The University sponsors a variety of excellent cultural events featuring both resident and guest artists and performers.
Recreational opportunities abound in the Seattle area.
Waterfront parks, a bustling farmers' market, and a restored old town are popular attractions for visitors and residents, as are the city's professional teams in football, basketball, and baseball. There are numerous bike paths and running trails near the University and throughout the area. Seattle's temperate climate and its location on Puget Sound between the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges provide superb opportunities for year-round sailing, kayaking, hiking, and mountaineering. Cross-country and downhill ski areas are within an hour's drive.