Moving from Seattle to Vancouver

So, you’ve made the decision to move from Seattle to Vancouver. Whether you’re starting a new job, moving to be closer to family, or just decided it was time for a change of scenery -congratulations! You’re starting out in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Vancouver is renowned for its natural beautyーyou can hike a mountain in the morning and hit the beach in the afternoon. Vancouver is one of the best places you could move to.

Trans Canada Movers is proud to call Vancouver our home base, and we love to help make your move to this beautiful city as easy as possible. Read our guide to the city below to get better acquainted with your new home.

Why Move to Vancouver?

You’ve likely seen plenty of Vancouver on your TV screen without even realizing it as it’s a huge TV and film hub, but now it’s time to see the real thing. Once here, you’ll discover a vast range of things to do, see, and eat that are sure to convince you that your decision to move was a good one. Some of the best things include:

• Mild Weather. Affectionately referred to as Raincouver, Vancouver is located within a temperate rainforest, which means that while it rains more often than most places in the area, the temperature stays nice and mild throughout the year. Summers are warm while snow in the winter is a rarity, except on the nearby mountains, of course.
• The Outdoor Lifestyle. If you like to be outdoors year-round, Vancouver is the city for you. From snowboarding and skiing in the nearby mountains to kayaking and stand up paddleboarding on one of the many bodies of water in and around Vancouver, Vancouver is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s also very cyclist friendly.
• Hollywood North. Many people make the move to Vancouver in order to pursue careers in the film industry, both in front of and behind the camera. If you’re more interested in possibly rubbing elbows with a celebrity, Vancouver is also a favourite city to live or visit for many stars.
• Diverse Cuisine. No matter what kind of food you’re craving, you’re sure to find it along with many other options throughout the city. Vancouver’s diverse population results in a foodie’s fantasy of delicious dishes that you can enjoy in-house or delivered to your door from one of the many food delivery apps.

Where to Live in Vancouver

There are so many neighbourhoods in Vancouver, each with something special to offer those that live in them. Because of this, it’s nearly impossible to pick a favourite. You’ll definitely want to spend some time in each and know what’s most important for you in terms of transportation, schools, proximity to work, and walkability, for example. Get to know a few of these neighbourhoods here:

• Grandview. Located on the East Side of the city, Grandview is most known for Commercial Drive, aka “The Drive”, which features many restaurants and cafes. Formerly referred to as Little Italy, this area is now one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the city. You’ll also find Trout Lake, an expansive park for taking a walk, having a picnic, or letting your dog cool off at the designated dog beach.
• The West End. This is the area on the western side of downtown that’s close to Stanley Park and right along the beach. There are plenty of restaurants and boutiques to check out as well as a lot of variety in housing types. From heritage houses to high rises and everything in between, the West End often feels like a little city all of its own. 
• Strathcona. Not far from historic Chinatown, Strathcona is one of the oldest residential neighbourhoods of Vancouver. If stunning row houses with wide front porches are your thing, you’ll love strolling through this neighbourhood. It’s also well connected with bike lanes and walking distance to a handful of craft breweries. 
• Kitsilano. Following the trend of gorgeous houses and great places to eat is Kitsilano. Typically known for its organic, vegetarian eateries and multiple yoga studios and yoga wear stores, Kitsilano is laid back and by the beach. It offers stunning views of the North Shore mountains and downtown.

Locals’ Favourite Things About Living in Vancouver

If the enviable weather, multitude of places to eat, and craft beer scene weren’t enough reason to move to Vancouver, here are a few more things locals love about this city.

• Being a major city means getting a lot of major performances to check out. From big name stars like The Rolling Stones and Ariana Grande to productions like The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera, there’s always some form of entertainment offered in Vancouver.
• A blossoming tech startup scene makes Vancouver a desirable place to live for people working in the tech sector as well as for businesses looking to set up a home base here. Companies like Amazon and Google have their offices downtown amongst local startups and established companies like Unbounce and Hootsuite. 
• In a large city, accessibility is key. Vancouver boasts multiple means of transportation, including city buses to every corner of the city, skytrains that connect to surrounding suburbs, the SeaBus connecting downtown to the mountains, and the West Coast Express for those living further afield. If you don’t have a car or don’t want to drive in Vancouver, there’s not much need to with ample public transit and rideshares like Uber and Lyft.

Make Your Move from Seattle to Vancouver with Trans Canada Movers

When you’re ready to leave Seattle behind and become a Vancouverite, let Trans Canada Movers help make the transition easier. From assisting you with the proper paperwork and documentation you’ll need to get across the border to the move itself, we are well-versed in helping people relocate to Canada. We’ll take care of the moving details so you can focus on the fun stuff, like choosing a neighbourhood and settling in.

Contact us today to get started with your move, and be sure to use our Moving Calculator to request a custom quote for any items and furniture that you’ll be bringing with you.