tngirl01, as a resident of a Seattle-area suburb for most of my life, I can tell you that a although the city is a joke during any snowstorm, thankfully that only happens maybe 2-3 days per year on average. We have the occasional freak year when the snow sticks around for a week, but usually when it snows it only sticks around for a day or two on the roads. The Seattle area, and certainly the city limits, gets very little snow, as we are barely above sea level. The mountains and their foothills, some rural areas, and the eastern side of the mountains can get lots of snow, but you will be fine in the city. If it does snow, you will hear all about it on the news days in advance, and you can park your car for the day or two. In that case, enjoy the sledding, skiing, naughty snowmen and streaking naked with the other UW students since on those days classes will probably be cancelled!

Thank you for the advice! I never would have thought of those things.


Ok, thanks! I'm really excited to live in Seattle, so I appreciate all the new things I'm learning.

Trust that the weather, construction, or an accident will always happen when you need to be somewhere and use your car.

The AAA roadside service part of the membership is tied to you, not your vehicle, so if you're riding with someone else and have a mishap you can call for help. They don't just do a jump start, but they carry batteries so you can get a new one on the spot. I am getting a vibe from you that you take the time to plan ahead and investigate, much like I do, so I'm just trying to give you information about stuff so you can make the best choices for yourself.

I'd like to consider myself a capable and independent woman of the world, who also went far away for school. The AAA membership gives my parents peace of mind as I'm the baby, the only unmarried daughter, and the one who lives the furthest away from home. I know how to check my oil, change a tire, jump start a vehicle, push start a vehicle, and all those tricks, but knowing 1-800-AAA-HELP is there 24 hours a day is great.

I also previously mentioned REI, which PeppyGPhiB and I agree upon is the place to get outdoor gear. Their return policy, and customer service is amazing. They've sent me repair and replacement items while in the field, and given me my money back on items that were years old and crapped out. There's a store in Brentwood if you want to buy at home during their upcoming anniversary sale, as you can always exchange it in Seattle.

ETA: You're so close to Canada you may want to go sometime, not a bad idea to have a passport if you don't already have one. You can drive your car, drive your car onto the ferry, or get on the ferry as a passenger. It is something to do that isn't too far, and often young people will go skiing and snowboarding in British Columbia. I personally think Victoria is fun because I like to put on crazy hats and have High Tea at The Empress, you may have other interests.

Echo much of what Vandal just said, plus I'll add that REI is also a great place to buy a bike if you don't already have one. With every bike purchase they also give you a credit for one of their bike maintenance classes, so you can learn how to fix any basic problems with your bike. The downtown store (flagship) has walking trails to test footwear, bike trails outside to test bikes, and a rain shower inside to test waterproof coats =)

Get a passport. I personally think it's a good idea for all Americans to have one, but especially anyone in a border state. Plus, let's get real, this must be mentioned since it's relevant for you: the drinking age in B.C. is 19, so you may meet people in college that want to go up there for a weekend, especially for skiing at Whistler.

Most of the UW Greeks as well as a large percentage of the UO and OSU Greeks (some WSU as well I think), head to Whistler on MLK weekend becuase that's Whistler college weekend. Pretty big deal for those Greek systems- particularly for the freshman/sophomores, so you will definately want that passport.

I just got my passport renewed so I think I'm good there. I don't know if any of you will be able to help me out with this, but I have one semi-irrelevant passport question: Since I won't turn 18 until July, is my passport still only valid for 5 years, or since I'm turning 18, will it be 10 years? I know this is a random question to ask that I could probably find somewhere else on the Internet but just wondering. :)
Thanks for the AAA advice! My parents will be all over that. And you're right, I LOVE to plan ahead! I'm one of those really organized people, so thank you all for the info! I am actually going to Brentwood this weekend for a wedding, so I'll check that store out before the sale.

I believe that since you were over the age of 16 when you renewed your passport, it is good for 10 years. Had you been under 16, then it would have been good for 5 years.

Coincidentally, I just completed the forms to renew my kids' passports today. 16 and up is good for 10 years, and costs the full adult price.

Oh, ok. I just assumed it was 5 until you were a legal adult. Thank you!