Seattle is known as the 'Emerald City', and just like the home
of the Wizard of Oz in the fairy tale, it is a magical place. Rated
as one of the world's most liveable cities, after Melbourne and
Montreal, it boasts among its citizens three out of the world's ten
richest men, including Bill Gates, head of the mighty Microsoft
Empire. The city's emergence as a trend-setting and fashionable
metropolis with sky-high property prices has occurred in less than
200 years, since it was founded in 1869.Sitting at the extremity of the United States' northwest, at the
gateway to Canada, Seattle reaches for the sky with its landmark
soaring 'space needle', built in the 1960s, a modern monument that
epitomises the city's image as a high-tech, dynamic and young
community.Seattle is not a place that fosters couch potatoes. Visitors and
locals alike revel in the outdoor activities the city's situation
provides for. Seattle sits on the shores of two large lakes and
Puget Sound, with remote wilderness less than an hour away, and it
is flanked by two major mountain ranges (Olympics and Cascades),
with Mount Rainier in full view from the city. It is also within
easy reach of the San Juan Islands, Pacific Ocean beaches and major
rivers.This active city lends itself to walking tours, particularly
around the two main tourist areas, the waterfront and Pike Place
Market. In addition, 80 percent of the city limits are surrounded
by water, so tour boats also abound. To fully enjoy Seattle be
prepared to go boating, and bring a comfortable pair of shoes.
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