About Seattle
The last major city in the Pacific Northwest before Canada, Seattle is Washington State’s largest metropolis. Whether watching seafood vendors toss the latest catch at Pikes Place Market or catching some fish on your own, there’s always plenty to do amid this bustling, waterfront city.
The crowning jewel of the Evergreen State, the Emerald City, is surrounded by rain-soaked mountains and glistening skyscrapers. Home to some of the United States’ most notable tech companies, such as Amazon and Microsoft, the iconic Space Needle, and cozy Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle comes alive when the sun shines and even when it doesn’t.
Explore Washington
Overview
The first Starbucks Coffee Shop at the Pikes Place Market welcomes vacationers and locals looking for a burst of energy. Whether roaming the eclectic bars, restaurants, shops and art galleries of Seattle’s first neighborhood at Pioneer Square or sampling some dim sum and karaoke amid the Chinatown-International District, night and day, there’s always plenty to keep you busy in Seattle. For a business trip or a convenient stay, book a Seattle airport hotel for quick and easy access to and from the city.
What To Do
Ride to the top of downtown Seattle’s 605-foot high Space Needle for a panoramic view of Emerald City.
Let your inner musician out to play at the Museum of Pop Culture (formerly the Experience Music Project) in the futuristic Frank O. Gehry designed building at the Seattle Center. There are plenty of musical exhibitions plus a sound lab where you dance, sing and play to your own tune.
Discover lush waterfalls and a mountain full of wildflowers (during mid-summer) on a day trip to majestic Mount Rainier, Washington’s highest mountain.
Drift out to see more of the glorious Puget Sound on a ferry bound for Bainbridge Island. Seattle is also the starting point for numerous cruise ships heading to Victoria, Vancouver, and Alaska’s stunning Inside Passage, just in case you decide to explore further.
When to Go
When the sun comes out, Seattle smiles. Summertime offers pleasant temperatures from 75 F to 85 F, while winter highs run between 40 F and 50 F. If you’re headed outside the city to Mount Rainier and hope to view wildflowers, mid-July through mid-August might be best.
Fast Facts
The iconic Space Needle was built as a centerpiece for Seattle World’s Fair. Originally slated for 1959, the fair occurred in 1962, the same year as the New York World’s Fair. The fictional cartoon family from Hanna-Barbera Productions’ Jetsons debuted the same year as the Space Needle. Animator Iwao Takamoto noted that the Needle inspired his aesthetic for the Jetsons’ condominium.
The Emerald City became Seattle’s preferred nickname in 1982 when it was the winning name from a Convention and Visitors Bureau contest. Other titles include the Coffee Capital of the World and Jet City, due to the proximity of Boeing.
Travel Tips & Tools
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