Seattle, WA + Add a trip

Pick a place to stay downtown, it is compact and you can walk to many good shopping opportunities. Or rent a car and drive along the coast to many beautiful beaches and parks. Take an umbrella or a parks, it can be damp.

Shorty's -- pinball and beer.

Go to Gas Works Park to see the view, do parkour, fly a kite, juggle, fence, cycle, etc.

Columbia Tower observation deck to start - get a sense of the layout.

Visit the neighborhoods to get a sense of the people.

Eat at places that serve local market food, it's really worth it.

Check out the art house cinemas for local talent on the big screen.

Music, music, music. See who's playing when you arrive.

Check out the Museums - SAM and SAM Scuplture gardens; The Experience Music Project whcih is co-located with the SciFi museum and HoF. Burke Museum and Henry Art Gallery at the UW (bus routes 70, 71, 72, 73 or 74). The Frye on Capitol Hill or the Museum of Flight by Boeing Field - drive or bus route 174.

Head out to Fremont (Bus route 26) and check out the statue of Lenin (outside a tace bar), test rocket and find the troll. Restaurants, bars , taste chocolate at Theo's and funky shops.

Stay downtown, walk around Fremont, have lunch at the 35th Street Bistro and walk over to GasWorks Park. Swing by the Essential Baking Company Cafe and have a latte and a pastry.

I second both Pike Place Market, the gum wall at the Market Theatre, lots of good coffee, a stroll downtown, and tickets to SAM.

For lodging you cant beat the Red Lion 5th ave, it is 2 blocks to Pike Market and Tula's Jazz Club rated top 10 in the US. They have fairly good rates and recently upgraded rooms and amenities.