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Seattle

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Overview

Head straight for Seattle's iconic Space Needle and you'll see all sides of Seattle from the tower's observation deck, or from its revolving restaurant. Take in Downtown's hip shops and funky galleries, and the cosy bars and neighbourhood restaurants of the Waterfront. Escape the city centre to the lakes and leafy walking trails of the Bellevue area.

Background

Seattle is a high-tech city amid the glorious scenery of the Pacific Northwest. To the south you can see the snowy peak of Mount Rainier and to the west the boat-filled expanse of Puget Sound bay. Right on Seattle's doorstep to the east are the lakes and meadows of the Bellevue area. In Downtown Seattle, you'll find bustling Pike Place Market, Waterfront Park and Pioneer Square. Head south for the boutiques and restaurants of the multicultural International District and Seattle's Chinatown. Go north for the popular nightlife district of Belltown, the Space Needle and shopping in the upmarket Queen Anne area.

First-time visit

Start off in bustling Downtown, the gateway to many of Seattle's major sights, including the Seattle Art Museum, home to a vast collection of world art. Nearby you'll find the stalls and cafes of Pike Place Market where you can buy fresh food from all over the Pacific Northwest. Don't miss the view from the observation deck of the towering Space Needle at dusk, when the lights of Seattle are strung out before you.

Return visit

Head to Waterfront Park, a bustling area of shops and restaurants. Visit the Seattle Aquarium here, where you can walk underwater in a glass dome. See a whole new side to Seattle at the Asian street markets and tiny arts and crafts shops of the International District. Follow the locals out east to Seattle's secret gem of an area, Bellevue. Follow sun-dappled trails through quiet meadows before a fish dinner in a rural restaurant. Or take a boat trip from the tranquil waterside town of Shilshole, north of Seattle, famous for its fresh seafood restaurants.

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Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Essentials

Equal parts art gallery and airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is filled to the brim with magnificent contemporary artworks. It's also the Pacific Northwest's busiest airport, with around 30 million passengers a year passing through its main terminal.

Airport Facts

Airport code: SEA
Airport website: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport website
Airport tel: +1 206 433 5388
No. of terminals: One main terminal, split into two areas, plus four concourses and two satellites. Ticketing and baggage-claim facilities are in the Main Terminal (also called Ticketing); shops, restaurants and services are post-security in the Central Terminal; and the flight gates are in Concourses A, B, C and D, and the North and South Satellites.
Distance from city centre: 13 miles (21km) south of downtown Seattle.
Transport between terminals: Allow five minutes to transfer between the Central Terminal and concourses on foot. Shuttle trains run between the terminal and the North and South Satellites (allow 12 minutes) also stopping at Concourse C and D.
Airport parking: Hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, long-term and valet parking is available in the airport's car parks. Take a ticket as you drive in, stick it into the pay station when you're ready to leave, and pay with cash or credit card. To reach the garage from the Main Terminal, use the skybridge on level 4.
Time zone: GMT -8 (GMT -7 from 2nd Sunday in March to 1st Sunday in November).
Useful tips: Ground transportation information booths can be found in the baggage-claim area and on the third floor of the parking garage. There are also free phones here from which to call for a STILA town car (limo). If you have trouble finding your way around the airport, look out for helpful volunteers wearing blue jackets or purple and red ensembles.