Seattle

What makes Seattle so special?


First of all, Seattle has always been an international type of joint. This vibrant port city has always been a trading hub for the Pacific North West of the United States. Seattle made its name as the last major port on the shipping route to Alaska in the last century and as a port for shipping lumber and manufactures across the Pacific to Asia. In fact, historically, prospectors had to prove they had 12 months of supplies before being allowed to go to Alaska. Accordingly they 'stocked up' in the Seattle markets before entering Alaska's inside passage. It also seems that many also visited Seattle's numerous red light establishments near the Pike markets before undertaking the cold and lonely journey north to the Artic circle.


Secondly, Seattle has had its fair share of local companies who have gone onto bigger and better things on the international stage. Of course, there's The Boeing Company, the inventor of the jumbo jet, and in more recent times, Internet giant, Microsoft and consumer global brands like Amazon and Starbucks.


Thirdly, it has been a centre of innovation and creativity. Seattle is big in 'tunes, toons and TV'.
In music terms, Seattle has produced many great rhythm and blues and rock legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles and Robert Cray. And more recently there's Pearl Jam and Nirvana boosting Seattle's proud bragging rights as the birthplace of grunge.