Seattle is a friendly, exciting city with a multicultural population. It is the largest city in the Northwestern United States with a population of 500,000 within the city limits and 1.5 million in the greater Seattle area.

Seattle combines the safety and ease of a smaller city with the attractions of a world-class port city. Regularly selected as one of America's "Most Livable Cities!"

Famous Places to See:
Pike Place Market
Seattle Space Needle
Woodland Park Zoo
Seattle Aquarium
Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners Baseball)
Qwest Field (Seattle Seahawks Football)
Pacific Science Center
Experience Music Project
Seattle Center
University of Washington
Arboreteum
Shilshole Bay


To the west, on the Olympic Peninsula, the Olympic Mountains rise up with snow capped peaks. To the east, The North Cascades run the length of the state. There is good skiing available within 30 minutes of downtown Seattle in winter and hiking all year round.

Downtown Seattle faces the islands and waters of Puget Sound, with ferry boats coming and leaving all throughout the day and evening. To the east, Lake Washington stretches the length of the city and is connected to Puget Sound by a canal which divides the city in half. Visitors enjoy sailing, fishing, and scenic rides on Seattle's famous ferry system.


Educational opportunity and a multitude of choices! Seattle boasts major public and private universities and colleges.

Seattle Pacific University, University of Washington, Seattle University, the Art Insitute of Seattle and Bastyr University as well as the community college system of Seattle Central, North Seattle, and South Seattle Community Colleges. Together, these institutions offer hundreds of majors and courses of study.


The music scene in Seattle is famous. Seattle "Grunge" made American rock 'n' roll history, but it's not all we've got. The clubs of Ballard, the downtown jazz clubs, such as the Jazz Alley and The Triple Door, the famous Rock venues such as The Tractor and The Crocodile Cafe, and countless clubs and bars all pulse with Seattle's music.


Seattle is a major theater town! The Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Intiman Theatre in the Theater District in the Uptown neighborhood, the ACT Theatre downtown, the 5th Avenue Theatre for musical theatre and the Empty Space Theatre and many small, experimental companies, improvisational troupes provide a constantly changing artistic landscape.


We've got it all! The Mariners, led by the famous Japanese star, Ichiro host major league baseball in the new Safeco Field. Next door is Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. Two professional basketball teams play at Key Arena near the Seattle Center - the Sonics (NBA) and the Seattle Storm (WNBA)

Seattle also has professional hockey and soccer teams, as well as the college teams of the University of Washington, Seattle Pacific University.


One of the most interesting and charming aspects of Seattle is the diversity of its neighborhoods. Historic Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, the University District, Ravenna, Queen Anne, Green Lake, Belltown, Capitol Hill, First Hill, the International District and more all have distinctive architecture and small neighborhood shops and restaurants.


Sea-Tac International Airport offers non-stop flights to many international and domestic cities. Amtrak can take passengers by train to Portland or Vancouver B.C. The Interstate highway system, including I-5 running North and South and I-90 running East and West, make for easy access to Seattle.

Seattle is the closest American city to Asia. For example, flights to Tokyo take 8.5 hours coming east and about 10.5 hours going west.


Seattle is home to Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks, Amazon.com and other dynamic companies which are changing the way the world does business.

Links:
Seattle Chamber of Commerce
Trade Alliance of Greater Seattle
Seattle Consulates



Best of Seattle, Seattle Weekly
NW Source - Best Shopping in Downtown Seattle!
NW Source - Best of Seattle