Hotel at a Glance: Staypineapple at Watertown Hotel

Staypineapple at Watertown Hotel is a sunny contrast to Seattle's famously rainy weather, with pops of color and the brand's signature pineapple logo all around. The hotel's bright-yellow umbrellas provided in every room shield guests from sprinkles when they head out.

• In-room amenities: a microwave, a mini fridge, and WIFi
• Best scenery: City-view king studios look out across Lake Union to the Space Needle and Mount Rainier.
• The neighborhood: It's in the University District, within walking distance of the University of Washington and about 4 miles north of downtown.
• Getting around town: rental bikes to campus and the University Village shopping center

Downtown Seattle, Washington: Art, Architecture, and Famous Coffee in Coastal Urban Center

Street performances, flowers, and fresh-caught fish find a common home at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Founded in 1907, it's where both sightseers and locals shop. Drop into the Fish Market to watch the staff tossing salmon, halibut, and cod—a famous tradition. There are plenty of nonperishable goods as well, including jewelry and other crafts. And you might want to take a picture in front of the market’s iconic sign, which now rivals the Space Needle as the city’s most recognizable symbol.

The original Starbucks coffeehouse has operated out of Pike Place since the 1970s. You can stop here for a pick-me-up before taking the half-mile walk to Seattle's Central Library. Whether you love books or architecture or both, this futuristic-looking library is worth a visit. The 11-story glass-and-steel structure consists almost entirely of diamond-shaped windows arranged to look like a geometric net. The otherworldly interior is a playground for book lovers. Be sure to check out the library’s “living room” in the morning, when sunlight creates a kaleidoscopic shadow on the floor.