About Seattle, WA

Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, trailing only Denver and Austin. The great outdoors, often pleasant weather, a stunning landscape, and strong tech economy have all made Seattle a popular destination.

Surrounded by water, Seattle is a beautiful city set among a beautiful landscape. There's the Sound, Lake Washington, Lake Union, and a number of other smaller waterways. The stunning backdrop mountain views of Mt. Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and the Cascades are so breathtaking that you'll never really get used to them.

Getting around can be a bit tricky owing to the landscape, and especially all the water. However, the Northwest is home to the largest automobile ferry and passenger system in the United States. The ferries service the Puget Sound as well as the San Juan Islands. Over 75,000 Puget Sound residents actually start their morning out with a boat ride.

The water doesn't just stay on the ground, however. Seattle is well known for its rain and cloudy days. Rather than heavy down pours, more often than not it's a constant drizzle. Cloudy days with a bit of rain are common, especially in the winter. But many cities such as New York, Houston, Atlanta, and Boston actually receive more rain annually than Seattle. Regardless, a rain jacket and umbrella are both good winter accessories.

Summers, however, are often quite beautiful. Seattle summer days are normally sunny and warm. Humidity is rare, and its usually not muggy. Temperatures tend to stay right around 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

The warm summer weather is great for exploring the outdoors. Scattered about Seattle are numerous small "pocket parks" and gardens. It's possible to be right in the big city, but then step away into a small, secluded, and green spot. Seattle is also a very pet friendly town, so you can bring Fido along on many of your adventures. Dog parks and pet-friendly cafes aren't hard to find.

Outside of the city, but still nearby, are a variety of grandeur natural sites. A swim in Green River, or a stop at Snoqualmie Falls make for a perfect getaway from the urban bustle.

Want nature closer to home? You can actually turn your yard into a farm. Urban chicken coops with up to eight birds are allowed in residential neighborhoods. Just make sure they are 10 feet from the house itself.

Rather not go through all that work for your food? The Pike Market Place hosts over 200 vendors, farmers, and boutique shops. As the longest-running farmers market in the U.S., as well as Seattle's most popular tourist destination, it can get a bit crowded but fresh produce abounds including fantastic seafood like Pacific oysters, geoduck, clams, mussels, and salmon both in the market and elsewhere in Seattle.

Seattle is also home to a number of big companies. The biggest names include Amazon, Boeing, and Microsoft. The city itself is certainly a tech city with people focusing on their smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets. A trip to the local coffee shops will often feel more like a trip to a computer lab.

The Cascadia fault line runs through the entire Pacific Northwest coast. It last shook a few hundred years ago in the 1700's, but seismologists say that there's an 80% chance that a 6.8-magnitude quake could hit Seattle in the next 50 years. There's also a 10 to 15% chance that a massive 9.0 or higher quake could hit within that time.