The laid back city of Seattle on the north west coast of the United States is the home of America's coffee chains and has a vibrant music and arts scene. Although it enjoys more than its fair share of wind and rain, with year round cloudy skies, Seattle is lively and charming, peppered with small, cosy cafes, bars and clubs.

With a population of just over half a million people, Seattle has all the charm of a small city, with warm locals and a range of outdoor pursuits in the surrounding area. Originally home to the peaceful Duwamish tribe, the area that is now Seattle was first settled in 1851 and was a frontier town for several decades before it was linked by rail to the rest of the country in 1893.

With a history of logging, Seattle became part of the Gold Rush at the end of the 19th century, as prospectors headed for the Yukon. With a thriving shipbuilding industry, it grew rapidly in the 20th century and is now home to a number of international companies, including Boeing, Microsoft and Amazon.com.

Built because of water, Seattle is based around Puget Sound and Elliott Bay and has numerous rivers, lakes, and canals. With its dramatic skyscrapers, green spaces and snowy Mount Rainier in the background, it is a particularly striking city.

Seattle has a very mixed population, with Asian immigrants, African-Americans, Jews, Native Americans, Scandinavians and Latinos, all living side by side. The city's arts scene is equally diverse and world-renowned, with rock music and the film industry enjoying a strong presence. Its continued growth and increasing fame as an alternative to the more showy US cities, has meant that Seattle is attracting more residents and tourists each year.

The famous Space Needle, Seattle's landmark, looks like a UFO hovering over the city. It towers over the Seattle Center, built for the 1962 World's Fair. The center has now become a cultural complex and hosts major concerts, festivals and sporting events. Reached by monorail from downtown, the Seattle Center has its own opera and theatres and stunning views from the observation deck of the iconic Space Needle.

The city is home to a number of excellent museums, including the Seattle Art Museum, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park and the Wing Luke Asian Museum. For younger visitors, the Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Science Center, Children's Museum and the 3-D Omnidome are firm favourites, as are the vintage waterfront streetcars.

The fashionable Fremont district is vibrant and different, with its Sunday market, outdoor cinema and sculptures, including the 18ft Fremont Troll, which lurks below a bridge.

Food and drink in Seattle are generally affordable and excellent, catering to all tastes. The innumerable cafes are part of the life of the city and serve everything from pastries to full meals, all washed down with famous Seattle coffee. In the evenings, Seattle comes alive, with live music venues across the city, some sleek nightclubs and an array of bars and cafes to choose from.

Shopping in Seattle ranges from upscale boutiques to the Pike Place Market, the oldest continuous working public market in the US. The market offers a dizzying array of treasures, from locally caught fish to handmade jewellery and carved wooden gifts.

Seattle has its own airport and is easily accessible by bus, road or rail from the rest of the United States. Accommodation is fairly plentiful, but veers wildly between luxurious and backpacker hostels, so it is advisable to book early.