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Seattle-King County
Convention & Visitor's Bureau
520 Pike St. #1300
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 461-5800
Population
516,259
Time Zone
Pacific
Latitude/Longitude
47.60° /-122.32°
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This lively, cosmopolitan city, with
its incomparable panorama of mountains, forests, and the islands of
Puget Sound, is known for its espresso, brewpubs, seafood, high-tech
industries, and outdoor adventure.
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attractions
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Seattle is defined by water. There's no use denying the city's damp
weather, or the fact that its skies are cloudy for much of the year.
Seattleites don't tan, goes the joke, they rust. But Seattle is also
defined by the rivers, lakes, and canals that bisect its steep green
hills, creating a series of distinctive areas along the water's edge.
Funky fishing boats, floating homes, swank yacht clubs, and waterfront
restaurants exist side by side.
A city is defined by its people as well as by its geography, and the
people of Seattle -- a half million within the city proper, another 3
million in the surrounding Puget Sound region -- are a diversified
bunch. Seattle has long had a vibrant Asian and Asian-American
population, and well-established communities of Scandinavians,
African-Americans, Jews, Native Americans, and Latinos live here, too.
It's impossible to generalize about such a varied group, but the
prototypical Seattleite was once pithily summed up by a New Yorker
cartoon in which one arch-eyebrowed East Coast matron says to another,
"They're backpacky, but nice."
Seattle's climate fosters an easygoing indoor lifestyle. Overcast days
and long winter nights have made the city a haven for moviegoers and
book readers. Hollywood often tests new films here, and residents'
per-capita book purchases are among North America's highest. Seattle has
all the trappings of a metropolitan hub -- two daily newspapers, a
state-of-the-art convention center, professional sports teams, a diverse
music-club scene, and top-notch ballet, opera, symphony, and theater
companies. A major seaport, the city is a vital link in Pacific Rim
trade.
Expansion has led to the usual big-city problems -- increases in crime,
drug abuse, homelessness, poverty, and traffic congestion, along with a
decline in the quality of the public schools. Many residents have fled
to the nearby suburb of Bellevue, which has swollen from a quiet farming
community to become Washington's fifth-largest city. But despite the
growing pains they've endured, Seattleites have a great love for their
city and a firm commitment to maintaining its reputation as one of the
most livable areas in the country.
Seattle draws visitors with its blend of urban sophistication, easygoing
charm, and access to spectacular outdoor recreation. A major cultural
center, its sophistication is evident in its architecture, fashion, and
arts. Its restaurants -- from tiny International District dumpling
stands to posh, first-class dining rooms -- serve a steady supply of
visitors, longtime residents, and newcomers, all caught in the act of
discovering and celebrating the city. Surrounding Seattle are the
glorious mountains of the Olympic and Cascades ranges and the
seafood-rich waters of the Pacific Ocean.
More Stories Like This...
Washington travel information and map
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