Seattle’s Pike Place Market is an Experience for all Senses

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

Recently I had the absolute pleasure of getting to experience Seattle during a recent networking event in Tacoma, Washington. And if only for a brief moment in time, the memories of Pike Place Market will forever be ingrained into each and every one of my senses. Walking through the market is an incredible experience that can be both exciting and overwhelming and both stimulating and breathtaking. Everything about the market is almost divinely created to appeal to each and every one of the senses and leaves visitors filled with delight whether they be market regulars, or like me, a wide-eyed, and beaming, tourist not knowing where to begin her adventure first.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

I had never been to Seattle, or really Washington state, and being a Pacific Northwest native, this is almost sacrilegious. Having a few hours to kill before a networking event and being shockingly childless, both Timothy and I decided to add an additional 40-minute drive to our trip and head all the way up to the “City of Flowers” and take a brief glimpse of what the city had to offer. We knew we did not have near enough time for too much exploration, but after a few google searches, I learned that the best place to summarize Seattle into one location is Pike Place Market. So we had our destination mapped and away we went.

Finding parking was brutal and rather expensive, but I had high hopes that it would be absolutely worth the confusion and cost once we reached the market.

I was so right.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

First, let's talk sight. The market is a sea of colors and faces with both indoor and outdoor vendors and views. Stopping by the overlook pier I gazed across the beautiful waters of the Elliot Bay and was captivated by the Seattle Great Wheel. The giant vintage looking Ferris wheel provided a huge photo opportunity for tourists and given more time I would have raced over to it for a single ride just to see the view from the top. The market itself is filled with things that leave your eyes never knowing where to stick first. Vendors of every kind line the pathways sharing their wares or treats; some working away as you walk by, constantly pulled into their craft, but ready at a moment’s notice to share with you what makes their product so special and such a wonderful piece of Seattle. Everything from leather works to baked goods are there to see, each showcasing an artform all special to the vendor.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

Vintage neon lights guide your paths highlighting original eateries and historical landmarks, making your journey almost more of a history lesson than a shopping experience. Meats roast while seafood is chucked from fish monger to fish monger, all fresh and ready to be devoured at your leisure. And if fruit and veg are more your thing, be prepared to be offered almost too many choices of produce, brightly colored and shiny, with everything from tomatoes and potatoes to berries and exotic fruits galore.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

And then you see the flowers. Flowers of every shape and color and species all neatly displayed in giant bouquets. These are surely the largest arrangements I had ever seen and their beauty blew me away. Each and everyone was a breathtaking display of art, no two exactly the same and each arrangement as different as the flowers in them. When you want to discuss pure, natural beauty, these bouquets are the definition. I mentioned to Timothy multiple times that if we lived in the area I would expect flowers, at least once a week, “just because.” From that moment on I knew exactly how the City of Flowers earned its motto.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

Next up in our market tour of senses is the sense of smell. Various scents waft through the area making a blended aroma that is absolutely the culmination of what Seattle is. Dark roasted coffee with hints of chocolates and spices float along the breezeway of the outer vendors. Occasionally they merge with the crisp signature scent of homemade and carefully crafted, spiced apple cider. Walking through the eateries your nose is enveloped with everything from sweet to savory. From roasted and smoked meats to creamy chowders and freshly caught seafood the smells of hearty and warm meals float through the air leaving your mouth watering. And with racks filled with freshly picked fruits and veggies you are instantly taken away to gardens and orchards galore. The European bakeries make way for the scent of freshly baked pastries and bread while the Mediterranean and Asian cafes lead to spices and chilis.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

And it isn’t just the food crafting these “better than Home Goods” scents, the air itself is scented with the clean aroma of sea air and mixed with newly plucked flowers of all varieties. Add in the occasional sweet or spicy incense or oil being diffused throughout the building and you have a selection of one of a kind scents to delight anyone on your list. When blended together they create a perfume that is entirely and distinctly Seattle at its core.

In the future, I will invest in an organic candle making operation that attempts to capture these comforting and invigorating fragrances and call them “Scents of Seattle” with everything from ocean air to fresh baked Bavarian pastry. I’ll make a fortune; of this I am sure.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

If you’re looking to bliss your tastebuds into submission the market is the place to go. Everything from sweet to salty to savory and sour is there to take your sense of taste on a journey. Not to mention all the cultural flourishments and varieties of foods and treats just to send your mouth on a tour around the world. Italian, Asian, Polish, Irish, Germanic, and back to classic American eats and so much more line the streets of the market.

Looking for some sweet treats? Try the different pastry and cakeries. How about some salty and savory blends, then you can’t miss the perogies and pastas. You could literally spend all day from dawn to dusk and still not get the chance to try all of the incredible confections and snacks available and right at your fingertips. Though you may have to be rolled up one of the hills to reach your vehicle, your tongue will thank you as it will be on a journey of ecstasy as your mouth remembers the bliss it had experienced with each and every step that you have taken. Pike Place Market is so filled to the brim with eats and treats that each visitor can never complain about not being able to find something delicious to fill their bellies.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

One of the most delightful things that I experienced at the market is the world of wonder that my auditory senses went through from the moment we arrived. This cornucopia of sounds is almost overwhelming at first with the hustle and bustle of activity, but visitors easily adapt with melodic harmonies of local musicians at each and every corner. Everything from violins, to guitars, drums, and even the occasional pan-flute takes visitors on a journey through music with each genre being featured in its own beautiful and unique way. Each section you walk will lead you to something new. Not feeling the contemporary jazz? Walk a few feet and discover some classical violin, or head around the corner and get ready for some big band swing. Maybe you're feeling the idea of some island vibes or tribal rhythms? Either way, the market has the music for you.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

Beyond the music, it must be said that walking through the market can also be compared to what I can only assume is a small version of the united nations. So many languages are spoken between both the vendors and customers it takes people “listening” to an entirely new level. If you’re a world language lover like myself, the market will provide you with an immense amount of satisfaction as the cultural jargons flow through your ears. I could stand for hours just listening to the conversations, everything from bartering to jokes, and everything in between

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

On our final tour through the sensations experienced through the market is, of course, one of my favorites, touch. I am very much a tactile person and enjoy the feelings of things around me. Things to touch and feel were in no short supply throughout our walk. Handmade jewelry and fabrics lined numerous vendors. Pouches and accessories made of the softest leathers were some of my personal favorites. Each vendor was ready to show off their crafts and wares, making the walk and experience a blast for those with desires to contact the world around them through touch.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to feel everything from merchandise to produce. Silken flowers to fuzzy peaches and smooth leather to rough metals. Everything was a joy of sensations to my fingertips. The Pike Place Market is a tactile lovers dream

Our journey through the market was short lived as we were on a time crunch but even in the few short hours spent I was already planning my trip back. I look forward to seeing the wonder and fascination through the eyes of my children as they make their way through the emporium along the bay, taking in each and everything they come into contact with. If you haven’t visited this place before, be sure to add it to your list of adventures. And if you have been before, you already know exactly what I mean when I describe this blissfully chaotic place. Drop us a line or send us a postcard and let us know how the Pike Place Market delighted your senses.