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Introduction
SEATTLE: The ‘Emerald City’ is the primary international and domestic gateway to Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. The State’s largest city is surrounded by the waters of Lake Washington and Puget Sound and enjoys spectacular views of The Cascades and the Olympic Mountains. The waterfront area is known for its seafood restaurants, shops and water excursions.
The Seattle Center, built for the 1962 World Fair, is the city’s cultural heart, the home of opera, symphony, ballet and repertory theatre companies. It also contains the 185m-tall (605ft) Space Needle, with an observation deck, restaurant and cocktail bar. Pioneer Square is a 17-square-block National Historic District showcasing Seattle’s early history with shops, art galleries, restaurants and a unique underground tour. Chinatown offers arts, crafts and cuisine from China and Japan. Pike Place Public Market situated just above the waterfront, is the oldest continually operating farmers’ market in the USA, featuring abundant seafood and produce, as well as handcrafted items from the Pacific Northwest. Harbour tours and fishing excursions are easily available, and the excursion to Tillicum Village is highly recommended. Other major attractions include Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium and the Japanese Garden.
ELSEWHERE: Olympic National Park, west of Seattle, has glacier-studded mountains, rainforests, lakes, streams and miles of unspoiled coastline. Tacoma, south of Seattle, is the State’s third-largest city. Its Point Defiance Park is one of the finest urban parks in the Pacific northwest. Mount Rainier National Park, southeast of Tacoma, offers breathtaking views and skiing and other wintersports. Mount St Helens, in Gifford Pinchot National Park in southwest Washington, is the site of the infamous volcanic eruption of 1980, which left a gigantic crater in the mountain’s north flank. It is possible to take short trips by light aircraft over the summit.
Ellensburg, located in the central part of the State, features the famous Ellensburg Rodeo, which is held every Labor Day weekend. Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and Yakima are at the heart of the region’s wine country. Spokane, near the border with Idaho in eastern Washington, is the State’s second-largest city; it boasts the outstanding Riverfront Park.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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