For accommodation, stay at the Harbour Rocks Hotel. This 4-star hotel is in close proximity to other attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney Aquarium and Darling Harbour. Wotif.com showed rates as low as A$149/night.

Let’s start the day by perusing the stalls at an open air market for art and souvenirs.  The Rocks Market which occupies a closed-off portion of George St from Dawes Point Park down to Hickson Rd. Over 150 stalls can be found under the distinctive yellow sails every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Next we’ll head to Australia’s oldest Observatory. Built in 1858, Sydney Observatory was essential to ship navigation, meteorology, timekeeping and for studying the southern hemisphere. The Observatory became a museum in 1982. The historic lens telescope in the south dome dates from 1874 and is the oldest regularly used telescope in Australia. In contrast, the mirror telescope in the north dome is fully computer controlled and incorporates the latest technology. The observatory is open daily from 10a to 5p and admission costs A$7.

You may have seen the breathtaking view of the Harbour Bridge from the Observatory. Now let’s head there for a closer inspection. The Harbour Bridge is fondly known as the “Coat Hanger” and is visible from many parts of the Rocks. It is possible to walk over the bridge through a pedestrian walkway. We’ll enter on the western side on Fort St near Observatory Hill. Once on the bridge, let’s climb up the the Bridge Pylon to the Pylon Lookout. For A$9.50 admission fee, the Pylon Lookout offers fantastic views of the city, harbour, and the Opera house.

It’s time to rest our feet and have an oyster & champagne lunch. Let’s head to the Sydney Oyster Cove located on the east side of Circular Quay. This casual spot offers everything from oysters to salmon to lobster. It is also possible to create your own seafood platter for a customized meal. Opt for alfresco dining where you can take in views of both the harbour and the city.

After lunch let’s head to The Sydney Opera House. One of Sydney’s most beautiful and unusual buildings, the Opera House is world famous. It is possible to walk around the building, and some of the foyer areas free of change. For A$35 (or A$29 online), a guided 1-hr tour is available for those interested in seeing the inner workings of the Opera House.

Located a short walk around the water’s edge from the Sydney Opera House, is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful settings you will see anywhere. The Royal Botanics Gardens have more than one million specimens and there is even a hop-on hop-off “train” for speedy access to different parts of the gardens. Entry to the gardens is free and closes at sunset.

Tonight let’s have dinner and enjoy a jazz concert at The Basement Club. Recognized as Australia’s number one jazz venue, The Basement delivers a wide range of styles with bands play almost every night. The dining room offers modern Australian cuisine with a flare of Asian influence. Booking ahead is a must.

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The home base of this itinerary is situated in two of the oldest and grandest buildings in Brisbane. Formerly the Treasury Building and the Lands Administration Building, these historical structures have been restored and converted into the 5-star Treasury Hotel & Casino. In addition to packaged deals on the hotel’s website, I found A$185/night on wotif.com.

The first stop on this itinerary is the Brisbane City Hall located by the King George Square. City Hall’s 92-meter (~300-ft) clock tower was once Brisbane’s highest point, complete with an observation platform offering a panoramic view of the city. Access to the observation platform is open to public daily from 10:00a to 3:00p. Before leaving the City Hall, take a tour through the Art Gallery & Museum (now Museum of Brisbane) and brush up on Brisbane’s history. Admissions to the Clock Tower & the Museum are free.

Next we’ll head to the Queen Street Mall. Considered the center fashion and retail in Queensland, this pedestrian mall houses over 700 retailers and sees over 26 million visitors each year. On Wednesdays a Farmer’s Market is open on Reddacliff Place, where Queen Street meets the river. As you stroll down Queen Street, stop at one of the many open air cafes for lunch. From your perch, make sure to take note of the victorian-era building facades along Queen Street. Many of these buildings were preserved and restored during the development and construction of the mall.

After lunch we’ll cross the Brisbane River and make our way to The Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). GoMA is Australia’s largest gallery of modern and contemporary art, and focuses on the art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Here you’ll also find the Australian Cinematheque, where film screenings are held. Admission to the GoMA is free though certain exhibitions may require an entry fee.

A great way to take in Brisbane’s South Bank water front is a stroll the Clem Jones Promenade. Along the promenade one finds the Wheel of Brisbane, the South Bank Arbour, and a swimming lagoon with  a man-made sandy beach. The sand surrounding the beach is sourced from Moreton Bay and topped up each year in order to maintain its pristine condition.

Cross the river toward the Botanic Gardens. The gardens is open daily (closes at 5p during winter months from April – August), with free guided tours daily at 11a & 1p. Follow the main path that leads through the center of the gardens to Albert Street at the northern end of the gardens. Here you’ll find many tall palm trees, a lily pond, shaded pagodas and benches, tropical plants and flowers.

Restaurant II awaits as you exit the gardens. Cozy up in one of the lounge seats and select a wine to unwind with. One of the top 10 dining establishments in Brisbane, Restaurant II’s wine list offers selections from all over Australia and New Zealand as well as wines from abroad. While they don’t offer tasting flights, feel free to ask for a sample pour if you are unsure what to order.

A visit to Brisbane would not be complete without visiting a live music venue. Take a taxi to Fortitude Valley, a neighborhood known for its night life. Tonight we’ll end the evening at The Troubadour. Opened in 2003, this boutique music venue presents local, interstate and international acts regularly. The venue is open Tuesday – Sunday. Be sure to check its events calendar and purchase tickets in advance as  featured acts can sell out.

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Stay downtown at Hotel Monaco, a 4-star boutique Hotel situated 4 blocks from waterfront & Pike’s Place Market. Hotel.com beats the hotel’s own published rates at $165/night.

Pioneer Square is the first stop of the day. It was once the heart of the city and the early wooden structures were mostly burned in the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. Today the neighborhood features 20 city blocks of Victorian Romanesque architecture, built after the Great Seattle Fire.

For a tour with a twist, take the Underground Tour of Pioneer Square. The guided walking tour beneath Seattle’s sidewalks and streets shows the subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle.

After the tour, head north on 1st Ave toward Pike Place Market. Established in 1907, Pike Place Market was established as a public street market that would connect farmers directly with consumers. Today the market is home to nearly 190 craftspeople and 120 farmers who rent table space by the day.

Stop at Pike Place Chowder for lunch. This cozy establishment has never lost the Great Cook-off in Newport, Rhode Island. Choose from eight varieties of clam chowder and while you’re at it, order a Dungeness Crab Roll too!

Continue north to the Olympic Sculpture Park. This 9-acre green space features 21 sculptures by renowned artists, most of them acquired for the park. This admission-free public outdoor sculpture park is a unique institution in the United States.

The last stop of the day is the Seattle Center, the site of the Space Needle and Experience Music Project. See Seattle from Space Needle’s observation deck. At 520 feet high, visitors can see Downtown Seattle skyline, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands.

At Experience Music Project, make sure that you take a turn with one of the interactive exhibits. Designed by Frank Gehry, this rock ‘n roll museum features the Jimi Hendrix special exhibit as well as rare artifacts from popular music history.

Once finished at the EMP, hail a cab and travel back toward the hotel. Dinner awaits at the Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. Its menu blends classic American styles, seasonal Northwest ingredients and Mediterranean themes. Wine is the big draw, with the restaurant’s 20-foot tower of 5,000 wine bottles.