The name has nothing to do with Oz, but there is a natural and self-made magic to the place. If you look around at the green coniferous forests that are another characteristic of this moist, temperate climate, you’ll understand why Seattle’s nickname is The Emerald City. Nor, without the precipitation, would you see as much green. Without those gray, misty days with the smell of saltwater in the air, it wouldn’t be Seattle-and you might not appreciate the clear days, when the Olympic Mountains glow far across the water to the west and Mount Rainier appears majestically to the east. That’s what this northerly Pacific Northwest maritime climate west of the Cascades does: It precipitates. Yes, it does rain a lot, but it’s supposed to.

Seattle’s location amid great natural splendor and its up-to-the-minute trendoid consciousness adds to the pleasures and excitement of a visit.