place Conde Nast Traveler’s list of the 20 “Best malls in downtown Seattle for an eclectic American Cities for Foodies.” selection of uncommon wares. ART & CULTURE Like its most famous - albeit fictional - resident, Dr. Frasier Crane, Seattle and the rest of Greater Puget Sound is sophisticated. Oozing with art, the area is celebrated for its museums and theaters. Theaters: Museums: l Carco Theatre l Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture l Everett Performing Arts Center l Experience Music Project Museum l Harlequin Productions l Frye Art Museum l Historic Everett Theatre l Hands On Children’s Museum l Meany Hall for the Performing Arts l Imagine Children’s Museum & Toy Store l Olympia Family Theater l Museum of Flight l Paramount Theatre l Museum of History & Industry l Renton Civic Center l Renton History Museum l Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center l Seattle Art Museum l Seattle Repertory Theatre l Seattle Asian Art Museum l Washington Center for the Performing Arts l Seattle Children’s Museum GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND l 05 SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND EDUCATION IN GREATER PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON Notable Colleges & Universities Area School Districts Evergreen State College Everett School District- everettsd.org Olympia, WA 4630 Colby Avenue Everett, WA 98203 l 425-385-4000 Seattle University osd.wednet.edu Seattle, WA Olympia School District - 1113 Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98501 l 360-596-6117 Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA Renton School District - rentonschools.us 300 SW 7th Street University of Washington Renton, WA 98057 l 425-204-2300 Seattle, WA Seattle Public Schools - seattleschools.org 2445 3rd Avenue Washington State University Seattle, WA 98134 l 206-252-0000 Pullman, WA CONNECT WITH GMS Founded in 1987, Global Mobility Solution is a global corporate relocation services company that specializes in workforce mobility. The company’s corporate relocation services include global assignment management, domestic relocation management, and a range of pre-decision solutions. Global Mobility Solutions is a back-to-back-to-back winner of the HRO Today 2014, 2015, and 2016 “Baker’s Dozen” customer satisfaction surveys. Online Resources Phone & Email www.gmsmobility.com 1-800-617-1904 Baker’s Dozen LinkedIn: Global Mobility Solutions [email protected] Customer Satisfaction Ratings RELOCATION 2016 Winner GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER PUGET SOUND l 06.