If You Have 1 Day

Start your day at Pike Place Market, Seattle's sprawling historic market complex. Here you can buy fresh salmon and Dungeness crabs packed to go, peruse the offerings of produce and flower vendors, buy art and crafts directly from the artisans, and explore the dark depths of the market for unusual shops.

After you've had your fill of the market, head down the Pike Hill Climb to the Seattle waterfront. Directly across the street from the foot of the Hill Climb is Pier 59, site of the Seattle Aquarium, where you can learn about the sea life of the region and, next door at the IMAXDome, catch an IMAX film about the eruption of Mount St. Helens.

If you walk south from the aquarium to Pier 55, you can set sail on a 1-hour harbor tour cruise. A variety of other boat excursions are also available along the waterfront. You'll pass numerous overpriced seafood restaurants (most with good views and some with good food), as well as quite a few fish and chips counters.

When you pass the Washington State Ferries Colman Dock terminal, head away from the waterfront and into the historic Pioneer Square area. If you have an appreciation for bad jokes and history, the Seattle Underground Tour will provide a little fun and give you a good idea of Seattle's early history.

After exploring Pioneer Square aboveground, head up James Street to the bus tunnel entrance and catch a free bus north to the Westlake Center station. In Westlake Center, an upscale shopping center, you can catch the monorail to Seattle Center, where, if you're a rock music fan, you can explore the Experience Music Project and ride the elevator to the top of the Space Needle, a great place to finish a long day's exploration.

If You Have 2 Days

If you have 2 days, your schedule can be more leisurely than the rather hectic 1-day itinerary above. On your first day, spend a bit more time in Pike Place Market before heading down to the waterfront. After exploring the aquarium, consider doing the Tillicum Village Tour, which includes a boat excursion to Blake Island State Park, where you'll be fed a salmon dinner and entertained with traditional Northwest Coast Native American masked dances.

Start your second day in Pioneer Square and take the Seattle Underground Tour. Then wander over to the nearby International District (Chinatown) and have lunch (House of Hong is one of our favorite spots). After lunch, take the free bus through the bus tunnel to the Seattle Art Museum. After exploring the museum, continue north to Westlake Center and take the monorail to Seattle Center, where you can check out the Experience Music Project or head to the top of the Space Needle.

If You Have 3 Days

Start off by following the 2-day strategy outlined above. On your third day, do something very Seattle. Rent a sea kayak on Lake Union, go in-line skating in Green Lake Park, or rent a bike and ride the Burke-Gilman Trail. Wander around the funky Fremont neighborhood and maybe go to the Woodland Park Zoo or the Burke Museum, depending on your interests.

If You Have 4 Days or More

On your fourth and fifth days, plan to take a trip or two outside the city to Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, Snoqualmie Falls, Bainbridge Island, the San Juan Islands, or Mount St. Helens. All these trips can be turned into overnighters or longer.