Seattle

Seattle Art Museum

Downtown art museum with strong Northwest Coast Native and modern collections.

• Downtown
• $$
• 2 hr

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Dale Chihuly's glasswork in galleries and a garden beside the Space Needle.

Tip Combo tickets with the Space Needle save money.

• Seattle Center
• $$$
• 75 min
• Late afternoon

Kerry Park

Small Queen Anne park with the classic skyline view of the Space Needle and, on clear days, Mount Rainier.

Tip Best at sunset; street parking is tight.

• Queen Anne
• Free
• 20 min
• Sunset

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

Ballard Locks move boats between Lake Washington and Puget Sound; fish ladder windows show migrating salmon.

Tip Salmon run peaks July–September.

• Ballard
• Free
• 60 min
• Jul–Sep

Seattle Central Library

Rem Koolhaas glass-and-steel library with a spiral book ramp.

Tip Free; ride to the 10th floor for the view down.

• Downtown
• Free
• 40 min
• Weekday

Space Needle

1962 tower with a rotating glass floor at 500 feet.

Tip Combo tickets with Chihuly save money.

• Seattle Center
• $$$
• 60 min
• Clear day

Westlake Park

Downtown plaza that hosts the city's tree lighting, a holiday carousel and light-wrapped trees each December.

Tip The tree is lit the Friday after Thanksgiving; the carousel runs daily through late December.

• Downtown
• Free
• 45 min
• After dark

Discovery Park

Seattle's largest park: bluff meadows, forest loop trail and a beach walk to West Point Lighthouse.

Tip Take the 2.8-mile Loop Trail plus the beach spur.

• Magnolia
• Free
• 2.5 hr
• Clear afternoon

Pike Place Market

Century-old public market with fishmongers, produce stalls and the original market arcades over Elliott Bay.

Tip Go before 10am to beat cruise crowds; lower levels are quieter.

• Downtown
• $
• 1.5 hr
• Weekday morning

Paseo Caribbean Food

Fremont's cult Cuban-style sandwich shop; the Caribbean Roast pork sandwich is the order.

Tip Lines move fast; grab extra napkins.

• Fremont
• $
• 45 min
• Lunch

Elliott's Oyster House

Waterfront seafood institution on Pier 56 with a long raw-oyster list.

Tip Oyster happy hour runs weekday afternoons.

• Waterfront
• $$$
• 1.5 hr
• Dinner

Piroshky Piroshky

Russian bakery in the market selling fresh beef-and-cheese and salmon piroshky.

Tip Get the smoked salmon pate piroshky.

• Pike Place
• $
• 15 min
• Morning

Pike Place Chowder

Award-winning New England clam chowder stall in Post Alley.

Tip Try a sampler to taste several chowders.

• Pike Place
• $
• 30 min
• Lunch

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Ballard oyster bar from Renee Erickson, known for local oysters.

Tip No reservations; arrive at opening.

• Ballard
• $$$
• 1.5 hr
• Early dinner

The Pink Door

Italian-American restaurant behind an unmarked pink door in Post Alley, open since 1981, with cabaret and trapeze nights.

Tip Book ahead; walk-ins can usually get a seat at the bar.

• Pike Place
• $$
• 1.5 hr
• Dinner

Ivar's Acres of Clams

Waterfront seafood house on Pier 54, serving clam chowder and fish and chips since 1946.

Tip The walk-up Fish Bar next door is the quick, cheaper way to get the chowder.

• Waterfront
• $$
• 60 min
• Lunch

Zig Zag Café

Classic cocktail bar tucked down the Pike Street Hillclimb steps below the market.

Tip Arrive at opening to get a bar seat.

• Pike Place
• $$
• 75 min
• Early evening