Seattle’s layout can be quite confusing and you will find that even when you ask for directions, most locals will simply point you in the direction of a neighbourhood rather than giving you street names or addresses. Each of Seattle’s neighbourhoods exudes its own unique personality and it is best to acquaint yourself beforehand with some of the city’s most popular areas. Some of the areas you should know include Belltown with its trendy boutiques, bakeries and restaurants and Capitol Hill which attracts everyone from millionaires to starving students to its lively, eclectic streets. Fremont is home to some of the biggest companies in the United States such as Adobe and Google as well as antique shops, fantastic ethnic restaurants and shops. Pioneer Square Historic District is full of exquisite 19th century Victorian-Romanesque buildings and is very busy on Friday and Saturday nights with music lovers and bar hoppers. Other neighbourhoods to know include Queen Anne, University District and Green Lake. It should be noted that some neighbourhoods can have rather seedy areas, so it is best to stick with the crowds and ask around before travelling at night.

Seattle is full of intriguing sights to see and places to explore. At the top of Seattle’s list of must sees are the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, The Troll and the Seattle Aquarium. Built in 1971, the Space Needle has become a symbol of the city as well as the most popular tourist attraction. If you happen to get a day with no clouds, take the opportunity to visit the Space Needle then because the view is just spectacular. The Space Needle is also home to a fantastic 360˚ restaurant which is a little pricey. Pike Place Market has become famous around the world and is definitely worth visiting even if you aren’t planning to shop. Here you will find all kinds of vendors selling everything from seafood to crafts, the original Starbucks, excellent restaurants and the infamous Pike Place Fish Market where they toss the fish around, sing songs, tell jokes and so much more. If you only come for one thing, make sure you visit these crazy, friendly guys. Located in the Fremont neighbourhood, skulking under the Aurora Avenue Bridge you will find the 18 foot creepy but cool Fremont Troll. Don’t worry, he is friendly and will let you take his picture. The Seattle Aquarium is another great place to spend some time in Seattle. Located on the Seattle waterfront’s Pier 59, the aquarium focuses on fish and mammals that are native to the Pacific Northwest including sharks, octopuses, seals, otters, all kinds of fish and much more. Both kids and adults will love this place.

Seattle also has a number of great museums like the Experience Music Museum, the Museum of History and Industry, the Seattle Art Museum, the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, and the Children’s Museum. Whatever your interests may be, Seattle has a museum to cater to everyone. If you are going to be visiting a lot of sights and attractions while on vacation, purchasing a CityPass is a good idea. The CityPass offers admission to five of the city’s top attractions at a considerable discount and it is good for nine days after the initial use. If you want to relax a little and let someone else do the work or if you are just frustrated with trying to find your way around Seattle, there are plenty of city tours available. Each tour offers different experiences and adventures but among the best are Seattle Tours, Argosy Cruises and the Seattle Underground Tour. This city may have a reputation for being damp and dreary but in reality it is anything but. It goes without saying that Seattle is prone to some drizzly weather all year round but contrary to popular belief, Seattle does receive sunshine as well. June through September is probably the best time to visit as this is when the city generally receives the bulk of its sunshine and enjoys its nicest temperatures around 25˚C. The winter months, especially January, are cold and sometimes almost depressing but the temperatures aren’t nearly as cold as you would think. The average daily temperature during the winter is around 3˚C. All in all, late spring to early fall is the best time to visit Seattle.