Explore the best of Seattle

The stunning city of Seattle is full of so many wonders that it’s near impossible not to fall in love with it. Located in the northwest of the United States on the Canadian border, this small city has a big reputation! Over the years, it’s carved itself as a pioneer in technology, music, art, and coffee. , coffee. Whether your students love nature, are foodies or art connoisseurs, there’s something for everyone and so much to explore – which makes it the perfect place to study English! 

Don’t believe us? Here are eight of our favourite reasons why your students should study English in Seattle: 

Diverse landscapes 

One of the many benefits of being located on the edge of the Canadian border is that Seattle benefits from breathtaking mountain views that dominate its skyline. For outdoor enthusiasts, these nearby mountains and national parks offer an escape from modern city life at the weekend, with hiking and skiing popular activities with locals. 

Since the city is also based on the coast, inhabitants also enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing in the water – truly an outdoor lover’s heaven! 

Iconic landmarks  

However, don’t think that just because Seattle is surrounded by so much natural beauty this city isn’t also full of fascinating landmarks. Most famous is the Space Needle, with the soaring 605ft tower offering panoramic views across the city, as well as the Museum of Pop Culture, which pays homage to the city’s music legends including Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana. Explore the city that gave birth to the genre of ‘grunge’. 

Other interesting landmarks include Pioneer Square – the oldest area of the city, full of historic buildings and great nightlife – and the Woodland Park Zoo, home to rhinos, tigers, and gorillas! 

Foodie’s paradise 

Since it’s based right by the ocean, Seattle is known throughout the country for having some of the best seafood around – from clams and oysters to salmon and tuna. For something less fishy, there’s also the famous Pike Place Market, the city’s first farmer’s market, and where your students can find locally sourced and delicious artisan foods. 

For anyone who loves a tipple, Washington has the second-largest number of wineries in the US and is also one of the largest producers of apples, so your students are guaranteed to find plenty of wine bars and delicious ciders available to sample. 

The Emerald City 

No, we’re not talking about real emeralds, but rather the sheer number of green spaces your students can find around and throughout the city! Seattle is known for its rainfall, and this has given way to flourishes of evergreen trees that remain vibrant even throughout winter. Numerous parks and gardens, including the Olympic Sculpture Park, Kubota Garden, and the Bellevue Botanical Garden, are dotted around the city, offering a relaxing reprieve from the bustle of city life. 

But that’s not the only thing green about Seattle! The city is also a trailblazer in sustainability, with Seattle City Light becoming the first electric utility in the country to be carbon neutral.  

Sports haven 

If your students are sports fans, then Seattle is sure to keep you entertained with an array of exciting matches and games. Home to the famous Seattle Seahawks, locals are passionate about their NFL team, so students will have plenty of company to cheer the team on at CenturyLink Field. 

If soccer or baseball is more your students’ thing, then they can also watch the Seattle Sounders FC or the Seattle Mariners.  

Easy public transport 

Seattle isn’t a huge city, but with so many sights to explore, it’s useful to know that public transport is easy to access. The Seattle Kaplan school is also conveniently located close to bus, rail, and ferry stops, so you can rest easy knowing that you can make the most of exploring the city in between classes.  

Explore Vancouver 

One of the biggest perks of studying in Seattle is that students can explore other great cities in both Canada and America. Its unique location near the Canadian border means that students can easily travel to the famed city of Vancouver, either one hour by plane or four hours by train.  

Discover San Francisco and the Silicon Valley 

For a Californian getaway, your students can head south to San Francisco, and maybe even meet up with our students at our San Francisco-Berkeley school. Not only does this school benefit from being just 20 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but it’s also our only school that offers our Silicon Valley & Start-up Business English – a course that combines English language tuition with business classes and activities that encourage students to pursue their own start-ups. Find out more on our website.

Want to start your Seattle language adventure? Discover our range of courses here.