Pike Place Market, Seattle

Address 1501 Pike Pl # 510, Seattle, WA Map, Hours Vary, most vendors open by 8am Website

Pike Place is a destination on any tourist map. Luckily, kids love it too. When it's sunny, I bring my toddler almost every week. It's fun to choose fruit from the colorful displays, there are a few bakeries and restaurants to pick up a snack or lunch and lots of music and activity. On summer weekends there is almost always something special going on. Best of all, it's open early, giving you an activity when the kids wake up at the crack of dawn (and a way to beat the crowds).

There are lots of stands and shops selling takeaway food, try the mini doughnuts from Daily Dozen. For a picnic, walk to the northernmost end of the market and enjoy a water view at Victor Steinbrueck park.

My son's top activities in at Pike Place Market are:

  • Watch cheese being made at Beechers
  • Look at the big tanks of live crabs
  • Enjoy the street performers
  • Watch the "flying fish" being thrown at the fish market
  • Touch and sit on the life size "piggy bank" near the market entrance

There's even a great children's book about Pike Place Market that you can buy to remember your day A Day at the Market

Comments

  1. Terri on April 22, 2010 at 11:49 a.m.

    I am planning a weekend trip with our kids 15, 7 and 5 to Seattle. We'll ride the Duck, go to the Children's Museum, go up in the Space Needle ... then go back to the hotel and play in the indoor heated pool until everyone passes out!

    But I was concerned about taking the kids to Pikes Place Market because they might be too young to appreciate it. Then I saw this site and just bought the book A Day At The Market. The little ones and I will read the book first then make it a scavenger hunt to find all of the things in the market that are in the book! Awesome fun. I can't wait to get there!

  2. Marquetta on August 5, 2012 at 1:09 p.m.

    I have always loved the Pike Place Market,because it makes you feel like your part of all the action. I remember when my mom took me for the first time, I was surprised about everthing. Today I am going to bring my little one down to see it for the first time. He is 7 years old,so I hope he appreciates it, the way I did and still do. If you want fresh, good food and still have a good time this is were you need to be.