Seattle: Introduction: Overview

A little more than ten years ago, my husband and I packed up our kids and moved from Manhattan to Seattle. Our main concern was how we’d survive the weather. And I’ll be honest: it’s taken us a decade to adjust to it. But the Northwest also has amazing summers, which arrive every year around the Fourth of July. Suddenly the clouds lift, blinking residents emerge from coffeehouses, shedding raincoats like cocoons, and everyone changes into hiking shorts—or strappy sandals for a night on the town. While the days of winter have their charms, the best time to visit this notoriously wet region is during the summer. A kind of manic energy abounds as all of us Northwesterners try to cram as much fun as possible into those few precious days.