Surrounded by mountains, lakes, streams and evergreens, the city has a close connection with the outdoors. Although that connection becomes a bit strained during the famous September to April rainy season, there are plenty of things to do indoors as well. With hundreds of pubs, bars and restaurants, coupled with the theatre and other arts, there's enough to keep you busy indoors for a rainy day or two. Two famous companies, Microsoft and Boeing, anchor the Seattle economy, even though Boeing headquarters have defected to Chicago . Its location on the edge of the Pacific rim is also lending Seattle increasing importance as a shipping center and gateway to Asia.
Travel is important to the area, making hotel reservations almost essential during the summer.
A young city even by American standards, Seattle has moved into the national consciousness as a setting for movies and TV series, and high tech industry. We sometimes get asked about our affiliation and how we go about composing our guides. We are travelers like yourselves, and write from that perspective. We research all of the listings in the guide and strive to include the best and most popular listings in each category. We hope you enjoy.