Seattle

From its retro Space Needle to the booming tech scene, Seattle has always been looking toward the future—but always with the backdrop of the lush Pacific Northwest. Luxury hotels, high-end restaurants, and art galleries are proliferating, and the city's vaunted music scene never went away (even though grunge did), making Seattle a top tourist destination. The city's vibrant culinary landscape is fueled by the popularity of Pike Place Market, which is filled with colorful food stalls and also houses some of the best restaurants in Seattle. Meanwhile, the Pacific Rim location lends itself to a hearty Asian food scene, and open kitchens across the city invite diners to see chefs at work.

When nice weather descends, everyone heads to the parks and the lakes; every other day offers time for the eclectic museums dedicated to everything from pinball to rock music. When it comes to what to do in Seattle, the list could go on and on, but some places like Discovery Park, the Seattle Art Museum, the REI flagship store, and the Space Needle are always at the top.