DOWNTOWN & BELLTOWN. Business people crowd the sidewalks of Seattle's bustling downtown during the day while clubbers take the night shift. An incredible variety of restaurants, theaters, bars, galleries, and shops can be found here, as can City Centre, one of Seattle's most popular malls. Seattle's heartbeat, the Pike Place historic district, inundates visitors with sights, sounds, smells, and the best people watching in town. Whether in suits or tie-dyed t-shirts, wearing boutonnieres or strewn with wildflowers, people of all persuasions find the market a fabulous place to spend the day.

INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. The International District, or the "ID," was originally settled in the 1880s by a group of Chinese railroad workers. Since that time, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean cultures have come together to form the Asian-American district of Seattle. The area also boasts a plethora of delicious Asian restaurants and authentic shops well worth your time and a visit. Particularly noteworthy is Uwajimaya, an enormous market where you can find everything from arts and crafts to live fish to fresh produce and herbs.

DOWNTOWN. It could be argued quite persuasively that Pike Place Market is Seattle's heartbeat. Situated along the water, the market was originally founded to allow produce growers to sell directly to consumers. Today, it's a protected historic district that inundates you with sights, sounds, smells, and the best people-watching in town. Whether in suits or tie-dyed t-shirts, wearing boutonnieres or strewn with wildflowers, people of all persuasions find the market a fabulous place to spend the day. The Market Foundation offers fun and informational tours Wednesdays to Sundays, starting at the Market Heritage Center at 1531 Western Avenue.

Pioneer Square was one of the first permanent settlements in the area and still maintains a connection to the Old West. This area of Seattle is loaded in history, and ­ nowadays ­ boutiques and restaurants. The streets are often filled with patrons of the arts, who bustle off to one of the Square's many galleries, or with tourists, who meander from place to place, taking in a little history as they go.

QUEEN ANNE. The Queen Anne neighborhood is full of Victorian-era mansions, complete with wrap-around porches and breathtaking mountain views. The area, settled by those who got wealthy in the Alaska Gold Rush, takes its name from the mansions' prevailing architecture. Today, the once-quiet district has as many restaurants and entertainment venues as other areas of the city, and visitors find it a veritable treasure trove of shopping. Even so, Queen Anne still holds on to its splendor and easy majesty.