A tech-savvy community, spectacular views, great shopping,  trendy restaurants, and a vibrant artistic culture and you’ll understand why Seattle draws people from all over the world. Read on to learn more.

<div>Seattle, Washington has a lot to boast about.</div>


<div>
  This seaport city on the nation&rsquo;s west coast is best known for its
  hipster vibe, tech-savvy community (Seattle is home to major corporations like
  Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing), and spectacular mountain views (on a clear day
  you can see Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and the Cascades from downtown). Add
  to that great shopping, trendy restaurants, and a vibrant artistic culture and
  you&rsquo;ll understand why Seattle draws people from all over the world. Read
  on to learn more.
</div>

<h3>Seattle has the Best Farmers Markets</h3>

<div>
  Seattle&rsquo;s surplus of farmers markets are a food-lovers dream and a
  vegetarian&rsquo;s delight. The Pike Place Market, in the downtown district,
  is Seattle&rsquo;s No. 1 year-round tourist destination. It is home to more
  than 200 vendors, farmers, and specialty shops. Fresh produce (organic and
  locally sourced) and seafood, as well as bouquets of fresh flowers are a main
  attraction. Although this place can be crowded on the weekends, once you get
  to know your way around, it&rsquo;s easy to navigate the crowds and make it in
  and out quickly. On the flip side, spending time sampling seafood, meats and
  delicacies and getting to know local farmers and vendors can be a great way to
  spend an afternoon and learn the ins and outs of Seattle&rsquo;s diverse
  community.
</div>

<h3>Seattle is Casual</h3>

<div>
  Sneakers and Birkenstocks have replaced confining dress shoes and painful high
  heels. Comfy jeans and flannel as well as easy-to-move-in sports-leisure
  apparel is always called for and well-received&mdash;even in the boardroom
  (which could be the nearest park).
</div>

<h3>Seattle is One of the Fittest Cities in the U.S.</h3>

<div>
  Steep hills, cute walking neighborhoods, and lots of nearby hiking and skiing
  are the reasons why everyone in Seattle looks pretty darn good without setting
  foot in a gym. Seattle has more than 6,000 acres of parks within the city
  limits. Add to that the lush, green&nbsp;forests of Washington State and
  it&rsquo;s easy to understand why Seattle has been nicknamed the Emerald City
  of the Pacific Coast. Looking for more hiking adventures? Seattle&rsquo;s
  proximity to Portland, Oregon (to the south) and Vancouver, British Columbia
  (to the north) make a weekend getaway well within reach. Both destinations are
  about a 2.5-hour drive from Seattle.
</div>

<h3>Seattle&rsquo;s Rainy Drizzle Rarely Requires an Umbrella</h3>

<div>
  While Seattle sees an average of 220 overcast days per year (the most of any
  major American city), the city&rsquo;s annual precipitation is less than in
  New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Miami.In fact, it rarely rains hard enough
  to justify needing an umbrella, so most people just wear raincoats.
  What&rsquo;s more, it only rains 9 months of the year&mdash;which gives you 3
  months of daily sunshine and moderate temperatures perfect for the great
  outdoors. When the warm months finally arrive, its hot and sunny, but rarely
  humid or muggy. Temperatures tend to hover around 75 degrees.
</div>

<h3>More Coffee Shops than any Other City in the Country</h3>

<div>
  With the most coffee shops per capita in the U.S., you&rsquo;ll never be hard
  pressed to find a good cup of java. You can take your pick from any number of
  coffee houses in and around the city (including of course, Seattle Coffee
  Works and Starbucks). Grab a quick cup or amp up your coffee knowledge by
  picking up tips from skilled baristas who love to talk about their favorite
  brew.
</div>

<h3>A Diverse Music Scene&nbsp;</h3>

<div>
  Seattle has a ton of live music venues. The Showbox, just across the street
  from Pike Place Market, is a Seattle legend. With a capacity of just over
  1,100, this venue mostly hosts national and international touring bands as
  well as local bands with the largest draw. Other venues include The Crocodile,
  Caf&eacute; Racer, and Columbia City Theater, and there at least a dozen more
  to choose from.Each place has its own vibe and caters to different types of
  crowds and musical cultures&mdash;from hip hop to jazz, punk to rock, and
  country to pop.
</div>

<h3>Seattle has the Space Needle!</h3>

<div>
  This 520-story observation tower, which was built in the Seattle Center for
  the 1962 World&rsquo;s Fair, can withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour
  and earthquakes of up to a 9.1 magnitude on the Richter scale. The structure
  also has 25 lightning rods.The Space Needle&rsquo;s rotating SkyCity
  restaurant situated just below the observation deck features great views of
  the downtown Seattle skyline, as well as the Olympic and Cascade Mountains,
  Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands.
</div>

<h3>The Seattle Art Museum (SAM)&nbsp;</h3>

<div>
  SAM has 3 distinct locations: The light-filled galleries of its downtown
  facility showcase a vast collection of temporary installations and special
  exhibitions from around the world. The Asian Art Museum, in an original 1933
  Art Deco building in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, houses many of
  the masterpieces moved from SAM&rsquo;s downtown building as well as
  newly-acquired contemporary Asian art. Olympic Sculpture Park, a nine-acre
  free public park that sits along Seattle&rsquo;s central waterfront, features
  huge contemporary sculptures situated along a 2,200-foot path that zigzags
  from the park&rsquo;s main pavilion to the water&rsquo;s edge. Breathtaking
  views of the Space Needle, the Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound can be seen
  from any vantage point.
</div>

<h3>Seattle is Super Dog-Friendly</h3>

<div>
  You can bring your furry (and well-behaved) pooch just about
  anywhere&mdash;restaurants, on a city bus, even your favorite upscale
  department store!
</div>



<div>
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  >
</div>

<h3>Seattle has Great Neighborhoods</h3>

<div>
  Seattle has often been called the city of neighborhoods&iquest;&mdash;and for
  good reason. Each corner of the Emerald City has its own distinct personality.
  Good walkability, interesting homes, art galleries, terrific shopping and
  dining, plenty of green space and a strong community identity keep residents
  close to home. Neighborhood farmers markets and street festivals showcasing
  the wares of local artists are also popular.
</div>

<h3>Seattle Provides Exceptional Healthcare</h3>

<div>
  University of Washington Medical Center, a premier medical and surgical
  facility and teaching hospital in Puget Sound, is the No. 1 hospital in
  Washington State and the No. 1 hospital in the Seattle Metro Area. UW Medical
  Center is part of the UW Medicine health system, which ranks nationally in 11
  adult specialties; it is also exalted for its commitment to patient care and
  safety. As proof, UW Medical Center is accredited by the Commission on
  Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)&mdash;an external review
  board that monitors the medical Center&rsquo;s business and service practices
  to ensure it meets national standards for optimal patient outcome and care.
  What&rsquo;s more, the medical center was named the nation&rsquo;s first
  Magnet Hospital for excellence in nursing care by the American Nurses
  Credentialing Center, which has continued to honor UW Medical Center with this
  award every four years since 1994.
</div>

<h3>Ready for Your Next Travel Assignment?</h3>

<div>
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</div>


What do Travelers Love about Seattle, Washington?