The must-sees of Seattle

From the airport, rent a car or take the Link Light Rail to downtown. Stroll through Downtown, watch the architecturally impressive buildings like the Public Library, and climb up the Columbia Tower to have a beautiful overview of Seattle and its surroundings. Then, visit the Seattle Art Museum and then head to the famous market of Pike Place Market, the beating heart of the city. Admire the street artists, taste the local specialities and stroll along the seafront. Alternative: one hour boat ride in Elliot Bay or visit of the excellent aquarium, which will delight children. Then, go back to Belltown to discover this trendy neighborhood that gave birth to the common rock grunge, and then stroll through the beautiful Olympic Sculpture Park. Finish with a dinner in one of the neighbourhood restaurants that offer Pacific Northwest cuisine!

Explore the historic district of Pioneer Square. Stroll between the old buildings and art galleries and visit the very interesting Klondike Historical Park Museum devoted to the great gold rush of the late 19th century. You can take part in the Underground Tour to get an idea of what the city was like before the big fire. Continue your visit to Chinatown, more commonly known as "International District" and visit the Wing Luke museum to learn about the history of the Asian community in Seattle. You can have lunch in one of the small restaurants in the area. Before you leave, take a look at the Uwajimaya supermarket: There are thousands of mangas and original gifts. Then, take the Link Light Train to the Weslake Center where a monorail takes you directly to Seattle centre. Spend the afternoon by exploring the area and its main attractions (Pacific Science Center, the Experience Music Project and the Science Fiction Museum) and then climb up the famous Space Needle and see the sunset or Seattle by night. For the dinner, you will undoubtedly be inspired by the restaurants in the residential district of Queen Anne.

Explore the alternative districts of Seattle. Start with Ballard, a former Scandinavian district that has kept its charm and its sweet life on the edge of the canal. Then, discover Fremont (15 to 20 min walk) where you can enjoy good surprises (statues, bars, and unusual shops). On Sundays, don't miss the Ballard farmer's market and the large flea market of Fremont. Take a picnic break at Gas Works Park, a former industrial centre converted into a park with a beautiful view of Lake Union. Then, you have the choice between visiting the huge Wooldand Parc Zoo to Greenlake, or continue the ride, by taking a bus to the university area, the U District. If you choose the second option, visit the university on the shore of Lake Washington and the friendly student district. You can take a break in one of the cafés of University Street. From there, take another bus to Discovery Park, north of Capitol Hill. Walk through the park, enter the conservatory (tropical greenhouse) and stroll along the streets where beautiful houses have been restored. Continue walking to the Pike and Pine Street corridor, where the gay community has settled. Cultural life is abundant there, you will find many bars, concert halls, fashion boutiques and the famous statue of Jimmy Hendrix. This is the opportunity to dine in the neighborhood and attend a rock concert at Neumo's.

Why not making a day-long getaway? If you have a car or you want to participate in a group excursion, and the weather seems fine, don't hesitate! This volcano, which appears on all the postcards in Seattle on the right of the Space Needle, will allow you to discover the exceptional nature at the gates of the city (1 hour drive). Go to the Paradise Station where you will feel like being in the middle of the Alps and take one of the many trails to admire the glaciers of the volcano. On your return trip, go to West Seattle for a dinner at Alki Beach. You will see the city reflected in the water in front of you. For those who cannot take this walk, visit the Aviation Museum and wander along the West Seattle waterfront.