Threading the island-studded Puget Sound by ship into Seattle is a scenic pleasure no matter what the weather. Picturesquely sited between the snow-capped Olympic Range to the west and the Cascades to the east, Washington State’s “Emerald City” is a handsome, prosperous city that welcomes visitors with abundant parks and green spaces, waterfront walks and a wealth of museums and cultural attractions. Seattle Center is a cluster of these including the iconic Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, the blown glass sculptures of Dale Chihuly, a children’s museum and the one-of-a-kind Frank Gehry-designed EMP Museum of popular music and culture. The Pike Street Public Market is a must visit, to explore its multiple levels, a warren of shops and restaurants draped over the steep bluffs above the Sound.