SEATTLE, WA

Yes, it certainly does rain in Seattle. (An average of 142 inches – that’s almost 12 feet!) But that should never stop you from visiting this lovely and graceful city tucked in the very northwest corner of the United States.

If you visit Seattle and don’t visit the world-famous Space Needle.,.. Well, don’t let that happen.  At 520-feet in height, on a clear day you truly can see forever (well, almost). As for cloudy days – well the 41-second elevator ride to the top is worth a visit in and of itself. Did all that work riding the elevator give you an appetite? Why not satisfy your hunger pains with lunch or dinner at the Space Needle’s SkyCity – the restaurant rotates you in a complete circle as you dine.

Pike Place Market is another Emerald City must-do. Hundreds of artists and craftspeople have set up shop there, as have many food vendors. Fish. Pastries. Ice Cream. Steak. Sushi. Pasta. You want it, it Pike Place Market has it. And you can eat your fill while listening to the many musicians and street performers work to make you smile.

Ever ride a duck? You can in Seattle. Ride the Ducks of Seattle is a tour company with a difference. You’ll ride up and down Seattle’s streets in a World War II-era amphibious landing craft. In 90 minutes you’ll know all the major ins and outs of this lovely town. And you do get a bit “wet” in the end: Ducks of Seattle ends with a dip of your touring craft into Lake Union.

Seattle is a waterfront city. It’s at the Seattle waterfront that you can sign on for a waterfront tour, one that can give you a lovely overview of the city from the water. Or a longer tour of the lovely San Juan Islands that lie in the inland waterways of Puget Sound. Or sign up for a killer whale (Orca) watching trip.

Starbucks coffee company got its start in Seattle so, naturally enough, Seattle offers visitors a “Coffee Crawl,” a walking tour of the city that takes you to several specialty cafes. Naturally, you’ll get to sample each coffee house’s specialty when you visit. Don’t be latte!

Seattle has a secret: the Emerald City is home to underground storefronts and sidewalks left behind when Seattle rebuilt itself after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, in which the city’s entire business district, railroads and several of its wharves were lost. Try out Seattle’s Underground Tour for an unusual look into Seattle’s past.

Seattle is located just a few miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which will be home to the 2010 Winter Olympics. If you have the time, Vancouver is a truly cosmopolitan yet walk able city and is well worth a visit.

Seattle offers visitors and residents many festivals throughout the year. There’s a Folklife Festival in May featuring music from around the world. Visit Seattle in the summer and you’ll find yourself fortunate to enjoy Seafair, a celebration held weekends in the summer. Watch milk carton derby races, take part in a torchlight parade and watch the crackerjack U.S. Navy Blue Angeles fly their fighter jets in jaw-dropping formation.