Seattle and the Pacific Northwest
The grandeur of the Pacific Northwest is one of Nature's special gifts. Poets and climbers alike have reveled in its beauty. Summer and winter vacationers arrive in large numbers, not only to enjoy the area's offerings, but to satisfy their curiosity to see why Seattle is consistently rated as the most livable city in the country.
The largest city in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is situated between the shores of Lake Washington and Puget Sound. Puget Sound is a large inland sea which contains hundreds of islands and connects to the Pacific Ocean. The greater Seattle area has a population of over a million people. It is the largest population complex north of San Francisco and west of Minneapolis, and thus offers urban advantages along with unmatched natural attractions. The city enjoys a temperate marine climate. Winter temperatures only occasionally dip below freezing. Snowfall is unusual in the city, but frequent and heavy in the mountains from November to April. Summers are generally cool, dry and pleasant.
The variety of outdoor activities available near Seattle is possibly unsurpassed. Large adjacent water areas make sailing and boating a favorite pastime for many, while others enjoy salmon, steelhead, and trout fishing, or digging for clams or oysters along the tidelands. The Cascade Mountains rise thirty miles to the east, while the Olympic Mountains border Puget Sound to the west. Both are snowcapped throughout the year. Glorious views of mountain panoramas are available from the city, as well as from the University. In winter the mountains offer fine skiing, boasting seven areas within an hour or two of the campus, additional ones lying slightly further away. In summer the mountains provide spectacularly beautiful country for hiking, camping, rock and glacier climbing.
The Pacific Northwest is a focus for cultural life. About sixty years ago, in a huff, Sir Thomas Beecham labeled Seattle a "cultural dustbin." Since then, with the World's Fair as a spark, cultural life has mushroomed. The Seattle Symphony has emerged into the front rank of American symphonies. The Seattle Opera has become internationally known, especially for its annual production of Wagner's Ring cycle. The Pacific Northwest Ballet graces the area with first-rate performances. Chamber music abounds all year round, culminating in the summer months with two chamber-music festivals attracting audiences from afar. Theater is popular as well, with many small, innovative companies, some offering inexpensive campus performances. The area is also a magnet for artists and craftspersons. Galleries dot the city, and festivals occur on an almost weekly basis throughout the summer season. The music scene is excellent, as are the local microbreweries.
With its enriching cultural climate and its unsurpassed outdoor offerings, it is no surprise that the Pacific Northwest draws like a magnet. It is a special place to study.
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