SEATTLE AAT A GL

GLAN
ANCE
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SEATTLE AT A GLANCE This chapter offers a quick overview of Seattle to get you oriented and
exploring all the metroplex has to offer. Later chapters cover each dis-
trict in greater detail, but for now, let’s get to know the Seattle area.
The Seattle Metroplex covers nearly 4,000 square kilometers around
Puget Sound (making it the second smallest state in the UCAS, after
Rhode Island). It is divided into ten districts, including Seattle City, which
92 is the downtown area, formerly the city of Seattle in old Washington State.
5
525 Three major roadways—known simply as the North, South, and
UCAS NAVAL STATION EVERETT East Roads—lead in and out of the metroplex and also serve as the
main arteries for traffic. The North-South Road follows the route
EVERETT of Interstate 5 and retains the I-5 designation within the metroplex,
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although it is no longer an interstate highway. Similarly, the East Road
follows the former I-90 route and retains that designation within the
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9 2 metroplex borders.

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SNOHOMISH
DOWNTOWN
Where It’s Happening
99 203 Downtown Seattle, also known as Seattle City, is the heart of the metro-
plex. The main business district is also filled with shops, parks, theaters,
REDMOND museums, hotels, and restaurants, a wide variety of local attractions includ-
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5
405 ing the waterfront and market, and popular attractions like the Space
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DOWNTOWN 520 Needle. It’s also home to examples of the metroplex’s diverse culture, from
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DOWNTOWN CORE BELLEVUE the International District to the Elven District, the Ork Underground, and
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the Capitol Hill neighborhood. You can see the Arcology Commercial
900 COUNCIL and Housing Enclave (formerly the Renraku Arcology), one of the world’s
160 ISLAND 90
largest buildings, as well as the spectacular Aztechnology Pyramid.
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In fact, Seattle City has so much to offer, the Guide recommends
SEA-TAC AIRPORT
a subscription to a service like GridGuide’s free Citywalk for AR guid-
ance and directions on the best routes to maximize your visit and make
OUTREMER 509 181 RENTON sure you experience all the best sites along the way.
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> Downtown is “where it’s happening” in the shadows, too, for the most part;
more runs focus on this part of the metroplex than any other. No real surprise,
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as there’s more high-priced, high-security corporate real estate per square
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AUBURN meter here than anywhere else. Although Knight Errant technically has overall
responsibility for security and policing the city streets, in reality downtown is an
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16 overlapping crazy-quilt of corporate security zones and extraterritorial borders.
TACOMA Some smart runners have even managed to slip pursuit by crossing the right
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boundaries—like cutting through embassies and no-man’s-lands—but pick the
410 410
wrong one and you could be out of the frying pan and into the fire.
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> Danger Sensei
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BELLEVUE
FT. LEWIS 7 PUYALLUP High Tech, High Class
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Located across Lake Washington from the Downtown district,
Bellevue is the favorite retreat for Seattle’s well-to-do white-collar
community. Even before the Awakening, the area’s wooded hills and
165 lakeside views made it a popular place for real estate and home devel-
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507 opment. Even though manicured parks and condoplexes have replaced
0 5 10 15km most of those woods, Bellevue retains a serene air of natural and archi-
tectural beauty.
0 5 10miles

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