See it all in Seattle

Set between two major mountain ranges, the Olympics and the Cascades, with the Puget Sound's waters to the west and Lake Washington to the east, Seattle has one of the most dramatic settings of any city in America.

The moody cloud cover can hide those jagged mountains but on clear days the 4,297-metre Mount Rainier is visible.

Here's how you can get the most out of a short stay there.

Friday

6pm — There's no better place to watch the sunset over Elliott Bay than from the Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park on the downtown waterfront. You can enjoy further views of the changeable bay by strolling along the paved trail through nearby Myrtle Edwards Park.

7pm — Head up to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood and start the weekend at Tavern Law, named by GQ magazine as one of the 25 best bars in America.

There are plenty of handcrafted refreshments to enjoy.

The oxtail banh mi sandwich, based on Vietnamese tradition, will give you a taste of the Pacific Rim influence that figures in so many Seattle menus.

9pm — Seattle takes its jazz seriously and there's no better spot than Dimitriou's Jazz Alley downtown to hear it.

Saturday

9am — Fortify yourself for the day ahead with one of the best Mexican breakfasts at Senor Moose, in the lively Ballard neighbourhood. The restaurant offers breakfast specialties culled from regions throughout Mexico. Even though it's early, go ahead and get an order of the flawless guacamole and chips.

11am — Get a sense of Ballard's historic status as Seattle's Scandinavian neighbourhood at the Nordic Heritage Museum and at stops such as the shop Scandinavian Specialties, where you can pick up house-made cured meats, home-made Swedish meatballs and a bowl of traditional yellow split pea soup.

Ballard also has a lively shopping scene. KAVU, a local Seattle clothing and gear company, offers the quintessential Northwest look, with hip interpretations of outdoorsy clothes. Stop at The Secret Garden Bookshop, which has a selection of books for children and adults. For lunch, head to the nearby Ray's Boathouse Cafe with views for which Seattle is famous, along with the seafood.

3pm — Spend the next two hours absorbing more of Asia's influence on Seattle at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, which is situated in lovely Volunteer Park and showcases art from various centuries and numerous countries in Asia.

5pm — Continue your exploration of Seattle's hot cocktail scene at the Zig Zag Cafe, tucked away behind the Pike Place Market.

7pm — Since you're already at Pike Place, head to Matt's in the Market on the third floor of the Corner Market Building, where the food matches the view. For those who prefer seafood try the clams with cured meat or order anything with Dungeness crab or perhaps some oysters on the half shell. For a larger plate try the seafood stew.

9pm — Head to the Triple Door in the heart of downtown Seattle, which offers music ranging from pop chanteuse crooners to Apple Jam, a group presenting a critically praised tribute to the Beatles. Try the South East Asian-inspired plates.

Sunday

10am — For brunch try Salty's at Alki in West Seattle. It can be crowded, but the views and lavish assortment of Northwest foods on offer more than make up for it, including piles of Dungeness crab and smoked salmon, along with brunch staples.

Afterwards walk for miles along the waterfront through Alki, Seattle's premiere people-watching neighbourhood.

1pm — Seattle is a book-lover's town, and readers have many fine bookstores to visit. Seattle Mystery Bookshop in historic Pioneer Square is one of the best and offers both new and used books. .

For an excellent general selection, Elliott Bay Book Company on Capitol Hill has the goods, many with staff recommendations, plus a great selection of unique cards. It is very easy to lose yourself in the stacks, so keep an eye on the clock if you need to catch a flight.