I definitely would get a car. Public transportation was pretty difficult the first time I went as a student with budgetary restrictions. I was also very touristy and realized that a lot of the locations aren't near each other and the public transportation isn't as reliable as it is in California.
The second time I went to Seattle, I rented a car and the trip was 20 times better. Having the control with a car is crucial when you are staying for less than a week. Make the trip worth it and spend more time viewing locations rather than viewing for the next bus to come by.
Can you get by with public transportation? The answer is simply yes. If you decide to go this route, make sure you get your "pregame" on.
This means find the sites you want to view, plan what you want to do each day, and organize the routes you need to take. If you are good at planning and know what you want to see, then public transportation can work for you. But if you are like me and get fascinated easily with certain things, the car becomes a unique luxury.
I hope you enjoy your trip!
If you don't mind hauling your bags a few blocks or taking a taxi to get into/out of town you can handle downtown Seattle without a car for sure. From the airport, take link light rail to Westlake Center. The Warwick is 2 blocks north (walk up 4th avenue towards the space needle).
You can take the Monorail from Westlake Center to Seattle Center to visit the Space Needle. The Aquarium is about 8 blocks away from your hotel - walk west (towards the water) to where Lenora dead ends (6 blocks) and there is a pedestrian overpass/stairs to get you down to the waterfront. The Aquarium will be about 2 blocks south (away from the space needle).
Where to eat?
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.