Phoenix vs. Seattle after 3 ½ weeks

By TravelGuy --

We arrived in Phoenix on Thursday July 16th. Here are some similarities and some differences between the two cities:

• Seattle has 7 letters
• Phoenix has 7 letters

• Phoenix’s light rail system opened in December, 2008
• Seattle’s light rail system opened in an abbreviated version on July 18th, 2009

• Phoenicians still love Randy Johnson
• Seattleites still love Randy Johnson… mostly

• The Phoenix Cardinals play in the NFC west and lost in the Super Bowl to the Steelers
• The Seattle Seahawks play in the NFC west and lost in the Super Bowl to the Steelers

• Phoenix had only one of two Costco Home stores in the country and it just shut down
• Seattle (Kirkland) had only one of two Costco Home stores in the country and it just shut down

• Phoenix has cowboys
• Seattle has Cowgirls Inc.

• In Phoenix you can go through neighborhoods where 100% of the store signs are in Spanish
• In Seattle you can go through neighborhoods where 100% of the store signs are Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese

• Phoenicians look forward to October when it cools to the 80s
• Seattleites look forward to July when it warms to the 80s

• Phoenix has excessive heat warnings when the temperature goes above 110 degrees
• Seattle has excessive heat warnings when the temperature goes above 85 degrees

• Phoenix just suffered through its hottest July on record
• Seattle just suffered through its hottest day on record during July (103 degrees)

• Phoenix does not observe daylight savings time during winter
• Seattleites rarely get any daylight time during winter

• It is a 5 hour drive (approximately) from Phoenix to Las Vegas, San Diego or Los Angeles
• It is a 5 hour drive (approximately) from Seattle to Spokane or Eugene

• The median home price in Seattle is $369,000
• The median home price in Phoenix is $192,790

• The average price for gas in Washington is $2.80
• The average price for gas in Arizona is $2.51

• Phoenix drivers will park at the other end of the parking lot to score some shade
• Seattle drivers will go around and around the parking lot to get 3 spots closer to the entrance if it’s raining

• Phoenix drivers will tailgate you while on their cell phones. They are relentless.
• Seattle drivers will hang out in the left/fast lane while doing 60 mph. They are relentless.

• About 50% of Phoenix drivers start to coast forward in anticipation of a green light
• About 50% of Seattle drivers have no clue when they’re supposed to go at a 4-way stop

• Phoenix has suicide lanes that become normal lanes during rush hour
• Seattle has the highest rate of suicide in the country

• Phoenix has cactus everywhere
• Seattle has Cactus in Madison Valley (and it’s delicious!)

• Phoenix dog parks have quite a bit of poop laying around
• Seattleites will dial 911 if they see someone not pick up after their dog

• In Seattle, the garbage/recycle man hops out of his truck, picks up the trash can and physically dumps it in the truck or they wheel the bin over to the truck which then lifts and dumps the contents
• In Phoenix, the garbage/recycle man never gets out of his truck. He pulls along side the bin, then a giant metal claw extends, clamps around the bin, lifts it up and over the top of the truck and dumps the contents. I love this!