When to Use
User asks about Seattle for any purpose: visiting, moving, working in tech, studying, or enjoying Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Agent provides practical neighborhood, transport, cost, and lifestyle guidance.
Quick Reference
| Topic |
File |
| Visitors |
|
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) |
visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) |
visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay |
visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips and day trips |
visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods |
|
| Quick comparison |
neighborhoods-index.md |
| Downtown and Belltown |
neighborhoods-downtown.md |
| Capitol Hill and Central District |
neighborhoods-central.md |
| Queen Anne and Magnolia |
neighborhoods-queen-anne.md |
| Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford |
neighborhoods-north.md |
| Eastside (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond) |
neighborhoods-eastside.md |
| South Seattle |
neighborhoods-south.md |
| Food |
|
| Overview and dining scene |
food-overview.md |
| Local specialties (seafood, coffee) |
food-local.md |
| International cuisine |
food-international.md |
| Best areas for dining |
food-areas.md |
| Practical (apps, grocery, dietary) |
food-practical.md |
| Practical |
|
| Moving and settling |
resident.md |
| Transport (car vs transit reality) |
transport.md |
| Cost of living |
cost.md |
| Safety |
safety.md |
| Weather (myth vs reality) |
climate.md |
| Local services |
local.md |
| Career |
|
| Tech industry and salaries |
tech.md |
| Startups and funding |
startup.md |
| Students |
student.md |
| Remote workers |
remote.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, outdoor enthusiast
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. Weather Reality
The Seattle rain reputation is exaggerated but the grey is real.
| Myth |
Reality |
| "Rains constantly" |
37 inches/year (less than NYC, Miami, Atlanta) |
| "Need umbrella always" |
Light drizzle, locals rarely use umbrellas |
| "Always cloudy" |
TRUE: 200+ overcast days/year |
| "No summer" |
Jul-Sep is gorgeous (70-80F, sunny, dry) |
Seasonal affective disorder is real. Many residents use light therapy lamps October-March.
3. No State Income Tax
Washington has NO state income tax. This is a major draw for tech workers.
- California tech workers save 10-13% moving to Seattle
- Trade-off: Higher sales tax (10.25% in Seattle)
- Trade-off: Property taxes moderate but rising
4. Reference Data
| Item |
Range |
| 1BR rent (Capitol Hill) |
$1,800-2,400/month |
| 1BR rent (Eastside) |
$2,200-3,000/month |
| Senior SWE salary (L6) |
$350K-500K total comp |
| Coffee (specialty) |
$5-7 |
| Light rail monthly pass |
$99 |
| Median home price |
$850K |
5. Tech Hub Reality
Seattle metro is one of the top 3 tech hubs in the US.
| Company |
Location |
Notes |
| Amazon |
South Lake Union |
HQ, 50K+ employees in Seattle |
| Microsoft |
Redmond |
HQ, massive campus |
| Meta |
Bellevue |
Large office, growing |
| Google |
Kirkland, Seattle |
Multiple offices |
| Apple |
Seattle |
Growing presence |
Eastside vs Seattle: Microsoft people live on Eastside (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond). Amazon people live in Seattle proper. The commute across Lake Washington is painful.
6. Neighborhood Matching
| Profile |
Best Areas |
| Young tech (Amazon) |
Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, Ballard |
| Young tech (Microsoft) |
Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond |
| Families |
Eastside, West Seattle, North Seattle |
| Nightlife and culture |
Capitol Hill |
| Hip and artsy |
Fremont, Ballard |
| Quiet and nature |
Magnolia, Queen Anne |
| Budget-conscious |
South Seattle, Beacon Hill |
7. Transit is Improving
Seattle was car-dependent but light rail is changing that.
| Mode |
Reality |
| Light rail |
Expanding rapidly, now reaches airport and Northgate |
| Buses |
Extensive, reliable, free downtown (sometimes) |
| Car |
Still needed for suburbs, Eastside, outdoor trips |
| Bike |
Growing infrastructure, hilly but e-bikes help |
See transport.md for detailed breakdown.
Seattle-Specific Traps
- "It rains all the time" - No. It's grey and drizzly, not heavy rain. Bring layers, not umbrella.
- Underestimating the grey - 200+ overcast days. SAD is real. Budget for light therapy.
- Thinking Seattle = Eastside - They're different worlds. 520/I-90 bridge traffic is brutal.
- Skipping Pike Place morning - Go at 9am. By noon it's tourist chaos.
- Ignoring the Eastside - Bellevue is a legit city now with great dining and safer feel.
- Summer FOMO - Everyone disappears to mountains/islands Jul-Sep. Book ahead.
- Forgetting layers - Morning fog, midday sun, evening chill. Layer up.
- Capitol Hill = party only - It's also the best walkable urban neighborhood.
- Passive-aggressive locals - "Seattle Freeze" is real. Making friends takes effort.
Outdoor Context
Seattle's biggest draw is nature access. Within 1-3 hours:
| Destination |
Distance |
Best For |
| Mt. Rainier |
2h |
Hiking, views |
| Olympic National Park |
2-3h |
Rainforest, coast |
| San Juan Islands |
2h + ferry |
Kayaking, orcas |
| Snoqualmie Falls |
30min |
Easy day trip |
| Crystal Mountain |
2h |
Skiing |
| North Cascades |
2-3h |
Remote wilderness |
REI flagship is in Seattle for a reason. Outdoor gear is a lifestyle here.
Coffee Culture
Seattle invented modern coffee culture (Starbucks, 1971). But locals drink at:
| Type |
Examples |
| Third-wave roasters |
Victrola, Elm, Slate, Milstead |
| Classic Seattle |
Caffe Vita, Espresso Vivace |
| Everywhere |
Independent shops on every block |
Ordering tip: Just say what you want. No judgment. But expect baristas to care about their craft.
Related Skills
Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:
travel — trip planning and logisticsdubai — another city guidenegotiate — salary and offer discussions
Feedback
- If useful:
clawhub star seattle
- Stay updated:
clawhub sync
1---2name: seattle3description: Navigate Seattle as visitor, resident, or tech worker with neighborhoods, transport, costs, weather, and local insights.4---5
6## When to Use
7
8User asks about Seattle for any purpose: visiting, moving, working in tech, studying, or enjoying Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Agent provides practical neighborhood, transport, cost, and lifestyle guidance.
9
10## Quick Reference
11
12| Topic | File |
13|-------|------|
14| **Visitors** | |
15| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | `visitor-attractions.md` |
16| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | `visitor-itineraries.md` |
17| Where to stay | `visitor-lodging.md` |
18| Tips and day trips | `visitor-tips.md` |
19| **Neighborhoods** | |
20| Quick comparison | `neighborhoods-index.md` |
21| Downtown and Belltown | `neighborhoods-downtown.md` |
22| Capitol Hill and Central District | `neighborhoods-central.md` |
23| Queen Anne and Magnolia | `neighborhoods-queen-anne.md` |
24| Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford | `neighborhoods-north.md` |
25| Eastside (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond) | `neighborhoods-eastside.md` |
26| South Seattle | `neighborhoods-south.md` |
27| **Food** | |
28| Overview and dining scene | `food-overview.md` |
29| Local specialties (seafood, coffee) | `food-local.md` |
30| International cuisine | `food-international.md` |
31| Best areas for dining | `food-areas.md` |
32| Practical (apps, grocery, dietary) | `food-practical.md` |
33| **Practical** | |
34| Moving and settling | `resident.md` |
35| Transport (car vs transit reality) | `transport.md` |
36| Cost of living | `cost.md` |
37| Safety | `safety.md` |
38| Weather (myth vs reality) | `climate.md` |
39| Local services | `local.md` |
40| **Career** | |
41| Tech industry and salaries | `tech.md` |
42| Startups and funding | `startup.md` |
43| Students | `student.md` |
44| Remote workers | `remote.md` |
45
46## Core Rules
47
48### 1. Identify User Context First
49- **Role**: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, outdoor enthusiast
50- **Timeline**: Short visit, planning to move, already there
51- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
52
53### 2. Weather Reality
54The Seattle rain reputation is exaggerated but the grey is real.
55
56| Myth | Reality |
57|------|---------|
58| "Rains constantly" | 37 inches/year (less than NYC, Miami, Atlanta) |
59| "Need umbrella always" | Light drizzle, locals rarely use umbrellas |
60| "Always cloudy" | TRUE: 200+ overcast days/year |
61| "No summer" | Jul-Sep is gorgeous (70-80F, sunny, dry) |
62
63**Seasonal affective disorder is real.** Many residents use light therapy lamps October-March.
64
65### 3. No State Income Tax
66Washington has NO state income tax. This is a major draw for tech workers.
67- California tech workers save 10-13% moving to Seattle
68- Trade-off: Higher sales tax (10.25% in Seattle)
69- Trade-off: Property taxes moderate but rising
70
71### 4. Reference Data
72
73| Item | Range |
74|------|-------|
75| 1BR rent (Capitol Hill) | $1,800-2,400/month |
76| 1BR rent (Eastside) | $2,200-3,000/month |
77| Senior SWE salary (L6) | $350K-500K total comp |
78| Coffee (specialty) | $5-7 |
79| Light rail monthly pass | $99 |
80| Median home price | $850K |
81
82### 5. Tech Hub Reality
83Seattle metro is one of the top 3 tech hubs in the US.
84
85| Company | Location | Notes |
86|---------|----------|-------|
87| Amazon | South Lake Union | HQ, 50K+ employees in Seattle |
88| Microsoft | Redmond | HQ, massive campus |
89| Meta | Bellevue | Large office, growing |
90| Google | Kirkland, Seattle | Multiple offices |
91| Apple | Seattle | Growing presence |
92
93**Eastside vs Seattle:** Microsoft people live on Eastside (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond). Amazon people live in Seattle proper. The commute across Lake Washington is painful.
94
95### 6. Neighborhood Matching
96
97| Profile | Best Areas |
98|---------|------------|
99| Young tech (Amazon) | Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, Ballard |
100| Young tech (Microsoft) | Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond |
101| Families | Eastside, West Seattle, North Seattle |
102| Nightlife and culture | Capitol Hill |
103| Hip and artsy | Fremont, Ballard |
104| Quiet and nature | Magnolia, Queen Anne |
105| Budget-conscious | South Seattle, Beacon Hill |
106
107### 7. Transit is Improving
108Seattle was car-dependent but light rail is changing that.
109
110| Mode | Reality |
111|------|---------|
112| Light rail | Expanding rapidly, now reaches airport and Northgate |
113| Buses | Extensive, reliable, free downtown (sometimes) |
114| Car | Still needed for suburbs, Eastside, outdoor trips |
115| Bike | Growing infrastructure, hilly but e-bikes help |
116
117See `transport.md` for detailed breakdown.
118
119## Seattle-Specific Traps
120
121- **"It rains all the time"** - No. It's grey and drizzly, not heavy rain. Bring layers, not umbrella.
122- **Underestimating the grey** - 200+ overcast days. SAD is real. Budget for light therapy.
123- **Thinking Seattle = Eastside** - They're different worlds. 520/I-90 bridge traffic is brutal.
124- **Skipping Pike Place morning** - Go at 9am. By noon it's tourist chaos.
125- **Ignoring the Eastside** - Bellevue is a legit city now with great dining and safer feel.
126- **Summer FOMO** - Everyone disappears to mountains/islands Jul-Sep. Book ahead.
127- **Forgetting layers** - Morning fog, midday sun, evening chill. Layer up.
128- **Capitol Hill = party only** - It's also the best walkable urban neighborhood.
129- **Passive-aggressive locals** - "Seattle Freeze" is real. Making friends takes effort.
130
131## Outdoor Context
132
133Seattle's biggest draw is nature access. Within 1-3 hours:
134
135| Destination | Distance | Best For |
136|-------------|----------|----------|
137| Mt. Rainier | 2h | Hiking, views |
138| Olympic National Park | 2-3h | Rainforest, coast |
139| San Juan Islands | 2h + ferry | Kayaking, orcas |
140| Snoqualmie Falls | 30min | Easy day trip |
141| Crystal Mountain | 2h | Skiing |
142| North Cascades | 2-3h | Remote wilderness |
143
144**REI flagship** is in Seattle for a reason. Outdoor gear is a lifestyle here.
145
146## Coffee Culture
147
148Seattle invented modern coffee culture (Starbucks, 1971). But locals drink at:
149
150| Type | Examples |
151|------|----------|
152| Third-wave roasters | Victrola, Elm, Slate, Milstead |
153| Classic Seattle | Caffe Vita, Espresso Vivace |
154| Everywhere | Independent shops on every block |
155
156**Ordering tip:** Just say what you want. No judgment. But expect baristas to care about their craft.
157
158## Related Skills
159Install with `clawhub install <slug>` if user confirms:
160- `travel` — trip planning and logistics
161- `dubai` — another city guide
162- `negotiate` — salary and offer discussions
163
164## Feedback
165
166- If useful: `clawhub star seattle`
167- Stay updated: `clawhub sync`
modbender