May 17, 2009|By Ethan Goldberg
While you won't find Seattle Grace Hospital here, the city of Seattle has many more dreamy attractions than Grey's Anatomy . This Northwestern hub is known for being the home of pioneers. Jimi Hendrix strummed his first guitar here; grunge music, or the "Seattle Sound," originated here; and Starbucks opened its first store in Seattle. Outside the caffeine-fueled center of business and culture lies a serene background of mountains and trees that explains Seattle's nickname as the "Emerald City."
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Dine at the Space Needle : Built for the 1962 World's Fair, this 605-foot-high symbol of Seattle is home to a revolving restaurant named SkyCity, offering views of the two worlds of Seattle: the downtown metropolis as well as the natural beauty of Elliott Bay and the Olympic and Cascade mountains. While the elevator ride may be 41 seconds, it's worth the fresh American food and stellar scenery.
2
Get lost in Pike Place Market : Farmers, merchants, craftspeople, even musicians are outside this sweeping, motley market daily to advertise their goods. And you can visit the original Starbucks store, which opened in 1971.
3
Explore the Seattle Waterfront : The Waterfront is a prime starting point for an exciting day in Seattle. Not only do ferries, cruise ships and tour boats launch from this location, but it's also around the corner from sea otters at the Seattle Aquarium, Olympic Structure Park, and shops and restaurants galore.
4
Take a trip to Snoqualmie Falls: Less than 30 miles from Seattle is a waterfall that's more than a 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Besides being the perfect location for outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing, the waterfall generates enough electricity to power thousands of homes.
5
Catch a ball at Safeco Field : The Seattle Mariners are lucky to have this state-of-the-art stadium with a kinetic, retractable roof that acts as an "umbrella." There's likely to be a player at bat here from April until September, but if not, there are also other forms of entertainment, from WrestleMania to the Beach Boys.
For more information: : visitseattle.org
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