Seattle is a city in the Pacific Northwest area of the United States of America. The city is the largest in the area and it is located within the state of Washington. Seattle is situated close to the United States-Canadian border and it is home to a population of 573,000. The city was founded in the 1850s and named after Chief Seattle (named Noah Sealth), who was the leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish Native American tribes. The Great Seattle Fire destroyed the central business district in 1889, but luckily no one died. Although Seattle is famed for its rainfall, it actually receives less rain than many U.S. states, and the city is treated to a mild, pleasant climate.

Seattle is a bustling, modern city, which offers an abundance of attractions to suit all tastes. For visitors with an interest in art, Seattle is home to some wonderful galleries, not least the superb Seattle Asian Art Museum, the Seattle Art Museum and the small but impressive Frye Art Museum. For those hoping to enjoy the citys surprisingly good weather, the Ballard district features the beautiful gardens of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and the lovely beach at Golden Gardens Park. In the southern Rainier Beach district, visitors can enjoy the waterfalls, ponds and streams of the 20-acre Kubota Garden.

Seattle is famed for its coffee culture; in fact the city is the birthplace of popular coffee chain Starbucks. Visitors to the city are offered an endless supply of options when looking for a cosy caf to people-watch and relax for an afternoon. Seattle is also famed for its vibrant music scene, which is centred around alternative and underground music. For tourists wishing to visit a city that mixes natural beauty with a lively culture, then Seattle is the perfect choice.

Dara Ward operates numerous travel sites including Hotels in Dublin and Hotels in Atlanta. Dara is based in Ireland.

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