Seattle Travel Guide
For details of what to do and see in Seattle check out our Seattle guide to car hire in Seattle.
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Lying close to the Pacific north west coast of the USA, and within easy striking distance of British Columbia in Canada, many people flood into Seattle every year in order to experience the unique atmosphere of one of America's most exciting and diverse cities.
Seattle has a reputation for rain and liberalism that have made it a place where dissonance, urban alienation and isolation have combined to create a thriving arts scene unlike any other in the country, and spawned the disenfranchised likes of Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix.
The skyline of Seattle is instantly recognisable, as it can be seen on mugs and paper cups all around the world as the logo of the Seattle Coffee Company, and within the confines of the city itself, there are a large number of museums especially around the "U" district close to the university where there is also an excellent choice of nightlife in the many bars and live music clubs.
Seattle Centre, around the bottom of the Space Needle is the site of the future themed 1962 Worlds Fair, which now seems terribly dated, like an episode of the Jetsons but gives incredible insight into the optimism of that era.
No visitor to Seattle should miss out on the chance to take the elevator to the observation deck at the top of the Space Needle, Seattle's most iconic structure: the futuristic building that dominates the city's skyline. From 520 feet up in the air, the views over Seattle are nothing short of stunning, especially if you take advantage of the free telescopes on offer. The Sky City revolving restaurant at the top of the Space Needle is a popular place to celebrate a special occasion, and you need to book in advance if you want to eat out there and enjoy the view, which is especially impressive at night.
Not far away, the stunning scenery of the Rocky Mountains offers winter visitors the chance to enjoy skiing at top class resorts like Crystal Mountain, whilst in summer the mountains can be enjoyed on foot or mountain bike as part of an active holiday. Amongst many attractions, one of the most impressive is the amazing Quinalt Rainforest, a unique region of thousand year old fir trees stretching 300 feet into the air, and filled with wildlife. The rainforest park is a world biosphere reserve, and encompasses many miles of countryside and a large lake to canoe in.
