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Seattle’s Convention & Visitor’s Bureau can provide information for organizing a visit to Seattle, and Washington State Tourism is helpful for information on the rest of the state.

Seattle has two major daily newspapers covering current events and vital information, the Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer . The Thursday and Friday editions include special entertainment sections. Two public radio stations, KUOW (FM) and KEXP (FM), broadcast programs based on news and pop music.

Many Internet users have their own favorite travel sites, and the web has almost infinite resources for everyone. Websites with a wealth of information on Seattle include www.visitwashington.ws/seattle/bigpicture.html, seattleneighborhoods.com, www.lib.washington.edu/research/sea.html, and seattle.citysearch.com

Seattle’s streets are arranged in a typical American-style grid. It’s best to familiarize yourself with Seattle’s layout, however, as bodies of water and steep hills create plenty of curves and cul-de-sacs. Pick up free maps at most tourist bureaus and attractions.

It’s wise, if not essential, to take out travel insurance before you travel. Policies can cover canceled flights or cruises and lost baggage in addition to medical expenses. If you have health insurance at home, save receipts from any medical expenses incurred during your trip.

July is historically the driest month of the year, and late spring, summer, and early fall are the most mild and appealing times to visit. Most festivals and street fairs occur during the summer months. Be prepared for rain in fall, winter, and early spring.

Seattle championed the informal look, so bring casual, all-purpose clothes. However, summer nights tend to cool down significantly, so a sweater or jacket is a necessity.

A week should allow plenty of time to take in the main attractions and to take a day trip or two. Two weeks would allow a more comprehensive experience in Seattle, as well as in its scenic outlying areas.

Canadian citizens must show proof of nationality in order to clear United States Customs. Japanese and most European citizens need a valid passport and a nonrefundable return ticket originating outside the United States to qualify for a 90-day visa. Other nationalities must secure a visa from a US consulate or embassy prior to travel.

Sea-Tac Airport (SEA) lies about 10 miles (16 kms) south of Seattle. The main terminal leads out to the road where taxis and buses collect passengers. If you arrive at the north or south satellite terminals, you must first take a subway to the main terminal.

Federal law allows each visitor to bring in $100 worth of gifts, 1 liter of liquor, and 200 cigarettes duty-free. Cash or negotiable funds exceeding $10,000 must be declared.

You may store your luggage at Ken’s Baggage and Storage at Sea-Tac Airport on the Baggage Claim Level between Carousels 9 and 12.

Sea-Tac Airport operates a Lost and Found service in the central part of the Main Terminal. You can also contact your airline for items left on an airplane.

Shuttles stop at all major downtown hotels. The 194 bus is an express service to downtown. It costs $1.50; exact fare required. Check if your hotel reservation includes a free shuttle from the airport; otherwise look for SeaTac’s Ground Transportation Information Booth or dial 55 from any Traveler’s Information Board for information. Shuttle Express also offers shared ride service.

STITA is the only taxi company authorized to take passengers from the airport, although any carrier can bring you to the airport. Fares to downtown cost about $30 and take about 15 minutes, not including a suggested 10 percent tip. Private limousine services are more costly.

Only a few miles outside of central Portland, Oregon, PDX is a distant alternative on the way to or from Seattle. It’s possible to catch an Amtrak train to Seattle from Portland, sometimes for only $23 one way.

Visitors from Victoria or Vancouver, British Columbia, can make the memorable trip to Seattle on a seaplane that lands on Lake Union.

There are 4 buses everyday from San Francisco to Seattle, but the journey takes almost 24 hours.

Metro Transit offers the most inexpensive transportation. A single journey off-peak costs $1.25; peak times it’s $1.50. Exact fare is required. Pay on entry for buses heading downtown, and on leaving for buses heading away from downtown. Ask the driver for a free transfer if you are connecting with another bus. There is a large Ride Free area downtown, where no fare is required. Most buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts.

For a sensorial way to experience Seattle and its spectacular environs, consider taking a ferry. Major routes include: Seattle-Winslow (on Bain-bridge Island) and Seattle-Bremerton from Pier 52; and West Seattle-Vashon Island and West Seattle-Southworth from the Fauntleroy terminal. From Anacortes, some distance north of Seattle, there is ferry service to the San Juan Islands and Sydney (on Vancouver Island, north of Victoria).

The city has no water taxis per se but there are passenger-only ferries that bring commuters from Bremerton, on the Kitsap Peninsula. Occasionally water taxis run from Alki in West Seattle to the waterfront piers.

Seattle has abundant licensed taxi operators, and you can flag them down from most downtown streets or call a cab by phone.

Kenmore Air has a large fleet of seaplanes offering tours to sightsee Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and the Cascade Range.

Driving in Seattle can be a challenge due to large volumes of traffic on downtown streets, freeway logjams, and alternating one way streets that seem to baffle many drivers.

You can rent canoes and kayaks, or sailboats and fishing boats with or without crews. A number of companies on the waterfront, such as Argosy Tours and Spirit of Seattle, provide tours on Elliott Bay, Lake Union, and Lake Washington.

Motorbikes and gas or electric scooters provide more freedom and use far less fuel. Try renting one for an exciting way to explore Seattle’s hilly terrain.

Cyclists are a lot safer on paths reserved exclusively for non- motorized vehicles. A city-wide bicycle helmet law took effect in 2004.

This name derives from Seattle’s rain-soaked greenery and once heavily forested ecology. But locals certainly do not refer to their home that way, although occasionally you may hear Seattle called Jet City, a reference to Boeing’s influence on the economy.

Jaywalkers often find themselves collared by waiting police patrols on the lookout for any pedestrian crossing the street at unauthorized places or times. Police do enforce the statute that makes crossing against the light illegal.

Seattle has a history of protecting pedestrians from collisions with automobiles. All motorized and self-powered vehicles riding the streets have an obligation to stop for pedestrians, whether or not they cross at intersections or outside of crosswalks.

Most tourists never come near the edgier neighborhoods where economic disenfranchisement has helped to foster street crime. Seattle’s major streets and arterials are quite safe for sightseeing during the day. Feel free to stroll at night only if you already know the area comfortably.

Cigarette smoking laws are continually in transition, but Seattle allows restaurant and bar smoking only in designated areas. The law allows establishments to set their own standards, so some businesses may disallow smoking anywhere on the premises, while others have no restrictions at all. Hotels typically save rooms for either proclivity.

One’s patience is tested when navigating Seattle’s streets and highways. Keep a lookout for turn-only lanes at busy intersections. If you need to parallel park on steep hills, turn your wheels towards the curb to help prevent a runaway car. If you use manual transmission and you’re stopped in traffic mid-hill, be sure to apply the emergency brake until you engage the gears smoothly. You must obey the speed limits, 25 mph (40 kmph), unless posted otherwise.

Seattle has two main seasons, wet and dry. Regardless of the time of year, always remember to pack a jacket or sweater, and basic rain gear. Waterproof windbreakers, hats, or polypropylene shells are essential.

All cities have an abundance of homeless individuals, and Seattle is no exception. Avoid contact with panhandlers and beggars and those that are obviously intoxicated. They’re rarely aggressive, but it’s still a good idea to ignore confrontation. Always keep your possessions firmly in hand or secure.

Almost every restaurant’s management keeps wages very low and expects customers’ tips to make up the difference. Your gratuity should be in the 15 percent range, more or less depending on the quality of service, and calculated on the pre-tax total. Tip your cab driver 10-15 percent, and allow about $1 per service for hotel staff.

You can uncover outstanding rates on the Internet. But be sure to call reservation numbers and search the websites of major airlines along with your forays into third-party travel sites to discover the most advantageous deals.

Hotel rates are subject to pricing grids based on such criteria as special promotions, high and low season rates, and room categories. Use your intuition; if something sounds impossibly low, it probably should not be trusted. Call the hotel directly and ask for the best price after researching wholesalers and even the hotel’s own website (see Traditional Hotels).

If you stay in or close to downtown and have no plans to explore the surrounding region, you will not need a car. But if you want to spread your wings, many fly-drive packages have built-in price advantages over renting a car separately.

Avoid waiting in long lines and get one universal pass online. You may purchase a CityPass online or at the first attraction you visit. It’s good for nine days and includes admission to Woodland Park Zoo, the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Aquarium, the Museum of Flight, and Argosy Cruises.

The central location of Seattle’s hostels combined with exceptionally low rates is too irresistible to ignore. Hostelling International, featuring a lounge, library, and self-service kitchen/laundry, and Green Tortoise Backpackers Hostel are decent places to stay.

Cheap eats are widely available. Look anywhere in the International District, especially in the Vietnamese areas, for dinners under $7. Taquerias and sandwich delis dot corners in every neighborhood, and Indian restaurants offer all-you-can-eat lunch buffets.

The Pike Place Market is a great place to shop for a picnic in one of the city’s many parks. Try DeLaurenti’s or Three Girl’s Bakery for easily portable breads, sandwiches, salads, and freshly baked pastries. At Greenlake, purchase delicious organic carry-out food at PCC Natural Markets.

Seattle has no rapid transit system, but you can use the Metro bus system. For $5, the Metro Visitor Pass provides one day of unlimited travel to all major attractions. Or, purchase multiple ticket booklets of various dollar values. Call Metro Transit Rider Information (see Getting Around Seattle).

It may be a good idea to purchase a pre-paid phone card before you leave home. Most of Seattle’s branch public libraries offer free Internet access at their computer stations.

You may park in specially designated spaces if you are disabled and have the proper vehicle identification clearly posted. Any unauthorized use may cause a traffic infraction with a $250 penalty.

Seattle’s Metro Transit system and many other attractions offer discounted fare for senior citizens and the disabled. The Regional Reduced Fare Permit costs $3 and entitles you to reduced fares on Metro Transit, Washington State Ferries, Community Transit, and Sound Transit. Visitors wishing to obtain such a pass will need an American Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit card. National parks also issue special vehicle passes for the disabled that entitle all passengers in the vehicle to enter for free.

Any new construction in Seattle must conform to the ADA by providing easy access for the disabled in wheelchairs. While newer hotels and restaurants will by law have met the requirements, you need to call in advance to inquire if your destination has conformed to the emerging standards.

Seattle’s Metro system pioneered the use of Lift-U lifts on public transportation buses to accommodate those who use wheelchairs or have difficulty using stairs. Look for a wheel-chair symbol posted next to the scheduled arrival times on placards posted at bus stops.

Every downtown corner provides ramped curbs, and frequent neighborhood street construction entails installing ramps where they do not already exist. Most government buildings, supermarkets, tourist attractions, performance venues, and hotels have clearly marked hands-free entrance and egress doorways and ramps.

Seattle has an exemplary record of providing disabled access to toilets in public restrooms. However, public restrooms for the general public are few in Seattle, although there are public port-a-potties near the Pike Place Market.

Founded in 1965, the Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted is a great resource for sight-impaired individuals. The Seattle Public Library offers a Washington Talking Book & Braille Library and an equal access library program.

Seattle has many organizations that assist gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered travelers with gender-related information.

When traveling with children, be aware of their tired and sore feet, boredom, and short attention spans. Always pack a few snacks and essential medications.

Look for currency exchange offices in the Main Terminal and South Satellite at Sea-Tac Airport (see Seattle-Tacoma International Airport), and at major banks downtown. Thomas Cook has an exchange branch at 4th Avenue and Pine as well. You can avoid bad rates by obtaining cash from ATMs, where daily rates are more advantageous.

You may incur a small fee for using the ATM if you are not a customer of the bank (your own bank may charge you, too). Check with your bank for charge rates before you travel.

Rental car agencies and hotels require a credit card for booking reservations. While many smaller eateries still do not accept cards, the majority of restaurants do. Call the bank’s toll-free number if you lose your card. Always keep a small amount of cash for tips and small purchases.

The use of debit and credit cards has made traveler’s checks less popular. Their face value is equal to cash if you buy them in dollars, but you need to present a photo ID, and cashing them in banks or currency exchange offices can be time consuming.

Most restaurants charge 9.3 percent sales tax, while retail purchases are subject to a combined state and city sales tax of 8.6 percent. Car rentals at the airport include sales tax, an additional 10 percent tax, plus the 10 percent airport concession fee – 28.3 percent above initial rental price.

Most post offices operate Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm; some branches open on Saturdays from 9am for 3–6 hours, depending on their location.

Seattle’s area code is 206, but the vastness of surrounding suburbs has necessitated several prefixes. 425 covers most of the Eastside, 253 covers south of the city, and 360 handles outlying areas. Local calls made from Seattle to those other areas require that you dial 1, the area code, and the seven-digit number. Toll-free numbers begin with 800, 877, or 888. Dial 411 for directory assistance, 011 for an international call, and 911 in case of an emergency.

The novelty and convenience of voice mail has long since worn out its welcome. But it still has a vital place in both personal and professional realms. Leave your name, a brief message, and a call-back number if you expect positive results. The long beep is sometimes all you can count on hearing – especially if you are trying to make dinner reservations.

There’s no shortage of Internet cafés in Seattle, and quite a few feature Wifi service for seamless remote and wireless connections laptop users. Charges vary, and occasionally there is no charge. Seattle public libraries (see Communications) offer free Internet access, though time limits apply.

Should an earthquake strike, stay calm. If you are indoors, stand under a load-bearing door frame or get under a heavy desk or table. If you’re driving, stay in the vehicle and park in an open area away from lamp posts and bridges. Major earthquakes are extremely rare, although the Puget Sound region includes several fault lines that are susceptible to temblors.

Most major countries have consulates in the city. If anything untoward occurs, contact your national representative.

Every city has problems with petty crime, especially for tourists who may look lost. The best defense is to be aware of your surroundings. Don’t walk into any area that looks questionable.

Dial 911 from any phone during an emergency. Be prepared to provide your location and the circumstances to the aid dispatcher so that the appropriate help will arrive quickly.

The AIDS virus is still a public health problem, so don’t take risks of engaging in unprotected sex. Seattle has ample public health facilities and centers that offer free services.

Find support and information for almost any problem via Seattle’s public service helplines.

If you are the victim of a crime, you should report it to the nearest police department as soon as possible. You will be issued a police report, which will be needed for any insurance claims you make.

Ask any staffer working at a reputable outdoor recreation store for general information about a particular area. Ranger stations are also excellent sources for information. Even for a day hike you’ll want reserves of food, water, spare seasonal clothing, and first aid, among other personal items.

Seattle has an enviable list of first-rate medical institutions that provide emergency care, health care services, and treatment, including Harbor-view Medical Center (Seattle’s public hospital), Swedish Medical Center, and Virginia Mason Medical Center.

Although suburban shopping malls have the bulk of nationally recognized chain department stores, downtown shopping opportunities serve the needs of Seattle’s residents in a variety of ways. Find most of the larger stores, such as Nordstrom’s flagship store and Bon-Macy, centered in the Westlake Plaza area between 4th and 5th Avenues and Pike and Stewart Streets (see Stores & Shopping Centers).

Discover one-of-a-kind designer wear at dozens of independent clothiers that specialize in high-end fashion or more adventurous apparel with an edge. Several designers such as Carol McClellan, Darbury Stenderu, and Couture have their own shops in Belltown (see Belltown Shops) and Fremont (see Shops), and many upscale boutiques dot the 5th Avenue area south of Pike Street.

As with most United States cities, large malls need the expansive and cheaper real estate found only in suburbs or outlying areas. However, there are smaller, somewhat pricey urban malls including Westlake Mall, Pacific Place, and Rainier Square (see Stores & Shopping Centers). They also include familiar chain stores as well as locally owned ventures.

If you like secondhand merchandise, you’ll find bargains all over town. Many neighborhoods, including Ballard and Fremont, have outdoor farmer’s markets on Sundays. There are also plenty of thrift shops; the best of these are Salvation Army, Value Village, and Seattle Goodwill, located on Capitol Hill and the ID.

Walk or drive through any neighborhood on weekend mornings and you’ll find a treasure trove of clothing, toys, furniture, and electronics up for sale. Look for large signs on telephone polls, or scour the newspaper classified ads to find appropriate listings.

Most consumers in the US shy away from bargaining tactics, but it really depends on the clerk, your powers of persuasion, and store policy. However, at flea markets and yard sales, it is common to negotiate for a better price.

With the exception of groceries, all Seattle retail purchases are subject to combined state and city sales taxes of 8.6 percent.

It’s relatively common to find a convenience store in commercial areas, even in exclusive neighborhoods. They sell a little bit of everything from fresh produce to deli items, snack food and drink, toiletries, and general supply merchandise. Remember you would pay considerably more than in supermarkets or drugstores.

Always find out a store’s policy on exchanging or returning items, or on obtaining credit. National chain stores often have a liberal return policy that may enable you to return goods at another branch once you’re back at home.

In Seattle, this cuisine refers to fresh Pacific Northwest ingredients combined with the flavors and cooking techniques of countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. Chefs create masterpieces and signature dishes using sushi-grade fish, Kobe beef, ginger- and soy-based sauces, and handmade noodles to complement US menu mainstays.

You can hardly walk a block without meeting up with a Thai restaurant. Mexican taquerias compete with establishments serving Spanish tapas, while French and Italian bistros still attract crowds. Indian restaurants often include Pakistani, Tibetan, and Nepalese dishes as well.

It’s advisable to secure lunch or dinner reservations at formal or expensive restaurants, or at those with a view. Alternatively, consider dining at a non-peak hour, as getting a table anywhere special at noon or 6pm is a challenge.

Washington has its share of award-winning vineyards. Better restaurants employ sommeliers to assist you in choosing wines to complement your meal, and they can also steer you toward a selection based on price. If beer or ale suits your taste, Washington has many microbreweries emulating the heavier British styles of ales and stouts, as well as crisp German lagers and Belgian Abbey ales.

Restaurants add 9.3 percent sales tax to the total bill, and it’s considered gracious if you leave a tip of at least 15 percent (see Forgetting to Tip).

For an urban experience or a central location, downtown is the hands-down pick. If you have a car or don’t mind the distance, a number of B&Bs, boutique hotels, or guesthouses (see Traditional Hotels) border the downtown area.

All major hotels are subject to a widely accepted star-based system that gauges the overall merits, level of service, and amenities advertised by the property. Four-star hotels are the most luxurious and expensive. If you have any doubts, simply ask the reservation agent if the hotel has a rating. However, hotels rarely mention status unless they have a high score.

Seattle has become a worldwide destination for huge conventions and large tour groups, many coming from cruise ships in the summer months when the tourist industry flourishes. Make your reservations in advance to avoid finding only a limited choice on arrival.

Occasionally, travel packages at downtown hotels include overnight parking with the room, but most charge exorbitant rates for the service. You are charged for making phones calls even when dialing a toll-free number. If the room includes a stocked refrigerator, anything consumed will add to the bill. Also remember to tip the housekeeper and other service providers at the hotel.