As a committed local-vore, I can say with confidence that Seattle is one of the prime locations for excellent locally-sourced shopping. Throughout all the Seattle neighborhoods and surrounding areas, there is an abundance of local farm fresh produce, handmade items, grown-right-in-the-backyard flowers, etc. Yet, the best place to find all of this is in Seattle’s epi-center of local shopping: Pike Place Market.
Walking down the road next to Pike Place, you hear a crowd bustling. Several live performers fight for the spotlight somewhere in the distance, and you can’t decide if you are smelling heaven on earth or raw fish. Most likely, you’re right on all accounts. A produce man offers you a slice of a Washington-grown pear, and you move on to view some Seattle tourist paraphernalia. Walk a little farther down the road and you will smell Le Panier, a distinct French bakery. On the same road, you are mesmerized by a cheese factory showing you their product in the making. A crowd lines outside of Piroshki, Piroshki, and customers walk out with warm pockets of dough filled with various wonders like apples and cinnamon or salmon and cream cheese. You end up at the first Starbucks in existence, distinctly marked by the first Starbucks logo (a more detailed mermaid than you are probably used to seeing on the current labels).
Going inside the market, you might be initially overwhelmed. Crowds of people admire rows of locally-grown flowers, freshly-glistening honey, made-on-site doughnuts, handmade artisan jewelry, jams, wines, pasta, produce, seafood and so much more. Not only will you find tourists and adventurers alike, but you’ll find local Seattle natives shopping for household items because… there really is nothing like Pike Place.
Perhaps you are in the mood to take a seat after a day of touring the market, and you sit in the Victor Steinbrueck Park, realizing that the waterfront is only steps away. Perhaps you realize that you are hungry, and you are definitely in the right place for it. Directly next to the market, nestled along cobblestone roads in private alleys are the Post Alley Shops. In these alleys are not only shops but restaurants like The Pink Door. Only obvious because of its subtle pink door, this restaurant provides not only excellent food (some of it is sourced from Pike Place Market), but entertainment such as cabaret, jazz bands and trapeze acts.
Overall, the options that are teeming in these few blocks are sure to be a foodie’s paradise, a traveler’s treasure and a great place to start a long tour of your favorite rainy city, Seattle.
