For a city that isn't really that old, there's a lot of Seattle that feels historic especially round Pioneer Square and the Waterfront. It's also a place with quite distinct and varied neighborhoods, which is also part of its attraction.
Pioneer Square is where the term "Skid Row" comes from. That says something about what Seattle's oldest neighborhood used to be like in the days when lumberjacks skidded logs down the hill to the sawmill. Now the atmospheric area is filled with boutiques, bookstores, art galleries, live music clubs and restaurants.
Fremont is the hip heart of Seattle. From the huge concrete troll eating a car to the statues waiting at the bus stop, you know that the people here have a sense of humor. They also have great art galleries and an excellent Sunday market.
The Waterfront is packed on a summer's weekend. But even wrapped-up against the cold and damp this is a nice place to wander round the little shops and seafood restaurants.
The Seattle Center is where you'll end up at some point on a visit, as it's the home of the Space Needle, a reminder of the 1962 World Fair. It's the home of many festivals as well as the Seattle Opera, Intiman Theater, Bagley-Wright Theater and the Pacific Science Center.
Ballard is where Scandinavian fishermen settled over a century ago and their legacy lives on. It's also the place to see the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks where boats make the transition from salt to freshwater. You can also watch through glass as the salmon make the same trip up the "ladders".
The International District is primarily Asian with specialty shops and restaurants to match. Hing Hay Park has its own pagoda and the Wing Luke Asian Museum.
Madison Park is an upscale neighborhood providing the clientele for the boutiques, restaurants and cafes on the shores of Lake Washington. The beach has beautiful views of the Eastside and waterfront villas to dream of.
Alki Beach offers sun, sea and sand. The energetic wear themselves out jogging, biking or playing volleyball. The rest head for the cafes and restaurants after a day of rays.
Queen Anne Hill has some good restaurants and popular nightspots, but the reason to visit is for the fabulous views of the city, especially from Kerry Park.
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