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Today I’d like to take you on a walk with me through the streets of Seattle!

Imagine tall buildings of varying height towering overhead, giving shade to some of the streets throughout the day. The city traffic is buzzing, cars are driving quickly, honking horns every few seconds. Taxis picking up and dropping off. Sirens are heard in the distance.

Crowds of people are walking up and down the streets, locals and tourists alike.

Men in suits of navy and charcoal, on their venture to and from work. Others doing their shopping in the city for the day, bags hanging on both arms from Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and more. People soaking up this rare sunny day in the park while enjoying a hot dog from a nearby stand. Parents with little ones in tow, holding hands. Some individuals waiting in line for their lunch break meal. Every one of them has a different story.

It’s amazing how many people wait to cross the street at any given time. They gather in groups of ten or twelve at times…

Walking across the street, you must be attentive to the people who are crossing the street from the other side, so as not to run into anyone. As we near Pike Market, the crowds begin to thicken. Only a block away now, the streets are brick, and cars are trying to cross between large groups of pedestrians. You can hear live music playing ahead somewhere, and there is a buzz of excited voices around you as people discuss what their first stop will be. Ahead you see the iconic sign you’ve heard so much about. There are people posing for their picture in front of it, experiencing it for the first time.

The closer you get, the more your senses are overwhelmed. Ahead there are vendors of every kind, outside there are locals selling ice cream and freshly made smoothies under tents. There is an entrance area that we walk towards.

People seem to be packed in quite tightly, many of them are looking at something. Before you can see anything, a pungent smell of raw fish hits you. The bricks under your feet are wet. The crowd opens slightly and you see a wide display of fish laying on ice chips, the workers wearing rubber boots and waders. The sign above reads Pike Place Fish Co.

The crowd is waiting for something. A nearby gentleman steps forward to speak to someone behind the counter. Soon the workers start chanting, and one of the fish is taken off ice and is being thrown back and forth between the workers.

The crowd claps and is buzzing with the excitement.

Next you weave between people to move on. You pass a large variety of bouquets, labeled with reasonable prices and some with the type of flower they primarily consist of. Dahlias, Peonies, Sunflowers….colors for any taste or style.

Moving on, there is a vendor selling jewelry that is homemade. The older lady behind the table greets you with a smile, and encourages you to pick up anything to look at it. There are earrings and rings with pearls, turquoise, and quartz.

As we continue to move slowly through the crowds, you see many more vendors, including those selling lavender, locally grown produce, fresh pasta, and printed t-shirts.

We also pass a few restaurants, some boasting a waterfront view. There are just as many, if not more vendors to catch a ready made meal at, as there are selling anything else. Looking to grab some lunch, you see an endless array of options. Hot dogs encrusted in breading, fried chicken, fresh bakery items, sandwiches with local fish.

There is a teriyaki chicken stand that catches your eye with it’s food displayed in a case. As you approach, it smells wonderful. After ordering and paying for your food, we make our way back out. The crowd is slow moving, but that’s okay. You use this time to enjoy what’s around you, soaking it all in. After all, that’s why you’re here, right?

Apparently around 30,000 people visit the market per day! That’s an incredible number.

I hope you enjoyed taking a walk with me! Those of you who have been to Seattle or Pike Place Market, what are your thoughts?  I’d love to hear your experiences. Comment on this post below, and as always feel free to contact me via email!!  I hope you enjoyed this post, and will adventure with me again in future posts!