Introduction to Seattle
Seattle, Washington is a multi-faceted city located in the Pacific Northwest, an area that has grown increasingly popular over the last two decades. In addition to its reputation as the espresso cart capital of the world, Seattle also has a dining scene that features acclaimed local chefs and internationally recognized cuisine. The city is extremely multicultural and is influenced by the Pacific Rim in art and architecture. The city offers residents a pace of life that can be either relaxed or fast paced and entrepreneurial. Seattle is home to many successful startup businesses such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Eddie Bauer, Nintendo, Amazon.com, and REI. Water is everywhere, both freshwater and salt water, and the city’s maritime heritage is very noticeable.
Seattle Culture
Seattle is host to a wide variety of cultural events and fairs, including the Seattle International Film Festival, Northwest Folklife, Seafair, the Bite of Seattle, Bumbershoot, Hempfest, and Independence Day celebrations. Neighborhood street fairs are common throughout the city in the summer months, with the largest of them including hundreds of craft and food booths. The performing arts take center stage in Seattle, with such institutions as the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Seattle Youth Symphony. Notable art galleries include the Henry Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, Frye Art Museum, and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The city also has a variety of regional history museums like the Museum of History and Industry, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, The Center for Wooden Boats, and the Museum of Flight.
Seattle Sports and Leisure
Safeco Field, the new home of the Mariners, opened in 1999, and the stadium hosted the 2001 All-Star Game. Seahawks Stadium opened in 2002, offering both football and soccer fans a world-class venue. KeyArena is home to the Seattle Supersonics, the Seattle Thunderbirds, and the Seattle Storm. In addition to major league sports, Seattle also has University of Washington teams, horse racing at Emerald Downs, PRCA Rodeo, and minor league baseball with the Tacoma Rainiers.
Seattle Outdoors
Access to outdoor recreation is one of the reasons Seattle is such a desirable place to live. After all, this is the place where REI and Eddie Bauer began. It is also home to some of the most famous mountain climbers in the world, such as Jim and Lou Whittaker. Within the city limits, a wide array of outdoor activities awaits, including golf, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, clamming, and hiking. Seattle has some spectacular urban parks, such as Discovery Park, Seward Park, and Woodland Park. Drive just outside the city and you'll find skiing, snowboarding, river rafting, hiking and parks like Mount Rainier National Park, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, North Cascades National Park, and Olympic National Park and Rainforest.
Seattle at Night
Neighborhoods like Pioneer Square, Belltown, University District, Capitol Hill, and Ballard offer the youth of Seattle a variety of fashionable bars, clubs, and coffeehouses. There are also a number of all-ages venues which do not serve alcohol. Rarely will club-goers encounter a dress code and live music cover charges tend to be reasonable. The Seattle Weekly and The Stranger provide free weekly listings of all the goings on about town. Bars such as the Alibi Room, BluWater Bistro, Linda’s Tavern, and Tini Bigs provide a wide range to choose from. There are also a number of casinos in the surrounding areas, such as the Emerald Queen and Parker’s. Live music is abundant throughout the city.
