seattle
 

Opinion needed.
Is Sattle's Pike Place Market as much of a tourist trap as San Francisco's Fisherman Warf
I truly had problem finding anything positive about the Warf
Will be in Seattle first week of september.

Not at all like Fisherman's wharf. Defiitely worth a visit!

Don't miss it! Visit the row of shops across the street too. Have pastries at Piroshky Piroshky.

It is a working, functioning marketplace where locals and tourists alike go for delish food. There are shops there too that sell gift type items, but the main area is a market. You can pick up the fixings for a terrific lunch or breakfast picnic.

And if you have never seen them throwing the fish...that alone is worth seeing. A documentary movie was made using the fish theory to explain "team work" concept to students and workers.

See it, you'll regret it if you don't go.

Hope this helps...
Debi

Definitely don't miss it! At first, all I saw was the gift-type shops and I was really disappointed. Then we found the actual market and it was great!! I thought the fish throwing would be cheesy but it was really fun. In fact, I had them ship fresh halibut to my dad for his birthday. The produce is beautiful and the flowers are indescribable. Again, definitely don't miss it.

I can't imagine staying in Seattle without fresh flowers in the room. They are impossible to pass up and you can get wonderful huge bouquets for around $5 or $6.

Check out these travel vases emd told me about in a previous thread. Perfect for those flowers from Pike Place Market.

http://tinyurl.com/ek6qb

It is definitely not like Fishermans Wharf. When we lived in the Seattle area, we used to go get coffee and a pastry at Le Panier and sit at the window and watch the vendors in the market set up their wares. I prefer to go early in the morning before the crowds. But even crowded, it is great!

Pike Place Market is a "must see" in my opinion. Lots of great browsing, and great little restaurants and eateries everywhere. I'd recommend at least trying to grab a meal here and look around for a bit before or after, if time is an issue.

I should add that if you didn't like the Wharf, you won't like Seattle's waterfront at all. I'd recommend you skip it unless you're taking a ferry or a harbor cruise departing from there.