Bounded on the west by saltwater Puget Sound and on the east by freshwater Lake Washington, Seattle saw the opening of the canal to connect the two bodies of water in 1917. From that day on, the area has been a boater's paradise! The state's largest city, Seattle is home to the University of Washington, several community colleges, and Cornish School of the Arts. Sports fans cheer for the Seattle Seahawks in football, the Sonics for men's basketball, the Seattle Reign for women's basketball, the Mariners in the spring, and the Sounders on the soccer field.

Our beloved Seattle Center was built for the 1962 World's Fair, and the most-recognized landmark there is the Space Needle. While the city has a vibrant urban core and waterfront, many of its distinct neighborhoods still retain a small-town flavor. Some of Seattle's neighborhoods are Wallingford, Queen Anne, Laurelhurst, Lake City, Capitol Hill, Ballard, Fremont, Madrona and Montlake. Many of these used to be isolated communities connected by streetcar, with vast forests in-between! Fremont is one of the most fun and funky neighborhoods, with a lot of pride. The rocket goes off every hour; the Troll has captured the Volkswagen; the statue of Lenin has been installed and the locals enjoy decorating the public art for various occasions. You gotta be there to understand!

Most Seattle homes are within the Seattle School District, which is addressing the kinds of issues many urban centers are addressing these days. The superintendent, John Sanford, is providing fresh leadership and focus that is truly benefiting the community. Seattle has homes to fit any preference, from authentic and restored Craftsman bungalows to fine modern offerings, from vintage brick co-ops to magnificent new condominium buildings with stunning mountain and water views.

Seattle is a mecca for culture lovers; there's professional and amateur theatre galore! There are several professional orchestras, and numerous community bands, choruses and symphonies, including the Seattle Philharmonic. Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet provide world-class productions. Art galleries abound, and first-run films often schedule preview screenings here.

Seattle's topography allows hillside homes with vistas of water and mountains in many areas (we have one range to the east, another to the west). When we speak of "The Mountain" it's Mt. Rainier, which graces our southerly views in clear weather, especially crossing Lake Washington and driving in the city's south end, or riding a ferry across Puget Sound on a clear day.

This has been Seattle according to Donna! For more information, please click on the link below.