2.
Here comes the rain again... Seattle may have a reputation for rainy days, but it's not completely deserved. Locked between mountains and subject to warm offshore currents and cold fronts from the north, Seattle averages 37 inches of rain a year. Believe it or not, New York and Miami are wetter. Nevertheless, the best months to visit tend to be July and August.
3.
Jane, how do you stop this crazy thing? The Space Needle, Seattle's premier landmark, rotates 360 degrees to provide breathtaking views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains from its restaurant and observation deck. The 605-foot tower was designed for the 1962 World's Fair. It and the surrounding park draw 9 million visitors a year.
4.
The early days of Seattle are literally buried underground, so prepare for a unique subterranean journey. After a fire destroyed the downtown in 1889, the city's streets and sidewalks were raised up to their current level. When you visit the lower depths, you'll get a taste of Seattle's early pioneers and a historical view of how the city rebuilt itself.
5.
Hangovers had nothing to do with the naming of Seattle's Skid Road. Yesler Way got its nickname in the 19th century when greased logs were laid across the steep road so trees cut from nearby forests could be rolled to a waterfront sawmill.
6.
Detroit may have Motown and Nashville the Opry, but Seattle also has a place in the heart of modern music. The city's club scene gave birth to grunge bands Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. Revolutionary 1960s rocker Jimi Hendrix was also from Seattle.
7.
Head for the hills! There's gold! Seattle's first economic boomtime came in 1897, when a steamship bearing two tons of gold from the Yukon sailed into port. Within weeks, thousands of treasure-seekers from across the country stampeded into Seattle to make their way to the Klondike in search of their fortunes.
8.
Planes, yes. Windows, no. Seattle is home to corporate giants Boeing and Microsoft, but only the aircraft manufacturer is available for tours. The public can wander through an airplane assembly plant so large that it makes even 747s look small. Bill Gates' Microsoft, on the other hand, is off-limits. You're free to drive through the Microsoft campus, but its museum is open only to employees, their families, and friends.
9.
Swimming upstream is an annual Seattle pastime for more than a half-million salmon and trout. You can catch a glimpse of the fish at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks' fish ladder as they head to their spawning grounds in Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains. While you're there, keep an eye out for sea lions, who find the area a prime place to catch dinner.
10.
Take along some extra clothing and help support public art. Seattle's Fremont neighborhood is home to a sculpture of commuters called "Waiting for the Interurban." The lifelike statues are often adorned by locals with hats, scarves, and other clothing that's been cast aside.
