EAT SLEEP PLAY Seattle The Emerald City offers the best of both worlds, mixing outdoor adventure and cosmopolitan charm. Seattle t s not uncommon for first-time visitors to Seattle to express surprise at the European feel of this hilly city on the shores of Puget Sound. Flowering baskets hang from street corners, and locals cherish their outdoor caf s, where they sip lattes, chat with neighbors and enjoy bursts of sunshine. Although Seattle s reputation for rain is exaggerated, the average 226 cloudy days per year is not.To stave off the blues, Seattleites tend to get out and about as much as possible, whether it s to take a trek on a nearby hiking trail or put a dent in the weekend sale at Nordstrom. The city is built on seven hills that rise and dip into winding pools of vast blue waters. Atop and within these hills, small, unique neighborhoods thrive, each offering its own take on dining, theater, shopping and the arts.The flat downtown basin offers a wealth of sites, restaurants and shopping, and it makes a good central launch pad during a short stay. >> I By Ali Basye Opposite page: Pike Place Market is a well-known Seattle landmark and a great place to pick up fresh flowers and produce. 60 nwa WorldTraveler