Cities & Sights

EXPLORING THE EMERALD CITY

Discover the Seattle scene, live like a local in Ottawa’s Wellington West neighbourhood, get California cool in San Luis Obispo County, let the pros plan your weekend in St. John’s and cut loose in Barranco, Lima’s bohemian quarter.

“Seattle in fall? OK, maaaybe. Seattle in winter? Whoa, now — back up the truck.” If that’s the sort of response you get when you tell skeptical friends you’re off to the Emerald City in the next six months, stick to your guns because you now know something they don’t — namely that the cooler seasons are one of the best times to visit. Flights are at their cheapest, the crowds are long gone and the weather is typically sunny through October. This map helps you pick out a few of Seattle’s must-see sights.

1. PIKE PLACE MARKET

85 Pike St. A panoply of farm-fresh food, artisans and shops — including the Pike Place Fish Market, where fishmongers are renowned for hurling their slippery wares through the air.

2. CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS

305 Harrison St. A jaw-dropping retrospective of artist Dale Chihuly’s dazzling glassworks, from intricate flowers to mammoth chandeliers.

3. SPACE NEEDLE

400 Broad St. Get a 360-degree view of the city and panoramas of Mount Rainier from the iconic tower’s 156-metre-high observation deck.

4. MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE

325 Fifth Ave. This music nerd (and regular nerd) fantasyland hosts exhibits on hometown rock legends Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, and houses the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

5. THE SEATTLE GREAT WHEEL

1301 Alaskan Way Perched at the edge of Pier 57, the 53-metrehigh wheel gives you a break from exploring the waterfront by foot — and the opportunity to scout it out from above.

6. BILL SPEIDEL’S UNDERGROUND TOUR

614 First Ave. See Seattle’s subterranean side on this pun-filled guided walking tour that’s replete with tales of a once-wild frontier town and a fire-induced spate of urban renewal.