About Seattle

Seattle is considered one of America's most livable cities. It is home to a world-class scientific community and is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. The serenity of the city's lakes and nearby mountains makes it an ideal place to rest and heal during cancer treatment.

Seattle is a natural hub for business and cultural activity within the Asia/Pacific region. It is the largest city in Washington State and an important West Coast port. It is also the home of companies important to the global economy, including Microsoft Corp. and The Boeing Co.

The city of Seattle has a population of slightly more than half a million people, with about 3.6 million people living in the greater Seattle area. It is a city with a diverse population, including thriving Asian and Hispanic communities.

From many viewpoints you can see the Olympic Mountain Range to the west, the Cascade Mountain Range to the east, and Mount Rainier to the south. Lake Union, Lake Washington, and Green Lake are popular recreation spots, and ferries docking at Seattle's waterfront on Puget Sound connect the city to nearby communities and Vancouver, Canada located just over 100 miles to the north.

International visitors will find foods from home in the International District, just south of downtown, and at the Pike Place Market, located downtown overlooking Elliott Bay. The Pike Place Market is a major tourist attraction but draws local shoppers as well.

From Westlake Center in downtown, you can ride the Monorail train north to the Seattle Center, home of Seattle's Space Needle, the well known landmark from the 1962 World's Fair.

Seattle has the second largest sister city program in the United States, with 20 sister cities, including Kobe, Japan, and Gdynia, Poland.

June 2007