PLEASE NOTE: Contiki stopped visiting Seattle in 2007

Seattle, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest has been the birthplace and home to many world-wide phenomenon’s that have also given the city a plethora of nicknames including Grunge City, Queen City, Jet City, the Emerald City and the Gateway to Alaska, all of which can be attributed to some of the city’s most famous exports.

As much as Liverpool was the birthplace of the Beatles, Seattle will forever be the home of the grunge music revolution of the 1990’s with bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and Alice in Chains coming up in the city to change the face of modern music.

Even earlier than this the city was home to Boeing aircraft manufacturing and was also the birthplace of Starbucks coffee while Amazon.com and Microsoft also call the city home while the popular television program ‘Frasier’ was also set in Seattle.

Seattle is the hub of the greater Puget Sound region and its also known as the ‘Emerald City’ after a hunt for a nickname in the 80’s and the ‘Emerald’ is a reference to the lush, evergreen trees that surround the city, however the local Seattleites are just as likely to refer to it as ‘Rain City’. The official name of the city was originally New York and also Duwamps before it was finally renamed ‘Seattle’ after Chief Seattle who was the chief of two Native American tribes living in the region. Seattle is an anglicized rendition of Chief Noah Sealth’s last name.

Seattle is the closest major US city to Alaska and is also only a short drive from the US border with Canada and the Canadian city of Vancouver.

Sights and Attractions

Seattle Center

Built on the grounds of the 1962 Worlds Fair, the Seattle Center (official site) features 74 acres of entertainment, arts, dining and shopping. Over 5,000 different events are held on the grounds each year. Check to see what’s happening while you’re in town.

Pioneer Square

Pioneers Square was Seattle’s very first neighborhood. Now a historic district, Pioneer Square is filled with shops and sidewalk cafes. Enjoy a walking tour of the area or simply sit and relax.

Space Needle

A visit to Seattle isn’t complete without a trip up the Space Needle (official site). An elevator ride to the top of the Needle provides great views over the city as well as a fantastic restaurant. At a height of 605 feet, the Space Needle boasts a 360 degree view that includes Mt rainier, Pugnet Sound, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains and the city of Seattle.

Pacific Science Center

The Pacific Science Center (official site”:http://www.pacsci.org/)features five buildings of interactive science exhibits, a tropical butterfly house, two IMAX theaters, a planetarium and laser light shows.

Pike Place Market

One of Seattle’s most popular attractions, the market exemplifies the spirit of Seattle. In the early morning the stalls are jammed with vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh coffee, and, of course, local seafood.

The ‘flying fish’ are one of the markets big attractions and can be found at Pike Fish Place where employees throw fish at each other (rather than passing them).

The First Starbucks

Starbucks Coffee was founded at Pike Fish Market in 1971 and the first store is still operating a block north of its original location. The sign outside the original Starbucks, unlike other outlets, features a bare breasted siren while there is also a statue of a pig covered in roasted coffee beans.

Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Hall of Fame

The Experience Music Project (EMP – (official site) was founded by Microsoft mega-millionaire and Seattle local Paul Allen and is a unique experience the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The EMP is an interactive music museum showcasing the evolution of American Popular Music while the EMP is also home to the growing Science Fiction Hall of Fame.