Located along the Puget Sound in the shadow of Mount Rainier, Seattle is known as both the "Emerald City" and the "Star of the Pacific Northwest." This hip, urban center influenced by outdoor style and activities boasts a population of over half-a-million people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Once a thriving port town that served the timber industry, Seattle is famous these days for coffee and microchips.

Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport, so named for its central location off I-5 between the two cities, is the regional air-service hub and an enormous state-of-the-art facility. Although just about 15 miles south of downtown Seattle, traffic dictates whether it takes 30 minutes or up to 1½ hours to get into the city. You can take a cab, Shuttle Express, or the least expensive option, Metro Transit city bus, which can be boarded outside the baggage claim areas. Seattle's Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal is a major stopping point for trips from Alaska, California, and the Pacific. Amtrak has daily service to Seattle from points south, north, and east at King Street Station. Public transportation includes Metropolitan Transit, Pierce Transit, and the Sounder Trains.

Seattle is built on seven hills, shaped like an hourglass, and surrounded by Lake Washington to the east and Puget Sound to the west. The Lake Washington Ship Canal cuts the city in half in the center from east to west, and many of Seattle's bridges join their northern and southern sections together here. Streets are laid out in a grid pattern, with north-south "avenues" and east-west "streets." Many thoroughfares, however, wind, curve, and angle into one another and are labeled "boulevard," "road," "place," etc. Metro Transit offers many ways to get around King County (bus, vanpool, carpool, custom bus service, accessible service, bike, etc.). Metro also provides Custom Bus service for employers. With water surrounding it, Seattle boasts boats as one of its main methods of transportation to the islands. Passenger-only speedboats depart from Seattle's Pier 50 weekdays on runs to Vashon Island and the Bremerton route. Elliott Bay Water Taxi goes from Pier 54 to Seacrest Park in West Seattle in less than 10 minutes. The Washington State Ferry system holds both passengers and cars as it travels the Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands area. I-5 is the major highway, splitting the city lengthwise from north to south. Highway 99 runs parallel. For east-west travel, choose Denny Way to get to the waterfront or Lower Queen Anne to Capitol Hill. I-90 is the major east-west state highway; Lake Washington Floating Bridge is part of it.

Seattle's major daily newspapers are The Seattle Times, and the business-focused Daily Journal of Commerce. Alternative news and views can be had regularly with Seattle Weekly and The Stranger. For a slice of life with more in-depth coverage, try either of the monthly magazines: Seattle Magazine and Seattle Metropolitan.

Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau ­ One Convention Place, 701 Pike Street (206-461-5840) ­ is a great first stop when you want to orient yourself or purchase a CityPASS (www.citypass.com) to attractions. You can also inquire about a place for dinner and arrange for transportation at the CVB. If you should run into trouble, the emergency number for the police, fire department, or ambulance is 911. For the latest traffic conditions, call 511 or visit WSDOT's traveler web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts.

Tipping is not an exact science but is customary if you consider service to your satisfaction. Restaurants consider 15% the standard, unless a gratuity is already included in your bill (frequently added automatically for groups of six or more). Bars and coffee shops in Seattle typically have a tips tray on the counter for you to show your appreciation. You can offer taxi and limousine drivers anywhere from 10-20% of the cost of the ride, and you can offer a dollar or two for bag handlers and valet parking attendants.