Under $100: Seattle

First-time visitors may experience sticker shock in Seattle. The price of a craft cocktail, a restaurant meal and a night in a hotel can hurt the wallet. With a bit of effort, though, you can enjoy the best of the Emerald City on the cheap.

Start your day on Capitol Hill, Seattle’s trendiest neighborhood, with a pastry and espresso from Bakery Noveau. For arguably the best French pastry in the city and a cup of coffee, you’ll spend only around $8.

Next, catch a bus to downtown for $2.50 per person. Visit the downtown Central Library, with its geometric glass-and-steel construction. You can wander the impressive space, taking the neon-green elevators up to the viewpoint at the top. Next, head to Pioneer Square, where you can take in the city’s historic center. The best way to learn about the city’s early history is at the Klondike Gold Rush museum, with its exhibits and movie theater — all free.

Spring for lunch at any number of excellent Pioneer Square establishments, including London Plane, Pizzeria Gabbiano, Salumi and Rain Shadow Meats. Expect to spend around $15. Before you leave the neighborhood, head to the top of historic Smith Tower, once the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. The trip to the observation deck costs only $7.50.

Pike Place Market, Seattle © Halient | Dreamstime

Next, venture to Pike Place Market, browsing the maze of shops and restaurants in this historic, bustling market. Grab a mid-afternoon pick-me-up at Rachel’s Ginger Beer, where you’ll find boozy concoctions made with craft ginger beer for around $8.

Well worth the splurge is a 1.5-hour trip on a sailboat around glittering Elliott Bay with Let’s Go Sailing. The trip, which offers panoramic views of the skyline, costs $33 per adult.

For dinner, you’ve got around $26 left. One of the best places to eat in downtown is the surprisingly under-the-radar Chan, with its fantastic modern Korean cuisine. Inventive dishes like bulgogi beef sliders pair well with the house-infused soju, a strong rice-based alcohol.