IN BRIEF

Seattle’s dual nature presents a paradox. It’s a city so green that it’s nicknamed the Emerald City, yet its aerospace, high-tech and trade industries have transformed it into one of the business capitals of the Pacific Rim. (Seattle ships out Boeing jets, Microsoft wares and Washington State apples to every corner of the world.) The two sides of its split personality do sometimes come into conflict, but most visitors find it remarkably balanced: Seattle is a beautiful, vibrant city. Scenic attractions, many opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts and great restaurants and nightlife make it one of the nation’s most popular destinations for leisure and business travelers alike.

BIRD’S-EYE VIEW

Seattle’s setting is incomparable. The city lies along Puget Sound, the only true fjord in the lower 48 states. Mt. Rainier rises 14,442 ft/4,402 m to the southeast; the Olympic Mountains border the sound to the west; the deep forests of the Cascade Mountains are to the east. Lake Washington divides Seattle from its eastern suburbs, Kirkland, Bellevue (a booming place across Lake Washington) and Redmond (the home of Microsoft). Everett and Tacoma, two blue-collar industrial cities, are north and south. Portland, Oregon, is three hours to the south and Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada), is four hours north. The University of Washington borders the downtown area north and east of Lake Union. The Boeing Company has two main manufacturing plants, one south of the city and one north, in Everett. In the downtown core, you’ll find the Seattle Center to the north, Pike Place Market west and Pioneer Square south of the urban skyline.

ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS

The Seattle Aquarium and lunch at nearby Ivar’s on Elliott Bay; exhibits at the Woodland Park Zoo, including the Alaskan Northern Trail and tropical Asian Trail of Vines; the Seattle Center, with its Children’s Theatre and Children’s Museum (especially its Mountain Forest for pretend-camping and the Time Trek exhibit); the Pacific Science Center, with its robotics and virtual-reality games.

CITYSCAN

1 Jan, New Year’s Day; 18 Jan, Martin Luther King Day; 15 Feb, Presidents’ Day; 30 May, Memorial Day; 4 Jul, Independence Day; 6 Sep, Labor Day; 11 Nov, Veterans Day; 25 Nov, Thanksgiving; 25 Dec, Christmas.

Smoking is not acceptable at most business functions. (Many offices, stores and some restaurants prohibit smoking entirely.) Drinking is rare during daytime business gatherings. You may encounter such Pacific Rim customs as the immediate exchange of business cards and presentation of gifts.