Seattle Itineraries

Though Seattle's not always the easiest city to get around in, it's small enough that you can see a great deal of it in a week. If you've only got a long weekend in the Emerald City, you can easily mix and match any of the days in the itinerary to suit your interests.

Before you explore, you'll need three things: comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing, and a flexible mindset. It's easy to get off-track in this fascinating city and linger in its residential neighborhoods or at one of its parks. If you end up throwing your itinerary out the window at any point, don't sweat it -- it's just Seattle's laid-back nature rubbing off on you for the better.

Day 1: Spend the first day seeing some of major sights around Downtown. Get up early and stroll to Pike Place Market. Grab a latte or have a hearty breakfast at a market café, and spend the morning wandering through the fish, fruit, flower, and crafts stalls. When you've had your fill of the market, head farther Downtown to the Seattle Art Museum or take the steps down to the docks and visit the Seattle Aquarium. Stop at a simple restaurant like El Puerco Lloron to grab a bite to eat. If you're not too tired, head up to Belltown for a little late afternoon shopping. Have dinner and drinks in either Belltown or Downtown -- both have terrific restaurants that will give you your first taste of that famous Pacific Northwest cuisine. Head back to your hotel and collapse, knowing you won't have to rise with the sun the next day.

Day 2: Take the two-minute monorail ride from Downtown's Westlake Center mall to the Seattle Center. Head up the Space Needle for 360-degree city views. Afterward take in one of Seattle Center's many ground-level attractions: the Pacific Science Center, the Children's Museum, the Experience Music Project, or the Science Fiction Experience museum. There aren't many good lunch options in Queen Anne, though if you're willing to head up Queen Anne Avenue North to Galer Street, the Five Spot Café is open all day. Otherwise, just grab what you can find and then walk southwest down Broad Street to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Head down to the International District to stroll around its streets, visit Uwajimaya superstore, and have dinner in one of its many restaurants.