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Aerial View of Seattle

At the dawn of the 21st Century, the world seems to belong to Seattle. No longer is Seattle a rather tame backwater, playing second fiddle to the glamour capitals of Los Angeles and San Francisco further south. Seattle is undergoing a revolutionary new role as one of the most happening places in the U.S.A. The factors that have contributed to this are many. The world headquarters of software giant Microsoft are ensconced in the suburb of Redmond, even though a relatively small proportion of the Seattle population is employed there - everyone seems to have a connection. Seattle's other major contribution to modern culture would have to be the Starbucks coffee chain. Started in Seattle in the early 70s, Starbucks is now a worldwide institution. In recent years Seattle has been the setting for many movies and TV series. The city's contribution to the music scene is also legendary - grunge rock originated here. Although the price index here is one of the highest in the nation, many neighborhoods offer great shopping for crafts and art works and good deals are still possible. Galleries and art exhibitions are everywhere and include the Seattle Art Museum and the Center on Contemporary Art. Seattle's stunning location - near to the ocean and to the mountains - helps contribute to a quality of life that is enviable, and of course adds to the appeal for both visitors and those seeking to settle here.

HISTORY AND ECONOMY

The Duwamish, part of the Salish tribe, originally settled the land that the Seattle area now stands on. These peaceful people fished the waters of the Puget Sound. It was the area's fine setting by the ocean that first brought white exploration. Looking to establish a seaport on the sound, a group led by David Denny settled there in 1851. Their initial encampment was on Alki Point, which is now part of West Seattle, but mud and floods forced them out, and they resettled on Elliott Bay in what is now the area of Pioneer Square. The new settlement was named for the Duwamish chief Sealth who was friendly to the pioneers. Like so many North American cities, Seattle's growth was greatly influenced by the arrival of the railroad. This occurred in 1893 and was well timed for the Yukon gold rush that took place shortly afterwards. Seattle served as a provisioning center and many thousands of people set out from here on their way north. Seattle was by far the largest city in the vicinity and the banking and financing for the fortunes made in the gold rush were centered here.

Despite the quick demise of the gold rush, Seattle continued to prosper. The increased demand for the region's lumber ensured a continued economic boom. A shipbuilding industry developed, and in 1916 a factory was established in Seattle, that today is still one of the city's major employers and also a world leader in aviation—Boeing. Between the wars the economy lagged somewhat—as it did everywhere—but Boeing still played a leading role in the development of civil aviation. With the need for rapid development of armaments in World War II, Seattle with its already well established shipbuilding and aircraft industry played a crucial role in the wartime effort, and thousands of people moved to Seattle to find work in these industries. Like most places in the 1950s, Seattle continued to prosper. Defense contracts made necessary by the Cold War, and the advent of the jet age—when Boeing's 707 introduced mass air travel to the world—assured a booming economy. Seattle felt confident and this culminated in the World's Fair of 1962 which was known as the Century 21 Exposition.

In the 1960s through to the 1980s the defense industry waxed and waned - depending on the international and domestic political climate. The demand for Boeing's civilian planes was also somewhat inconsistent, but the company gradually established its position as the major supplier of airliners on a global basis. In the 1980s Microsoft arrived in the area, and has grown into the world's leader in software, and if nothing else has put Seattle permanently on the map. Boeing is doing well with its third generation of airliners and is busy filling orders to replace its earlier models. It is now the only American manufacturer of airliners and has only one real competitor on the world stage. Today Seattle is considered by many as the place to live. As well as being viewed as dynamic and trendy, Seattle has a carefully cultivated—but deserved—image of clean air, water and mountains and as a great place to pursue an outdoor leisure-oriented lifestyle.

CLIMATE

	Seattle's Beautiful Skyline

Seattle's reputation as the U.S. capital of rain is undeserved. While winter days are often wet, the actual amount of rainfall for January is the same as New Orleans and is surpassed by San Francisco. What is different is the high level of humidity, which many people from drier climes find a refreshing change. If it is raining in winter, Seattle has so many indoor places of interest, fine restaurants, galleries and shopping, that the outside conditions don't really matter. The summer months of June, July and August have much less rain and are usually warm and sunny—the perfect time to enjoy the wonderful outdoor opportunities the area has to offer. It rarely gets too hot in Seattle—with the average summer high temperature being in the 70s.

TRANSPORTATION

Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport is located 13 miles south of the city core and the trip downtown takes around 25 minutes. An express bus to and from downtown hotels and the airport operates from 5am to midnight. There are also several shuttle services linking the airport with drop-off anywhere in the Greater Seattle area. The airport has direct flights from all over the U.S.A. and many cities in Canada, plus daily services from Europe and Asia. There are also local commuter flights to destinations around Washington State and The San Juan Islands. The city is well situated on the Interstate Highway System, I-5 links Seattle with the rest of the West Coast - north to Vancouver and south as far as San Diego. The I-94 heads east across the nation as far as Chicago. Amtrak has daily train service to Vancouver, BC, Portland, OR, and south to California. Another train heads eastwards from Seattle everyday, stopping at Spokane before heading across the Great Plains to Chicago, with connections there for the East Coast. Greyhound and other bus companies provide travel throughout Washington and across North America. Seattle is also linked by ferry from the nearby islands and Victoria, BC.

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

After the failure of the initial settlement on Alki Point, the early settlers moved to an area that still remains. Pioneer Square is in the southern part of the downtown area. The original Pioneer Square formed a triangle between 1st Avenue and James Street. The term Skid Row originated in this district. Logs would be sent from the logging area above the town to skid down Yesler's Way to the mill on the pier. Yesler's Way became Skid Row. With the decline in the area homeless people frequented the street and soon the term to be on Skid Row became universal. The seedy side of Pioneer Square's history is best observed by taking the Underground Tour at Doc Maynard's Tavern. The neighborhood of Pioneer Square consists of about 30 blocks, the houses mostly date from after the Great Fire of 1889. The buildings in the area were mostly designed by one architect so the appearance is particularly harmonious and well planned. The many historic red brick buildings were threatened with demolition in the early 60s. Fortunately good sense prevailed and restoration began.

Today the area is full of boutiques, galleries and coffeehouses and it has a charming relaxed atmosphere. The nightlife here is also good and after dark the pace becomes a little more frenetic. Occidental Park is a pedestrian mall with landscaping and some very interesting artwork in the form of totem poles. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - Seattle Unit has a somewhat misleading name, as it is actually a museum, that highlights the story of Seattle's significant contribution to the gold rush.

As previously mentioned Seattle is the coffee capital of the world. While coffee has always been popular, the art of coffee making has certainly been perfected in Seattle. Apart from an almost infinite number of Starbucks and S.B.C. (Seattle's Best Coffee) establishments—which have exported the gourmet coffee craze to the world, the city is also chock-full of independent coffeehouses. As well as providing a fine brew, served by a talented and devoted Barista, the coffeehouses have become a social institution and a great place to meet people, and chat for a while about the Seattle scene. This is the perfect way to get tips on good restaurants and worthwhile places to visit, while enjoying a first rate bean. If you don't have time to sit and enjoy that gourmet blend, then—at last count—Seattle had over 300 coffee carts patrolling the downtown streets to help you satisfy your habit.

Pike Place Market

Even if you are not a seafood lover the world famous Pike Place Market is still appealing to all, and definitely one of the great marketplaces of the world. The market was originally opened in 1907, and has served as a city focal point ever since. Situated above the waterfront, the market's myriad displays of fish and seafood are very photogenic, and the merchandise is so fresh that the smell usually associated with fish markets is hardly noticeable. As well as the harvest from the ocean, fresh produce is also well showcased—the best place to see the displays of this and the seafood is in the Main and North Arcades. Street entertainers perform and add a carnival atmosphere. The market has numerous arts and craft stalls, boutiques and some great restaurants, and of course the ubiquitous coffeeshops. The Pike Street Hillclimb provides a skywalk connection with the waterfront. It is lined with various stores and more restaurants. Remember to bring plenty of film to Pike Place Market; color prevails here, both literally and figuratively.

	Seattle's Space Needle

The main site for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair—Century 21 Exposition—was The Seattle Center where the vestiges of the fair still remain. Set on beautifully landscaped grounds, noted for the topiary, it is interesting to see this early 1960s take on what the 21st Century would be like. Now that we are in the new century, Seattle Center, especially The Space Needle seems more like a Jetsons cartoon from the same era as the exposition, than it does present day reality, but it is nonetheless a novel experience. The Space Needle is still impressive—even if it appears very dated as opposed to futuristic. The view at the top of the 520ft tower is awesome, especially considering Seattle's dramatic scenic setting. You can walk outside on an observation deck, or enjoy a snack or a full meal at one of the two revolving restaurants. Seattle Center has become somewhat of a center for the arts. It is home to the city opera, symphony orchestra and ballet companies. The Pacific Science Center is a very innovative and wide encompassing museum particularly suitable for children. Allow enough on your schedule to spend a few hours here. Features include a Tropical Butterfly House and an Insect Village, and many interactive and hands on displays. There is also an IMAX theater on site. Don't miss the Fun Forest Amusement Park, a small 16 ride attraction in a great location. Enjoying the rides here, it's easy to imagine being back in 1962 when over 10 million people visited the fair. To finish your visit here take in the Childrens Museum another hands on attraction that will amuse children and adults alike for hours.

Seattle Ferris Wheel

The contribution that commercial aviation has made to Seattle has already been noted. No visit here would be complete without paying a visit to one (or better still both) of two attractions. The first is the Museum of Flight located in South Seattle, about 10 miles from downtown. Much of the museum is housed in the original 1909 Red Barn that was the first Boeing plant. The museum covers the history of flight from Icarus and Leonardo da Vinci to the current NASA programs. Many actual aircraft are on display, some spectacularly hanging from the ceiling of the museum to appear as if in flight, including the venerable DC-3 airliner manufactured by Boeing's former rival, which it now owns—McDonnell Douglas. Also suspended from the roof is a replica of the Mercury capsule that took John Glen on his space journey in 1962. Visiting this bright and appealing museum enables one to really witness the incredible developments in Aerospace that have been made within a very short time span. The museum also restores aircraft, and new items are always being added to the museum's collection.

Totally different, and state of the art is Boeing's Everett production facility. The Boeing Tour Center is at the huge facility where the company manufactures its wide-body jets including the Boeing 767, 777 and the perennial favorite 747—the original Jumbo Jet. The tour is very popular so call in advance to make sure there is still space when you want to go. The tours are held weekdays only and consist of an appealing video presentation, then visitors board special vehicles which weave in and out amongst the many aircraft awaiting delivery, and into the huge hanger, one of the largest buildings of its kind anywhere in the world. Here airliners in various stages of production can be seen, and guides explain the whole production process. A visit here is well worth the short drive north of Seattle.