Any visitor to Seattle will no doubt see the soaring skyscrapers of the Downtown district but an up-close view of the city’s central business district will be rewarded with a surprising blend of great shopping, pleasant parks and interesting architecture. The area’s waterfront offers stunning views across the beautiful Puget Sound and food lovers will be in heaven with over 150 eateries to choose from.A good place to start your visit is at the visitor information centre, which is located on Seventh Avenue and Pike Street in the lobby of the Washington State Convention Center. The helpful staff will be more than happy to fill you in on events happening in the area. Grab a walking map and set out on foot to explore. Culture vultures should head for Seattle Art Museum, while a trip on the city’s monorail is always popular with the kids. Hop on board and head out to the iconic Space Needle, just 1.6 kilometres out of the city centre.The Downtown district is also near to most of Seattle’s most popular neighbourhoods, making it an excellent area to base yourself in during your visit to the city: Pike Place Market is further west, Belltown and Capitol Hill to the north and Pioneer Square to the south.If you’re after some retail therapy then this is the place to come. Many of the city’s best shops are located here – there are over 1,000 retail outlets – such as big names like Nordstrom, Macy’s and REI and dozens of exclusive, smaller boutiques.Chances are you’re visit to Seattle will coincide with one of the city’s 70 or so festivals that take place annually in the Downtown district and its surrounding neighbourhoods. These include Bumbershoot, the country’s biggest urban arts festival, and the Seattle International Film Festival. There are also plenty of open-air public concerts put on during the summer on the waterfront, where you’ll hear a wide variety of musical styles.