Our recommendations for exploring Seattle.

Start the day in Pike Place Market at either the Athenian or Lowell's for a great view and breakfast at one of the two iconic restaurants. Stroll around for a bit, then drop down to Pike Street Coffee for our favorite coffee in the area.

Work your way back through the Market and be sure to check out the vendors at the day stalls, explore the shops “down under,” see the Gum Wall if that's your fancy, and watch the “fish guys” throw a fish or two.

When it's about time for lunch, see our list of favorite bites around the Market. Then head down to Seattle's waterfront — a pick-your-own adventure: take the West Seattle Water Taxi over to Alki Beach (great on a sunny day), hop a ferry to Bainbridge Island and back, or work north to the Seattle Aquarium and the Waterfront Sculpture Park to catch the sunset.

If you have the energy, wind down with a cocktail and bite at Zig Zag Café or an evening stroll through the Seattle Art Museum. Then head home — you've earned it.

If you're visiting the Space Needle, you'll be right by the Chihuly Garden and Glass and Seattle's pop-culture museum (MoPOP) — a CityPass can save you a bit across them. Once your ticketing is squared away, here's how the day could look.

Sleep in and start late morning just up the hill from Seattle Center at Toulouse Petit for a tasty brunch. Work down to your reservations at the Space Needle and/or the museums — you can generally get through it all in just under two hours — then head toward Capitol Hill.

Capitol Hill is a cultural center of Seattle with plenty to explore: Dick's Drive-In on Broadway for a classic burger and shake, Elliott Bay Book Company (a Seattle staple), Oddfellows next door for a cocktail and bite, the Pike Street corridor of shops and restaurants, a slice from Big Mario's or Hot Mama's, and an alternate view of the Space Needle from Volunteer Park's “marble donut.”

Save some energy — this area is full of bars and a few clubs running until 2am or later. If you make it to late night, don't miss a classic Seattle Dog from a street vendor: a hot link with cream cheese and grilled onions.

You'll likely want a car for this one — it covers a lot of ground. You can run it east-to-west or west-to-east, depending on whether you'd rather start with peaceful waves or end with a beach sunset.

Going west to east, start at Golden Gardens, a lovely beach on Puget Sound with amazing views of the Olympics on a clear day. Work south to the Ballard Locks to watch boats pass between Puget Sound and Lake Union/Lake Washington; during salmon season you can watch them climb the fish ladder.

Cruise the Ballard retail area — and if it's your thing, you'll find one of the west coast's most brewery-dense stretches. For food, we're saving a recommendation for Local Tide; the rockfish banh mi, veggie sandwich, and shrimp toast are favorites. Plant lovers should detour to the Peace, Love and Happiness Club before heading to the Woodland Park Zoo (open until 4pm in the colder months, 6pm May–September).

What would this list be without a day-date? During Seattle's summer, it's always worth finding your way to the water to enjoy the long, sunny days.

A local favorite is a canoe or kayak rental from Agua Verde Café, which also serves fun Mexican fare and has a generally great vibe this time of year. On a busy day, grab a margarita and a snack while you wait. Once your rental's ready, head west toward Gas Works Park and enjoy the view of downtown and the Space Needle.