For a bird’s eye view of the city, the iconic 184-metre tall Space Needle is where most visitors flock. (When the observation tower opened in 1962, it was seen not only as a national monument, but also as a symbol of humanity’s desire for exploration.) Other visitors swear by the view at the observation deck of the 295-metre Columbia Center—you may have a better chance of beating the crowds here.

If you prefer to admire the city from ground level, writer-rocker (and Seattle native) John Roderick recommends making a trip to Gas Works Park, where you can “see the whole city, framed in the hills… and [understand] how it’s laid out.”

To get an entirely different perspective of Seattle, sign up for Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, which promises to be a “humorous stroll” through the intriguing Seattle Underground, a network of subterranean city spaces that fell into disuse in the early 1900s.

A must-see museum in Seattle is the Chihuly Garden and Glass, an exquisite showcase of glass sculptor Dale Chihuly’s works in both indoor and outdoor settings. According to Forbes, this ranks among the “10 Best Museums” of the US.

If you have time for browsing in marketplaces (click here for a list), Pike Place Market is not to be missed. Here you can find the world-famous Pike Place Fish Market, popularized by the book Fish: A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results, where sellers of fresh seafood are commonly seen tossing fishes to each other while having a ball of a time.text

Bursting with personality, Seattle’s museums range from the stately to the offbeat. Comprehensive museums such as the Museum of History and Industry, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Frye Art Museum provide ample fodder for serious knowledge seekers keen to imbibe the city’s heritage, art, and culture on their Seattle holidays.

If you prefer special-interest collections, these museums will be right up your alley: the Museum of Pop Culture, the Seattle Pinball Museum, the Center for Wooden Boats, and the Museum of Flight(which has the largest air and space collection in the US).

If the thought of dining at Seattle’s “most revered” restaurant—otherwise known as Canlis—seems slightly intimidating, know that your fears are unfounded. “We fight this reputation that we are a crazy-expensive, old-people restaurant. That’s not really the case,” says Brian Canlis, grandson of the restaurant’s founder, Peter Canlis. “Here’s the thing: special and accessible are not mutually exclusive.”

Canlis has a formal dress code, but the food and overall experience will be well worth your efforts. A blow-by-blow account of dining at Canlis (by Seattle weekly newspaper The Stranger) concluded that “the kitchen aims to blow your mind. And it succeeds.” A Seattle Times review also noted that Canlis was thriving in the hands of its young executive chef Brady Williams, and that diners should anticipate “a four-star dining experience.”

To patronise Seattle’s “best new restaurant” of 2017, as voted by the readers of Seattle Magazine, head to JuneBaby, which specialises in Southern cuisine (the food traditions of the African Americans from the Southern United States).

For more places to eat in Seattle, bookmark Seattle Magazine’s “Best of 2017” list, Eater Seattle’s list of 2018 “Essential Restaurants,” and Pan Pacific Seattle’s dining guide.

According to Seattle Magazine, the city’s most-loved bars are: Mbar, Foreign National, and Le Caviste. For “live music,” try The Crocodile and Tractor Tavern. For late-night comedy and entertainment, book a ticket at Parlor Bellevue (but note that recent reviews have been mixed). To do as the locals do, refer to the nightlife recommendations by the Not For Tourists website.

Last year, rising star chef Brady Williams (of the aforementioned Canlis) was quizzed about his Seattle haunts. His recommendation for a casual night out: a pizza dinner at Delancey, followed by drinks at the neighbouring Essex bar. Williams also named his favourite Seattle bars: Streamline Tavern, 9lb Hammer, Rob Roy, and Bathtub Gin & Co.