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At the opulent Sorrento guests find Seattle’s finest luxury boutique hotel as well as a destination gourmet restaurant, the Hunt Club. Take pleasure in Italian marble bathrooms, 400 thread-count Egyptian cotton linens, and a complimentary car service within downtown.

Seattle’s modern architectural identity began with the Space Needle (see Seattle Center), designed by John Graham and Company, for the 1962 World’s Fair. The three pairs of beams supporting the spire lie buried 30-ft (8-m) underground, and have secured the 605-ft (185-m) Needle during several earthquakes and gale-force wind-storms.

The ferry crossing and subsequent scenic drive along the Hood Canal enhance the journey to these rapids. The popular route inches near the fast-flowing Skokomish River as it pours down the eastern slopes of the Olympic Range on its way to Lake Cushman. Look out for kingfishers, harlequin ducks, and giant salamanders on the 2-mile (3-km) loop.

Seattle’s remaining steel mill and the city’s largest user of electrical power hunkers down on the Duwamish River’s western shore. The mill processes recycled scrap from cans, cars, and construction materials just across the river from an upscale yacht marina and office park, embodying Seattle’s ethic of mixed-use waterfront. While some may consider the plant an eyesore and major polluter, it competes successfully with Asian firms and provides jobs for the local economy.

The local record label created by Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt in the mid-1980s signed bands such as Nirvana and Soundgarden that put Seattle on the rock music map worldwide.

On summer nights this outdoor concert stage at Pier 66 features artists renowned for their contributions to rock, blues, jazz, and folk music.

A round-trip to the crater and back requires training, professional gear, and a few days. Hire a guide or go with a group if you’re not a seasoned climber.

Rain or shine, the Fremont Sunday Market has withstood the test of time, real estate development, and even lawsuits from neighboring businesses. Begun in 1990 to foster a pedestrian-friendly community and provide an outlet for artists and independent vendors to sell whatever they had to offer, the market hosts up to 200 booths of crafts, imported goods, furniture, food, and knick-knacks that defy description.

Like many neighborhoods in Seattle, Ballard attracts weekend shoppers by organizing regional farmers, artists, and craftspeople to fill closed-off streets with an Old World market. The lovely brick pavement and 19th-century architecture along Ballard Avenue form the backdrop for a pleasant walk for the visitors. The market operates year round, but when summer is in full swing, growers from the arid eastside of the Cascade Mountains bring their bounty of organic produce, range fed chickens, and hormone-free beef to sell.

Recommended as starting point for solitary hikes.