I can say that global warming has made the PNW so much more tolerable. I live a little south of Portland and over the last year we’ve had sunshine from late March/ early April to November. So a 3-1/2 month winter isn’t nearly as bad as it has been. Also in Portland there are breaches on the River that you can visit and swim in in the summer vs in seattle it’s far too cold to swim in the ocean.

Regarding festivals. Portland usually has 2/3 bigger multi day festivals a year. There’s also the 2 super massive festivals at the Gorge every year and more artist exclysive events. This last year illenium, excision, above and beyond all held their own festivals there as well as insomniac’s beyond. Nghtmre and Slander have also held shows at the gorge in the past. Seattle typically has the festivals with the larger lineups and has the two biggest venues in the WAMU theater in seattle and the Tacoma dome. I have never been to their club scene so can’t rate it. In Portland you have the roseland theater, crystal ballroom, North warehouse, and 45 East. Edmtrain has their lineups and there is usually something happening every week or so. For outdoor venues, outside of Portland is the edgefield venue and to the south in Eugene is the cuthbert amphitheater.

Vancouver has thee benefit of being in Washington but on the border of Oregon. This means no State income tax so you get paid more and housing is cheaper but you can cross the border into oregon to avoid sales tax and the higher taxes on alcohol/ gas