Seattle's airport, known as Sea-Tac is the largest in the Pacific Northwest. Daily services to points throughout North America, Europe and Asia are available; and Sea-Tac is a major hub for local commuter airlines, with frequent flights scheduled to and from Portland and Vancouver. The airport is located 20 miles north of Tacoma and 12 miles south of Seattle.

Ground transportation information is available on the third floor of the parking garage and in the terminal’s baggage claim area. Options include; shared ride, door-to-door shuttle services, which operate on regular schedules to nearby towns and cities; and Gray Line Express buses, which depart every half hour for the major hotels in Seattle. Public Metro Transit buses run round the clock to destinations in and around Seattle. Taxi cabs and limousine services depart from the third floor of the airport’s parking garage. A number of car hire companies have counters at the baggage claim area including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz and National.

The airport’s extensive facilities include fast-food and full-service restaurants, bars and retail outlets; ATMs and currency exchange counters and amenities such as massage, shoeshine services, smoking areas and baggage storage. The North Satellite area provides Internet access as well as phones, fax machines and photocopiers. Facilities for the disabled are excellent. The parking garage is connected to the main terminal by 4^th floor sky-bridges.

Seattle is well serviced by public transport, with the transport network featuring an excellent bus system, streetcars along the waterfront and a high-speed Monorail linking the business district to the Seattle Center. The Washington State Ferry system offers scenic services outside the city limits and buses run between the Waterfront and 6^th avenue, and Pioneer Square and Battery Street. These are free of charge throughout the day. Taxis can be found at taxi ranks throughout the city, or service can be arranged by telephone.

The Greyhound bus station is located in the city centre at Stewart Street. Greyhound buses cover routes to Portland and Eugene in Oregon, to Bellingham and Vancouver and to Chicago. Tickets can be purchased at the station or at the King Street Amtrak station. Two Amtrak train lines terminate in Seattle. The Empire Builder comes in from Chicago, and the Coast Starlight, from Los Angeles. In addition, three Amtrak trains service the Vancouver (Canada), Tacoma, Portland and Spokane routes.

Washington State has the largest fleet of ferries in the US. From Pier 52, passengers and their vehicles can travel to Bremerton or Bainbridge Island, and there’s a passenger-only ferry to Vashon Island. From West Seattle, the Fauntleroy ferry shuttles passengers and cars to Vashon Island, and also to Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula. If you’re headed to Canada, the passenger-only Victoria Clipper travels each morning from Pier 69 in Seattle to Victoria. Travellers will need to clear Canadian immigration and customs upon arrival. Website: www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries