Seattle
Located on Puget Sound, Seattle is surrounded by water, mountains and evergreen forests, and contains thousands of acres of parkland. Washington State’s largest city, it’s home to a large tech industry, with Microsoft and Amazon headquartered in its metropolitan area. The futuristic Space Needle, a 1962 World’s Fair legacy, is its most iconic landmark.
There aren’t many other cities in America with spotless views of mountains and waterways from the heart of downtown, but Seattle delivers on both natural wonders and world-class attractions all in one spot. In this walkable cityscape, stroll among skyscrapers to mega shopping centers, historic theaters, iconic Pike Place Market, and more.
Fun Facts:
• Seattle has been ranked the top literate city in the USA. They have the highest percentage of residents that hold at minimum a college degree. The Public Library System in Seattle has the highest percentage of library card-holders (per capita) in the entire country.
• In July 2013, it was the fastest-growing major city in the United States and remains in the Top 5 fastest growing cities.
• Amazon, Starbucks, and Nordstrom are based in Seattle.
• July temperatures are nearly 10 degrees higher in Seattle than in San Francisco.
• The Seattle Underground is an exhibit of actual places that existed before the Great Fire, when the city was subsequently raised and rebuilt.
• The second gas station in the world was opened in 1907, on East Marginal Way in Seattle.
• Second only to New York City, Seattle has the most live music performances in the USA.