Welcome to the Emerald City - land of espresso and fresh seafood, bicycles and boats, computers and airplanes, high fashion and Gore-Tex, competitive business and a laid-back attitude, bus tunnels and floating bridges, skyscrapers and parks.

To some, the city may seem filled with contradictions, but the Greater Seattle area welcomes and encourages these diverse lifestyles. This is a place that balances big business and a healthy environment, sports and the arts, family and single-living, individualism and a deep sense of community pride. With quality schooling, affordable health care and a low incidence of crime, Seattle offers a life that balances favorable working and living conditions.

The Greater Seattle InfoGuide is the official relocation guide to Seattle. It offers all of the information you need to make a successful move to the Seattle area - from choosing a neighborhood, renting an apartment and getting settled in your new home, to registering your car, enrolling in school and exploring Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. This book will guide you through a successful relocation to this area. The InfoGuide's articles are organized into three color-coded sections to help you find things quickly and easily:

• Getting Started is your road map to communities in the Puget Sound region and provides the nuts-and-bolts information about moving here.
• Day-to-Day Living answers your questions about education, child care, health care choices, transportation, and media.
• Enjoying the Region offers tips on how to take advantage of your leisure time.