My husband and I will be in Seattle for a first visit in August. We have a great list of restaurants from a friend of a friend who lives there, but I am trying to decide how we should spend our non-food time.

We are definitely planning to visit Panama Hotel and Wing Luke museum, but have no specific plans otherwise. We have two full days (Sat/Sun) and Monday & Tuesday afternoons before leaving Wednesday. We are staying at the new Hyatt (at Olive 8?) downtown and are not likely to have a car except that I am interested in possibly driving to LaConner to see their outdoor sculpture and it looks like a nice drive, so we may rent a car -- but is that a good daytrip or should we spend our time elsewhere? Is it possible to get there by water rather than driving?

So what are the top 5-10 must-do stops in Seattle? We like roaming around and would love to do something on the water, but not sure which direction to head. Otherwise we have no parameters except to experience a city we've always wanted to visit.

Have you read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet?

My top things to do on foot around downtown Seattle are:

Pioneer Square historic district, including going up Smith Tower to the Chinese Room observation deck and Waterfall Park, and the International district/Chinatown.

Then the Pike Place Market and the Waterfront.

Seattle Art Museum, Olympic Sculpture Park, Space Needle, Seattle Public library are all interesting.

5alive -- yes, we've both read 'Hotel on the Corner . . " and heard great things about the hotel and the museum.

Best suggestions for day trips via ferry?

Suze, thanks for y our suggestions too . . . Any experience with 'Savor Seattle' food tours from the Market?

You can't get to LaConner via water. It's about a two-hour drive from downtown, possibly more on a weekend. Not sure that's the best use of your time.

For a quick/easy trip via ferry, you can take take the Water Taxi over to West Seattle and Alki Beach, walk around and enjoy the restaurants and shops.

If you rent the car, I recommend a Mount Ranier day. Buy a picnic lunch on your way down. Your selection of waterfalls, spectacular vistas or scenic trails are abundant. A beautiful and unique place nearby Seattle.

Snoqualame Falls and next door Salish Lodge are a great combo. If you are foodies, Salish has an excellent restaurant. We often drive out for breakfast followed by a short hike to the falls.

Taking one of the ferries out to one of the islands for lunch and a hike is a pleasant day. Hoping a local will have more detailed advise.

The hike to the bottom of Snoqualmie Falls is closed until 2013. The viewing platform at the top is still open.

Think about a orca or whale watching boat ride, we did one years ago I think it left from everett, awesome experience.

As far as water goes, you could take a ferry to Bainbridge Island (30 minutes) for great views of surrounding mountains and Seattle skyline.

We also like to take visitors on the Argosy cruise that goes through the locks and obviates the need for the ferry ride: http://www.argosycruises.com/publiccruises/locks.cfm

HTTY

Living here, I've never taken a tour myself but often see the "Savor Seattle" tour groups walking around the Market or even once in a restaurant where I was having lunch. They appear to be quite wonderful. Small groups, low key, interesting guide speaking, people participating and enjoying themselves. So yes I have a VERY favorable impression of the company.

Want to share your restaurant list? We are going over Labor Day weekend and we're also making a list of what to do. Pike Place Market is fun to walk around. We are considering an Argosy cruise to see Lake Washington and maybe a day trip to Mt. Ranier. Water taxi to West Seattle sounds good too. I'll have to check out the book referenced here - Hotel on the Corner - sounds like good pre-trip reading.

I also would be interested in reading the restaurant list. Since I live here, it's always fun to see what other people like best.

I've done the Savor Seattle Market tour and Gourmet tour--both were really enjoyable--interesting and informative even for a Seattle resident who knows the food/restaurant scene reasonably well, so I think they'd be great for visitors.

You could do a Whidbey Island circle day trip, stopping in La Conner on the way up, crossing over Deception Pass, driving down Whidbey, then crossing back to the mainland via ferry.

Suze - well Pisttsburger and her list of restaurants has disappeared. Do you have some suggestions? We will be staying near Pioneer Square - we don't need any celebrity chef type places - I suppose seafood is at the top of the list but not sushi - ethnic, Italian or French are good too.

Havent been back to check responses for a week so was very pleasantly surprised to find all this great advice. I will add the restaurant and touring advice from my work desk Monday, but so far we have reservations Friday night @ Steelhead Diner and Saturday at Dahlia Lounge. Decided to leave Sunday open for Int'l District and Panama Hotel and a sunset view from somewhere, and Monday night we are having dinner with our as-yet-unmet friend-of-a-friend and her spouse. Tuesday will be our last night . . . trying to plan a great on-the-water day trip, probably on Saturday.

If you haven't read 'Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,' check it out. It's truly a bitter/sweet story and gives an incredible insight into the travesty of the WWII internment camps. So looking forward to their exhibit and the museum next door. Thanks again . . .

In the final days of getting our itinerary worked out. Plan for Saturday is picking up a rental car and heading to LaConner, then coming back down I-5 to Woodinville to visit a couple of wineries before heading to dinner at Dahlia Lounge. Sunday, Int'l District, Panama Hotel, Bainbridge Island if there's enough time.

Any reviews of Pratt Center for the Arts?

I will keep notes about our meals and report back. Looks like the weather will be spectacular -- and much more pleasant than the 95+ we are currently experiencing in Western Kentucky.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

you'll need to get an early start on saturday to fit that all in...most wineries close around 4 or 5 pm, i believe. and check to see if there's a concert going on at chateau ste michelle that night in which case there will be traffic in the late afternoon and early evening. you know you cut over on 405 north of seattle to get to woodinville right?

NW Wanderer -- Thanks for your comments. We are starting out early (9 a.m.). Mapquest shows 1.5 hrs to LaConner, which I'm sure will turn into 2.5 hours . . . a couple hours there, then back on the road to get to a couple of wineries -- and yes, I did realize we need to change over to 405 when I was looking at Visitors' Guide tonight. No concerts at Chateau Ste Michelle Saturday, but not sure how much time to allow to get back to Enterprise office and then to hotel prior to 7:45 dinner reservation.

We are planning to stop at Chateau. Your favorite 1 or 2 wineries?

So, no restaurant list?

My wife and I are heading to Seatle 9/25-9/30. We have an overnight trip to Mt Rainier planned, but how far is the Pacific coast? Is it worth the travel?