https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:40:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2795472 Sun, 07 Jan 2018 17:07:18 +0000 youboots 2795472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsJBeeG: <a href="http://www.king5.com/mobile/article/entertainment/television/programs/evening/tacoma-is-the-best-place-to-live-in-the-northwest-says-sunset-magazine/281-504601813?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&#038;utm_content=5a4df09819694a00074d0329&#038;utm_medium=trueAnthem&#038;utm_source=facebook" rel="nofollow">http://www.king5.com/mobile/article/entertainment/television/programs/evening/tacoma-is-the-best-place-to-live-in-the-northwest-says-sunset-magazine/281-504601813?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&#038;utm_content=5a4df09819694a00074d0329&#038;utm_medium=trueAnthem&#038;utm_source=facebook</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794242 Sat, 30 Dec 2017 16:23:59 +0000 helloperidot 2794242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I like Puyallup (DH and I got married at the Pioneer Park Pavillion in Puyallup) but I'll admit some areas are better than others (Shaw Road, Sunset Ridge, eastern Puyallup and closer to Graham). Traffic can be godawful when the fair is happening (springtime and in September).</p> <p>Lacey is an adorable community and there's something for everyone there. Lots of parks and outdoor spaces, newer homes/communities so you'll find plenty of rentals that are in the 4 bedroom/3 car garage range you're looking for. The other benefit of being closer to the base (whether in Lacey or Puyallup) is that many landlords and rental companies will be familiar with renting to military, or you might find some built in community. While both cities are nice, Lacey would be the better commute. I see your husband has his own business -- what would his commute needs be like? Puyallup has a Sounder station (commuter train), I don't remember what sort of commuter options Lacey has.</p> <p>Edited to add: stay far away from Lakewood. It's just awful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794232 Sat, 30 Dec 2017 15:22:01 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2794232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: thank you! It is so helpful to hear this kind of inside information from locals. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794220 Sat, 30 Dec 2017 13:54:03 +0000 pinkcupcake 2794220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve lived in the Seattle area pretty much my whole life. </p> <p>If working in JBLM, I’d suggest Olympia or Lacey. Both about. 20 min commute from ft Lewis and MUCH nicer than Lakewood / Tacoma / Puyallup. Schools in Olympia are better than Lacey, but commute will likely be extra 15 mins or so (which isn’t bad at all - I live in the Seattle area and getting in / out of the city is an hour min). </p> <p>If I were you, I wouldn’t live north of Tacoma unless you want an 1-1.5 hour commute </p> <p>Puyallup - I think houses are super cheap (especially compared to up north), but I don’t think the area is that nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794176 Sat, 30 Dec 2017 02:37:28 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2794176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@helloperidot: is puyallup a nice area? I was just perusing Zillow and loved some of the homes currently for rent (while knowing they won’t be available in June). The lots seem larger and houses are spaced out a bit compared to some areas I’ve looked at. It seems appealing to me on several levels. I’m really looking for something larger admittedly - 4 bedrooms so we can have a dedicated guest room seperate from a nursery and a separate office for me since I will be able to work from home some days. And a three car garage would be awesome but not a requirement. I am sure the commute isn’t fun but my current commute is nearly an hour due to traffic where I am now and it’s bearable. My DH says having a little longer commute is good for me as I decompress and don’t come home all uptight Army officer. 🤣 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794090 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 13:44:19 +0000 helloperidot 2794090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsJBeeG: No problem! All of my extended family live in UP/Puyallup, and I lived on the UP/Tacoma line and worked in Tacoma schools before moving up to Seattle, so I'm really familiar with the area. If you have specific neighborhood questions as you get closer, even something like "hey, we are looking at a house on X street by Y intersection, what do you know about the area?" please feel free to wall me and I'll share what I know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794067 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 12:40:53 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2794067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LauraBear: @helloperidot: @youboots: ladies thank you for the thoughts. It really helps me as we start to search for a home. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794058 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 12:22:58 +0000 helloperidot 2794058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lifelong PNW native here who grew up in the south sound! My uncle works out of JBLM-- traffic is indeed a nightmare in that area but if you have a flex schedule or don't have to be on base very often it's not that bad. They're also currently widening the corridors of I-5 by the Tacoma dome, so the freeway often backs up between the base and Fife (about 10-15 miles of commute and can take a few hours to get through when it's crawling).</p> <p>I recommend looking in Steilacoom, University Place, Fircrest, Puyallup, Fife, Lacey, or DuPont. Olympia is nice but again, traffic. If you look at North Tacoma, stick to the Proctor area and stay out of Hilltop. Schools in Tacoma are definitely hit and miss. If you want something more rural, check out South Hill, Graham, or Orting.</p> <p>Stay south of Seattle unless you want a commuter nightmare, even with flex hours. I live in the north sound now and rarely drive south of the city unless I absolutely have to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794045 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 11:52:47 +0000 LauraBear 2794045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We lived in Steilacoom for three years - it’s a beautiful little bedroom community on the water and really close to fort Lewis. Not a lot of kids - more kids in university place, which is just north of Steilacoom. But it has really good schools and nice little parks. We moved to Seattle last year to be closer to family and for new jobs, but I miss how peaceful and beautiful and the space we had in Steilacoom a there’s two parks right on the water that our dog loved swimming at and running around since they were rarely crowded. Steilacoom is less expensive than university place but I’d check out both as there the most family friendly in tacoma. You’ve also got Puyallup, which is a more cookie cutter area but good size houses and yards etc. North Tacoma is great - I worked at UW Tacoma for three years and the neighborhood is definitely improving up there but it’s slightly more expensive and urban - smaller yards and older homes - than university place and Steilacoom. It’s also just 20 minutes from UP/Steilacoom so we always went up to Tacoma for date nights. Hope that helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794034 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 11:08:37 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2794034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t think we’ll be able to visit since we are in europe right now. I was thinking about Olympia - seems like a decent distance away from Fort Lewis - I just didn’t know what the vibe was like for older couples with a (hopefully) infant. Someone suggested north Tacoma to me at work - said it’s got a hipster vibe - lots of people hanging out and having home breweries and stuff like that - my DH might like that kind of area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794028 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 10:37:21 +0000 youboots 2794028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsJBeeG Will you be able to visit before deciding where to live? I love Seattle but you may not get much of a yard and it’s really expensive. Bellevue is beautiful- on the water E of Seattle I like it a lot there. Both of these options would have a significant commute. I asked DH and he suggested checking out Olympia. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794024 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 10:23:05 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2794024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will be renting at least to start - we could buy if we really like it. We will both be working but I won’t have to commute everyday - I’m the one in the military but will have very (unusual) flex hours if I’m not needed in - I can work from home. First time ever. ;) my husband has his own business in NM. So I don’t want to live right on top of the base. Your thoughts would be so welcome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2794005 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 09:03:08 +0000 youboots 2794005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was born in Tacoma and know several photographers who live there and love it. DH also stays there occasionally for work. Are you renting or buying? Will you be working/ commuting? From what I understand it’s more diverse, up and coming with good food. I know the military traffic can be bad at quitting time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommendations-of-where-to-live-when-moving-to-seattle-tacoma-area#post-2793986 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 01:55:40 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2793986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would love any recommendations of where to live near Seattle-Tacoma. We are a military family and heading to Fort Lewis early this summer. If all goes well, I’m due mid-August with our first kiddo. DH is late 30s and I just turned 40. I don’t think we want cookie cutter suburbia - we like having neighbors but like our space. DH will want space to tinker/build (large garage and not a basement space) and I’d like a good sized backyard for our pup since she’s been stuck in a small stairwell with no individual outdoor space in Europe for two years. I think we are flexible on most things. We aren’t outdoors people but do like space to spread out. We’ll be there three years so park spaces might be nice to take a little toddler to might be nice (and isn’t something I’ve had to think about before). </p> <p>Thanks so much for any feedback. We have plenty of time but I’m a planner so starting to narrow down some areas to start searching is so appreciated! </p>