The skies are misty gray, the grass is green, and the espresso refills are endless in rainy Seattle. Settled in 1851 by a group of hardy (and water-loving) pioneers, the city grew on a strip of land bounded by Puget Sound and Lake Washington, building its 19th-century fortunes on lumber mills, the railroad, maritime trade, and Yukon gold. Today, Seattle is home to nearly 540,000 people and is known more for computer software, coffee bars, the late Kurt Cobain, and the fictitious Frasier Crane.

The "Emerald City," as it's often called, is the primary international and domestic gateway to Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. Money magazine ranked it the "Best Large City in the West" in 1998 and Fortune magazine ranked it sixth in its 2000 "Best Cities for Business" poll.

Working and Studying

Major local employers include computer software giant Microsoft Corp., the Nordstrom Inc. department-store chain, aerospace manufacturer The Boeing Company, and Starbucks Corp. - the firm that launched more than 2,000 coffee shops. The economy, some say, is driven by computer technology and caffeine.

Sleepless students can take advantage of Seattle's always-available java - and they can choose from among a tempting variety of schools to continue their education. Four-year schools (all offer graduate programs as well) include Antioch University Seattle, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, and the University of Washington. Two-year schools include the Art Institute of Seattle and the North Seattle, Seattle Central, Shoreline, and South Seattle community colleges.

Playing

If you like professional spectator sports, Seattle has teams in every major category - the Mariners for baseball, the Seahawks for football, the Supersonics for basketball, and the Thunderbirds for ice hockey. There's also horse racing at Emerald Downs.

If you're a bit more active, the area is home to numerous hiking trails, bike paths, golf courses, tennis courts, boating clubs, and fitness clubs.

Seeing and Hearing

The Seattle Center, built for the 1962 World's Fair, is the city's cultural heart, the home of opera, symphony, ballet, and repertory theater companies. It also contains the 605-foot-tall Space Needle, which houses an observation deck, restaurant, and cocktail bar. The Meany Theater, Theater Babylon, and Meydenbaur Center host performances as well.

Among the city's cultural offerings are the Seattle Symphony, the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, the Seattle Opera, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

The city's museums include the Seattle Art Museum, the Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, the Children's Museum of Seattle, the Pacific Science Center, the Museum of Flight, and the "must be seen to be believed" Experience Music Project.

History buffs will enjoy Pioneer Square, a 17-square-block National Historic District showcasing Seattle's early history with shops, art galleries, restaurants, and a unique underground tour.

Pike Place Public Market, situated just above the waterfront, is the oldest continually operating farmers' market in the United States, featuring abundant seafood, produce, and handcrafted items from the Pacific Northwest.

Other major attractions include Chinatown, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, and the Japanese Garden. Harbor tours and fishing excursions are also easily available.

And for those seeking a slice of recent history, remnants of mid-1990s "grunge" still abound on the streets and in clubs.

Making Seattle Home

The weather might be a bit wet, but the winters are mild and the summers aren't scorching. The economy and population are growing, housing options are diverse, and educational opportunities are plentiful. There's a lot to fill your daytime hours. And if you're sleepless at night, Seattle has that covered too.

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