Liberal atmosphere? Ozone? Sewer gas?
I currently live in the San Francisco bay area, a lot like Seattle I guess. Definitely a "liberal" atmosphere.
How would I characterize it? Large urban area, lots of young people, many recently moved from someplace else and fresh out of college, and many businesses that cater to them. Kind of impersonal and anonymous where people typically don't even know their next door neighbor. People see you but don't really want to know you. If you keel over and pass out on the street, they will just step over you. Crime a concern, but not to the point where it's scary (except it is in some neighborhoods). Lots of immigrants, not always assimilated and often clannish. Better restaurants, more live entertainment which is much hipper and stylish. Lots of shopping. Traffic, poor schools, more social problems. The big "liberal" cities tend to attract troubled people who didn't feel like they fit in elsewhere, so they find themselves filled with people with psychiatric problems. Lots of alcoholism and drug addiction. Big homeless problems composed of these people.
I've lived in conservative areas too. Smaller rural communities, older populations, more scenic and better environment. Much friendlier, when you step in a local store they know you. Strangers talk to strangers. Very little crime and some people don't even lock their doors. Big sky above with lots of stars and the milky way. Fewer ethnic restaurants or hip cafes. Deficient nightlife centered on a few divey bars. People are more into making their own entertainment than patronizing commercial entertainment establishments which might be in short supply. Some very good parties. Much more outdoorsy, people go hiking, mountain climbing or swimming and boating on local lakes. Fewer extremes of abject street poverty and ostentatious wealth. Less racial and ethnic division, better integration into a tighter knit community. Young people might find it boring, but a better place for families to raise kids.
Both have their pluses and minuses and will probably appeal to different people. I like them both. While I live in a large urban area now, probably the happiest years of my life were living out in the country.