Seattle is unlike any large city I have visited.
Perpetually misty, cool, and locked in by water and evergreen trees Seattle feels more like a mountain retreat than one of America's great cities.
At night you can view the entire city including the famous Needle from an old abandoned gasworks that has been turned into a city park.
The Fremont Troll is an example of the homegrown art scene. Made in 1990 under a residential bridge it is a tourist hotspot that brings business to all the coffeeshops, diners, and galleries in the area.
You're never far from nature in Seattle. The city has seamlessly merged with it's natural surroundings. Just outside of the city you can find small rivers that are part of the annual salmon run that have apartments, bike paths, and mom n pop shops right on the bank.
There is a large sense of pride from the citizens of Seattle even if they are quiet and pensive in general. While citizens of other large cities will show their pride with words and proclamations the pride of those living in Seattle comes through with how they treat the city itself. Above is another publicly made/funded art installment on Bainbridge island off the coast of Seattle. A group of citizens decided to team up and make this beautiful stone labyrinth to welcome visitors and add wholesome value to their surroundings.
It was a short weekend trip but I look forward to having an extended stay there one day.
*All photos are my own