Pike Place Market, Seattle: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Pike Place Market occupies a nine-acre site along the bluff above Elliott Bay in downtown Seattle, a continuously operating farmers' market since its founding in 1907. The market's maze of lower levels, ramps, and staircases contains over 500 businesses, including roughly 80 permanent farmers selling directly to the public—a requirement of the market's founding charter. The fishmongers at Pike Place Fish Co. are known for throwing purchased salmon across the counter. The market's neon clock and Public Market Center sign, installed in 1927, are among the most photographed landmarks in the Pacific Northwest. is just one of many options in Seattle. Major attractions worth considering include Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Mt. Rainier National Park, and Olympic Sculpture Park.