One of the places we always go to when in the Seattle area is the iconic Pike Place Market, located downtown. Although it is a tourist destination, you will find locals there as well, shopping for produce, flowers, spices, chocolates, crafts, artwork, cheese, meats and, of course, fish.
When we have taken a cab or an Uber to the Market, they will always drop you off one block away, requiring that you walk down a very steep street that will lead you directly to the entrance of the Fish Market. For those of you who are devotees of the movie “Sleepless In Seattle”, as I am, there is a scene where the characters played by Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner leave their office to walk to the Market for lunch. It gives me a little thrill every time.
Pike Place Fish Market
This famous landmark greets you at the bottom of the descent, the crew decked out in heavy aprons. They continually put on a show, throwing large fish from behind the counter to their colleagues out in the Market area then back again. My husband bought a sweatshirt there once and they threw that to him. There is a lot of fun chatter among them during the performance and it is a must-see when in Seattle. The shenanigans never get old. The overwhelming selection of fish and other seafood for purchase, beautifully displayed, is a feast for your eyes. It is a work of art they must create and undo every day. For those of us who get to experience it, it is so worth their time and effort.
Lowell’s Restaurant
Now that we have been there, done that quite a few times, the big draw for Mister Rain and me at Pike Place is one of the restaurants there, Lowell’s. It is a 3-story eatery with unforgettable views of Puget Sound, Elliott Bay and the city’s waterfront. You can watch the ferries come and go from Bremerton and see the city’s ferris wheel, the Seattle Great Wheel, slowly circle over the water. Another attraction: the staff carrying trays LOADED with plates up those three flights of stairs!
We have been to Lowell’s for breakfast and lunch, the food is wonderful as are the adult beverages they offer. I don’t know about you, but nothing says vacation to me like a mimosa with my coffee in the morning. I highly recommend the Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl and the Calamari Strips. My favorite cocktail after noon is the Elliott Bay Breeze. In my opinion, one of the greatest things in life is a good meal with a spectacular view.
The Market Vendors
The aisle running through the Market is bordered on two sides by merchants. It is every farmers market you have ever been to but on steroids. The vendors’ displays are all colorful and creative. I love being on vacation and seeing people who live where I am visiting going about their daily lives. Here you find just that, a young woman purchasing a bouquet of flowers, a couple walking hand in hand munching on candy they just bought, a mom and her toddler getting groceries for the week. It is always busy and a bit chaotic in all the best ways.
The Original Starbucks
Across the brick street from Pike Place Market are more shops. The very first Starbucks is located here along with its line of customers snaking out the door. As you walk by you can smell the coffee, bringing to mind every Starbucks you have ever entered or seen. Depending on your level of coffee-itis, you may find yourself whispering a reverent “Thank you.”
Rachel & Billie, Bronze Pigs
There are two bronze pigs at Pike Place Market. Not just mascots, they are real working piggy banks that collect $20,000 every year for the social service agencies in the Market. Rachel (shown here) has proudly stood beneath the Pike Place Market clock ever since 1986. Her “cousin” Billie arrived in 2011.
Althouh I had seen Rachel on our first visit in 1995, it was only recently that I learned of the money she and Billie collect. It was no surprise; 2,800 miles from home, in a city not my own, at Pike Place Market the sense of community is palpable.
#sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindwriter #writer #writersofinstagram #legallyblindtraveler #travel #travelgram #travelwriter #adventure #wanderlust #explore #travelblogger #vacation #instatravel #traveler #seattle #sleeplessinseattle #pikeplacefishmarket #lowellsrestaurant #starbucks #rachelandbillie #community #pikeplacemarket
