SeattleUnited States of America

Seattle is wedged between Puget Sound and Lake Washington and is nicknamed the Emerald City for its abundance of nature. Visit this city if you love the outdoors, family fun and music.

Seattle was named after a Native American local, “Chief Seattle,” and its first industry was tree logging. It is now one of the fastest growing American cities, with some 700,000 people calling it home and some 4 million people residing in the Seattle metropolitan area. Seattle has also become a thriving exports and technology hub, and is the global headquarters for many big-name companies.

The Seattle Center’s distinctive Space Needle, erected for the 1962 World Fair, is Seattle’s most famous landmark. This is not the highest local icon though - on a clear day the snow-capped Mount Rainer steals the show.

Seattle’s many neighborhoods serve up an eclectic mix of retail, restaurants and entertainment. Discover historic Pioneer Square for a little gold rush history, trendy Belltown, busy Downtown Seattle and the ever-popular Seattle Waterfront with its tall Seattle Great Wheel. Climb the steps to Pike Place Market or head to the Magnolia district to hike through the forest at Discovery Park and look out over Puget Sound.

Enjoy Seattle’s rich music scene, which flourished in the '90s when it produced “grunge” bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. The legendary Jimi Hendrix was born here and the early jazz scene kick-started the career of the equally famous Ray Charles. See a rock band in a bar, watch the Seattle Symphony Orchestra at Benaroya Hall or listen to blues at the Highway 99 Blues Club on the waterfront.

For skyline views at sunset, cruise over to Puget Sound, with its tranquil Bainbridge Island, or head to Kerry Park. Watch cruise ships, ferries and sailboats crisscross Elliott Bay. If you have time for a long hike, take the 1.5-hour journey east to Mount Rainier National Park.