Coffee Eyes

I was going to post in the Where ya Going section, but it's a decision between different countries, so once again I'm going to plop myself comfortably down here in the first-timers section.

I'll be visiting family up in Seattle for a few days, and could probably extend my trip for 3 or 4 days during late December. Which would you vets recommend is 1)safer 2)more interesting (I'm a first time traveller so both are relatively new to me). Seattle or Vancouver? Or is there anywhere else in Canada I should visit instead that I can get to cheaply from Seattle? Thanks very much for your help!