The Pike Place Market in Seattle has turned into a major tourist destination for the city. The sign and the brass pig are iconic. I wanted to show a different side of the Pike. The Pike Place Market is full of history, colorful local characters, and even a few ghost stories. This is the Pike Place Market I grew up with and this is the Pike Place Market I share with my family and with you.
Five things you should experience at The Pike Place Market
1. Flowers
If you take the time to walk down the length of the market, just past all the wonderful food you will find the freshest flowers and stunning dried arrangements at the very best prices. We’ve brightened many a table with these.
2. Seafood and Humor
Everyone knows about the famous flying fish, but the entire market is riddled with good humor and excellent seafood. All the vendors are happy to help and have a wicked sense of humor. Shopping is fun!!!
3. Coffee
You KNOW my tour of the Pike involves coffee. I have fond memories of this place when my parents needed a hot cup of coffee to keep their hands warm while we grocery shopped. Not a lot has changed. It’s still tiny, it smells the same, I remember the creaky worn wood floors. The biggest thing that has changed is the mob scene and line up that sometimes goes around the block. Wow.
Hint: There is another perfectly good Starbucks one block away across the street from the market entrance.
Hint: If you prefer to support a mom and pop (Which Starbucks was at one time) Ghost Alley Coffee is underneath the pig by the gross gum wall. My friend owns and operates it and it’s pretty great coffee!
4. The Crumpet Shop
I cannot begin to tell you how worth the stop this is. This was my first ‘Daddy Daughter Date’ and my father and I would watch the crumpets be made and then order one smothered in butter and honey. I loved the Alice in Wonderland mural on the wall and for a kid, this place was magical. Now when I take my family there I realize that the Mad Hatter is a little creepy and the shop itself is uber small and crowded but the crumpets are still the best and pair perfectly with the local coffee.
5. The Park at the End
Seattle Shipyard 
I’m frowning because this beautiful work of art is leaving Seattle 
Dodging the Seagull poop
At the end of the Pike is a small but wonderful little park. It’s a nice breather from the hectic pace of the market and provides gorgeous views. There are several works of art there although the totem pole thats been there my whole life is scheduled to leave. There are picnic tables and green grass to relax on but beware the seagulls. Watch their front end because they have no fear and will take your food and watch their back end because well, obviously…
These are five non iconic (OK Starbucks #1 is iconic but I gave you alternatives!!) things to experience at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Of course the three floors of shops underneath the Pike hold all kinds of adventures, the disgusting attraction that is the Gum Wall, and oh the history and ghost stories…
I’ll leave you here with appetite whetted… Consider signing up for our monthly newsletter so you’ll get fun stories like this delivered right to your email box!
I’ve been to Seattle once, but it was nearly 21 years ago and we didn’t get to explore much. It has always been a fascinating area to me, though ~ so I’d love to get out there to the Northwest Coast again.
I hope you get a chance to do that! There’s some Disney things to do up that way…
The flowers are the best!! I can’t believe how reasonably priced they are too. We miss Seattle so much!
It is a special place for sure
That looks amazing! I’m putting together my empty-nester bucket list and definitely think I need to add that!
This looks like an awesome adventure for a weekend!
Love the pictures and supporting small mom and pop coffee shops! Thank you!
Seattle is on my list. After reading this post, I am even more excited!
This whole post embodies everything I would guess Seattle to be! I love the seafood sign. Ha! I hope to go to Seattle one day, and your post makes me want to go even more!
I have never been to Seattle, but these sound like great places to visit! The Crumpets and local coffee sound great.
Crumpets and local coffee are on the list of ‘best things in this world’ 😉
My husband and I did a getaway trip to Seattle for our fifth wedding anniversary. We loved Pike Place Market, and we ate at the Crumpet Shop! Funny that it looks out onto an unsavory place, but I guess that’s big cities, eh?
I’ve seen photos of the original buildings. MUCH different…although the streets themselves were always a bit gross… you can read all about it https://thisfamilyblog.com/seattle-underground/
I enjoyed this blog post. I some day want to go out west and see places like this.
I hope you do! If I can be of any help to your planning please let me know
I havent made it to the West coast yet, but I sure would like to visit the area one day. Your pictures make it looks so much fun!
Thank you Vanessa! We try to have fun wherever we go
Looks like so much fun! We visited with the kids about 8 years ago. After reading your post, we have to go back 🙂
Awwww I’m so glad! Be sure to take the massive staircase down to the Aquarium and Ye Olde Curiosity Shop! Great fun for kids!
I would love to visit Seattle and see all these spots!
I hope you do!
We are heading to Seattle this summer. Thanks for the great tips.
Oh Excellent! I hope you check out the underground tour too… I have links for deals on tickets… https://thisfamilyblog.com/seattle-underground/
I would love to visit this area and always think of the fishmongers throwing the fish in the market. what fun!
Yeah, funny I always thought that was normal until I was a grown up and saw what a unique thing it really was.
The park at the end of the market has a great view and a good way to have a break.
I love that little park. It’s changed a bit over the years but still worth the trouble finding parking. 🙂
Pikes Place Market is one of my favorite markets ever, so much history and so many things to experience, see, and buy! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
yeah..it’s pretty special. I imagine your chef self LOVES it! There is a Sur La Table there too. All my chef friends just love the Pike.
wow, this def looks like a popular spot! will need to make a trip out here one day
I hope you do! I have several articles on the area to help plan your travels
I love all of this, certainly have to visit this one day!
There is a fantastic little Irish pub tucked away in Post Alley there too you will love!
All the traveling I have done and years of shopping there is not many places where I have shopped that is on my must-see…But Pike is one of them, I love this place the vibrant personalities and cultural experience so different than any other place in the world!
That doesn’t surprise me! I can see your radiant spirit in its element there! XO
So much fun! We will visit soon, hopefully!!
I hope you do and I hope you save this article to help make the most of your time there!
I know I will just love this market! Thanks for the tips!
Yes you would absolutely love it! Most dynamic market I’ve ever been to
My husband and I took a cruise out of Seattle for our 10th anniversary. We stayed an extra day, so we could see a bit of Seattle, and Pike Place Market was one of our favorite places! That’s been over a decade ago now, though, and we’d love to go back and spend a little more time there!
Yeah the cruise ship harbor isn’t too far from there… a lot of stairs but worth the climb 🙂
I have several friends in Seattle and hope to finally get there within the next year. I’m excited to see Seattle, and I definitely want to visit the Pike Place Market!
I think there is a lot about the are you would enjoy. I hope you get out there!
You are making me want to go back. We missed the crumpet shop! Now that we’ve done the touristy things, I would love to do some of these other things!
Looks fun! This place is definitely on my list when I make it up to the Pacific Northwest.
I visited here many years ago and loved it! Such a great variety of fresh foods.
I have been to Pike’s Market and its amazing. Love that they still have the flying fish. But likely my stop would be the Crumpet shop. Yup – that’s where I would be going next. Thanks.
Great tips! Love the gum wall LOL!
Don’t forget the spice shop, the amazing fruits and vegetables, and the breakfast restaurant where Tom Hanks ate in Sleepless in Seattle! And there’s so much more…..
OH All the things! I love the Pike!
Thank you for also mentioning the opportunity to support a local business instead of waiting in line at a tourist destination coffee shop! I absolutely love Starbucks, but it is so much more important to support local business!
I agree! I have a complicated relationship with Starbucks because I of course grew up with it as a mom and pop and I’m thrilled to be able to get that little taste of home wherever I wander. But I also like to support the mom and pops because I often find wonderful and unique things there too. Like the Maple Bourbon Latte we found in Leavenworth Washington https://thisfamilyblog.com/the-great-nog-of-fire/
What a fun market! Seattle is on my bucket list too!
It’s a great place… very dynamic…
We are planning a cruise to Alaska in either 2020 or 2021 with a few days in Seattle first so this would be prefect!
Well the Pike is just a short walk from the piers where the cruise ships come in. I highly recommend it. Wear good walking shoes because even though it is close it is very much ‘up’
Thanks for the hints. I have Pike Place Market on my list to see someday. The pictures looked so fun and I can’t wait to visit.
Glad you enjoyed! Just thought it would be fun to show people it’s more than throwing fish
We have the PNW on our list and it looks like we need to add a stop at the Pike Place Market too! Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely! Get there early so you can find a parking spot!
I love reading about places from someone who has grown up there. I get to learn more insider tips. Pike Place Market looks like a great place to visit.
Me too! I like to learn from the locals. I always have a great experience that way!
Awesome! This is very timely, my husband is flying to Seattle for work in a few months and the kids and I are hoping to tag along! I’m pinning this for later, thank you!
Wonderful! Be sure to check out the other articles on https://thisfamilyblog.com/why-go-to-washington/ There are a couple of lesser known places to visit.
I loved my visit there! I had NO idea there was a crumpet shop there!!! I’m going to have to go back!!
It’s a hidden gem! The other hidden gem I didn’t write about is the Marketplace Tea Shop. You can sample their tea and it is SUPURB. One of the only teas I’ve never added anything to like sugar or honey.
My family is traveling to the West Coast this summer and I hope to visit Pikes Place. Thanks for the tips!
Oh I hope you enjoy it!!!!
I am so ready to go to the PNW! Seattle looks like a great city! Pikes place looks amazing!
Seattle is a unique city for sure. And it is trying hard to maintain that uniqueness.
Love the Crumpet Shop memories! I have not yet visited Pikes Place Market, but it’s on my list – thanks for the great tips!
I hope you have a few new places to check out when you do!
Ha! We lived in Seattle for a year, just 8 blocks from Pike’s Place. Been to all these places, loved getting the fresh cut flowers every week.
That is what the market was meant for really. Locals LOL I have a lot of fond memories of going there as a child. Everything I’ve ever bought there has been fresh and tasty.
My friend is always talking about how awesome this place is. I will have to visit!
It is a great place to check out for sure
So fun! I will visit this market someday!
You sound so definitive! I believe you! 🙂 It’s pretty great