Entrance to Pike Place, est. 1907.
A recent trip to Seattle, Washington left me completely in love with Pike Place Market. The bustling farmer’s market is full of businesses, farmers, craftsmen and street performers; the energy is addictive. Walking through the buildings and outdoor stands, you can find beautiful bouquets of seasonal flowers, get fresh cut meat and seafood from local butchers and fisherman, dig through underground used book stores, or grab lunch at one of the many restaurants with an ocean view.
Fresh crab. Yum!
(Tip: Walk past this stand “where they throw the fish”, and head downstairs to find the famous gum wall.)
For lunch, I’d definitely recommend something from Market Grill. The tiny restaurant has great charm and award-winning clam chowder. They buy all their ingredients in the market each day. It doesn’t get much more fresh than that.
My delicious seafood dish from Market Grill.
One of the most famous attractions in Pike Place is the original Starbucks Coffee store. As a coffee addict and Starbucks fanatic, I had no problem waiting 15 minutes in this small shop to have a White Chocolate Mocha made on the original machines. (The older machines take much longer to make each drink and are more “handmade” than the ones in your local shop.) I don’t know if it was the coffee or the atmosphere, but it definitely tasted better than usual!
First Starbucks store.
Starbucks in hand, I was able to spend the rest of the day taking-in live street performances, checking out handmade jewelry and clothing, and sampling delicious treats along the way. If I ever get the chance to head back to Seattle, you know where you’ll find me.