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SEATTLE
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest
Nestled between the Puget Sound and the immense Lake Washington, Seattle is the Northwest's evergreen, the vibrant Emerald City.
Historically a town of booms and busts, Seattle is known for being environmental and progressive-minded, slightly damp, and very caffeinated.
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Since the Denny Party arrived at Alki Point in 1851 to found Seattle, the city has expanded into a vibrant metropolis. Alki, for instance, is now a robust beachfront neighborhood where fish-and-chips go hand in hand with beach volleyball and million-dollar condos. Today, a densely packed downtown sprawls into loose suburbs - each neighborhood with a distinct and flavorful identity.
Known for housing companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing and Amazon.com, Seattle draws job seekers who must be as creative as they are fiercely competitive. In a recent Census Bureau study, Seattle topped the list as America's Most Educated City, with more than half of its 25-and-older population holding a bachelor's degree or higher. With the University of Washington (located five minutes from downtown) as a top research university, it's no wonder Seattle churns out the literati, the tech-savvy, and those with scientific skills.
This is truly a young professional's city; the office with a view of the waterfront is yours to claim.
Neighborhoods
Seattle is a patchwork of neighborhoods, each priding themselves on a unique culture and set of inhabitants.
 Ballard
Incorporated in 1890, and surrounded by water on two sides, Ballard is a Scandinavian fishing village at heart. In 1907, Ballard was annexed into Seattle, a day the locals lamented by flying the flag at half-mast and draping city hall in black. This streak of independence has remained, and 21st century Ballard has emerged as an artsy, cultural hub.
Close to the downtown area (the No. 17 bus line runs through the main street), but retaining a small-town feel, Ballard is still under the radar. The Tractor Tavern has become a popular music venue, a monthly art walk attracts the independently creative, and a downtown revitalization has exploded into a number of shops, restaurants and (most recently) condominium complexes. It's far enough outside the downtown area to still be quite affordable, but get it while you can. Rent prices vary widely from about $550 for a studio to up to $1,350 for a one-bedroom.
Belltown
Located just blocks north of Pike Place Market and surrounded by picturesque Elliott Bay, Belltown is the most densely populated neighborhood in Seattle. The area's streets are all major thoroughfares to the downtown area and through the city - First, Second, Third and Fourth Avenues cut north to south; Alaskan Way (of viaduct fame) and the Battery Street Tunnel flow out onto Aurora Avenue.
In many ways, its centrality has shaped its identity. In the past few decades, the neighborhood has grown from an industrial atmosphere with cheap rent, to an area that is hip, trendy and pricey. High-rise condos (many of them with waterfront views and price tags to match) have filled the space above kitschy-cool neighborhood institutions and nightclubs. RealNetworks and the Art Institute of Seattle also call this neighborhood home.
Living here means a quick walk or bus ride anywhere downtown (this area is even a part of Metro transit's "ride free zone"), but parking is near impossible to come by. Rent isn't cheap (the rare studio starts at $1,000), but you can't beat this area for its scene.
Capitol Hill
Located east of I-5 and cut off to the north by SR-520 and Lake Union, eclecticism and counterculture are the norm in this charming, history-steeped neighborhood.
Connected to downtown by Pike and Pine Streets, this neighborhood's hub sits along Broadway. The diversity here is unparalleled. Widely known as Seattle's gay nucleus, the area used to play host to a yearly pride parade that regularly drew crowds of up to 75,000.
Sprinkled between modest apartment buildings (which sit side-by-side with stately historical mansions) are bars, vintage clothing and record shops, dance clubs, hip restaurants, and everything in between - from falafel to sex shops.
There is never a dull moment in this neighborhood, and rent varies depending on the building. Newer, gated condo communities are sprouting up, but it's not difficult to find modest-rent studios in older buildings. Studio apartments start at around $650, with an average price of approximately $800.
University District
The U-District, which has the University of Washington situated at its geographical center and a street nicknamed "The Ave" as its focal point, is one of Seattle's most dynamic -and cheapest -neighborhoods.
Key arteries running east to west through the neighborhood are 45th and 50th avenues, which allow easy access to I-5. North to west, the streets are a grid situated to the west of the 45,000-strong university, with Roosevelt Way, 11th Avenue, Brooklyn Avenue, University Way, and 15th Avenue forming the heart of the neighborhood.
Transportation here is bus-centric, with the 70, 71, 72, and 73 Metro lines running directly through the district and back and forth to downtown.
The average age is twenty-two, and more than ninety percent of residents are renters. While the area offers an incomparable college culture, it's a good place to be a young professional as well. Rent is cheaper here, and occupancy turn-over is high. Prices vary from the very cheap (a room for $450), to large, stately houses that cost upwards of $1,200 for a few rooms.
The University District Street Fair, started in 1971 by peace activist Andy Shiga, takes place annually in May and is iconic of what the neighborhood has to offer. The Farmers Market, at University Way and 50th Avenue on weekends, is the oldest in the city. Bookstores, used clothing shops, old movie theaters, 24-hour coffee joints, and a huge variety of bargain ethnic restaurants fill the blocks surrounding The Ave. One such restaurant, Thai Thom, is widely known as the best Thai food in the city. This neighborhood is a microcosm; a place to sample the best of what the city has to offer.
Transportation
If you live downtown, Seattle's electric trolleybuses, operated by King County Metro, are the perfect mode of transportation. A roundtrip ride costs $1.25, but monthly passes and punch cards offer good deals.
Sound Transit also provides express buses into the city from the farther suburbs. Sound Transit's "Sounder" commuter rail line is slowly being built and will eventually link Seattle to Tacoma, the airport, the Eastside, and the suburbs north of the city.
Also notable is the city's ferry system, the largest in the United States and the third largest in the world. Ferries run quite frequently, but unless you commute from Bainbridge or Vashon Island, they are more of a tourist attraction.
One in three residents uses a bike for commuting or recreation. The city recently unveiled a "Seattle Bicycle Master Plan" as part of a transportation initiative to increase bike facilities. The city plans to gradually add hundreds of miles of bike trails in the coming years.
While a car is not a must, most people do have them -- biking in the rain, after all, is not ideal.
Local Lingo
Although it's famous for its progressive vibe and Pacific beauty, Seattle is not known for having much of a dialect; if anything, locals are remarkable for having no discernable accent at all. Never the less, the booming town has plenty of one-of-a-kind expressions you have to pick up to sound like an Emerald City native.
The Corridor, or stretch I-5, is the site of much of the development in the northwest. Patron of the arts and sciences? Head on into Seattle and visit SAM, The Seattle Arts Museum, and The Berserk Museum, otherwise known as The Burke Museum of Natural Sciences.
Some of the most famous technology companies in the world call Seattle home. For that reason, if you hear about Amazonians or 'Softies, know that people are talking about employees at Amazon.com and Microsoft, respectively.
Geographic terms are big in Seattle. Pill Hill refers to the area between Capitol Hill and First Hill, where the majority of city hospitals are. Poverty Rock is ironic slang for Mercer Island, where the richest citizens live in the middle of Lake Washington. The Ave refers to Central Street in the area near the University of Washington, while the Center of the Universe is what Fremont locals call their part of the city. If you're doing the 520 Shuffle, you're merging on or off the crumbling Interstate-520 bridge.
As for beverages, calling your soda pop will earn you some respect, and ask for your coffee wet or dry to specify how much milk you want. If you really want to look like you've lived there forever, slip a little Sodo Mojo into your banter - in support of the Seattle Mariners, of course.
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Technology
• Microsoft
• Amazon
• Boeing
Telecomm
• AT&T
• T-Moble America
What do you love about Seattle?
I really like that Fremont has a variety of places to eat and shop. Right across the street from my office there's a Coldstone, and the Red Door. Sonic Boom Records is also by my bus stop.
Katie, 22
U. Washington, Getty Images employee
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