Enjoy Your Staycation

Have you ever noticed that the city you live in is the one city you hardly know? In other words, when you go on a vacation to another place you find out what the main attractions are and plan sightseeing tours or trips to go see them. But in the own city you live in you often get caught up in your day-to-day agenda and neglect its own attractions and so-called "touristy" activities.

With a three-day weekend coming up, here's your chance to get re-acquainted with your city. For those of you who live in the Seattle area, here are the top six tourist attractions according to About.com to get out there and explore!

1. An afternoon on Broadway in Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is the most densely and diversely populated neighborhood in Seattle. Broadway, the main thoroughfare, has the most active sidewalk scene, day or night, in the city. It is a bustling area that is home to the entire cross-section of Seattle’s population. A trip down Broadway will basically introduce you to everyone you share the city with. It also has many diverse shops and restaurants worth visiting. Spend an afternoon shopping on Broadway and grab an inexpensive lunch.

2. Starbucks at the Space Needle
When is the last time you took the 41-second ride to the top of the Space Needle? Do you even remember how beautiful Mt. Rainier looks from there? If not, its time to pull out the $17 (yeah its still a little pricey) and make the trip up the Seattle icon. Once you're at the top, make sure to enjoy a local favorite Starbuck's cup-a-joe.

3. Washington State Ferries (WSF)
WSF offers an inexpensive way to see Seattle from the water. You can catch the ferry to Bremerton at Pier 52 for $6.50 round-trip as a passenger. It will cost an extra $7.60 each way to take your car. The ride is 60 minutes each way with a 20-minute stop in Bremerton. It offers excellent views of Blake Island, the naval shipyard in Bremerton, and downtown Seattle from the water upon your return. Pack a lunch and enjoy a better time than you would have had on an expensive Elliott Bay Cruise. If you live in the northend, you could also try the Edmonds Ferry or the Mukilteo/Clinton Ferry. The rides are much shorter, but offer the same beautiful sights and fun places to explore on the other side.

4. Pike Place Public Market
You know we had to add it to the list. Pike Place Market is still one of the most famous Seattle hot-spots and for good reason. Adults love it. Kids love it. Dogs love it. What is not to love. Pick up a local bouquet of fresh flowers. Watch fish flying through the air. Shop around the local craft stands. Sit and people watch. The Pike Place Market is rite of passage for any true Seattle native or adoptee and is truly the place that defines the city.

5. Pioneer Square and Underground Tour
In 1853, Seattle was founded in the area now known as Pioneer Square. An area of about ten square blocks serves as both the center of Seattle's nightlife and history. You can see and learn a lot without covering much ground by taking a Walking Tour of Pioneer Square. Go on Bill Speidel's Underground Tour first. The 90-minute, $11 guided-tour will help you get your bearings and allow you to experience things in chronological order. It is the best activity in Seattle that nobody knows about.

6. Bumbershoot
Bumbershoot is of course not a permanent fixture in Seattle, but it is certainly one of the main attractions during Labor Day weekend. Venture to Seattle Center, the 74-acre park located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest to find a festival that has it all. Bumbershoot, as the name implies, umbrellas a number of artists from different genres representing the best in music, film, comedy, theater, spoken word, dance, visual, performance and literary arts.