To this day Seattle is a city known for its innovation and class. It is home to many American originals like grunge music (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana), Bill Gates’ Microsoft, Boeing, Nordstrom and perhaps the most famous coffee shop in the world, Starbucks. Seattle maintains its unique heritage and artistic and progressive feel. The area is centrally located, in that you can be involved in water sports in ten minutes or on a mountain snowboarding in less than 2 hours. Its storied past adds to its mystique and charm, while it remains a home to some of the most creative and innovative minds in America.