12 Best Places to Shop in Washington, USA

If your life is missing a punching-nun puppet, an Edgar Allen Poe action figure, or a bacon-scented air freshener, there's hope. Leave your cares and woes at the door and step into a warehouse of the weird and wonderful. It's nearly impossible to feel bad while perusing stacks of armadillo handbags, demon rubber duckies, handerpants (don't ask), and homicidal unicorn play sets. Grab a cat-in-a-can to keep you company or leave with a dramatic chipmunk oil painting. You'll feel better. Trust us.

Every Sunday, rain or shine, loads of vendors come to Ballard Avenue to set up colorful, welcoming stands to sell produce and all types of local, artisanal foods, as well as gift items like candles and hats. Meanwhile, local buskers entertain foodies and families, and vendors cook up pizzas, crepes, dumplings, and more.

Both a farm market popular with kids and a craft distillery that's a hit with adults, this family-owned apple orchard on the main road between Lynden and Bellingham is a fun stop for stocking up on fresh produce and gourmet snacks and sampling house-made brandy, vodka, and gin. The on-site café is popular for breakfast and lunch, offers hard ciders and beers on tap, and—naturally—serves delicious apple pie.

On weekdays or any Saturday when there's a football home game, you can pop into Ferdinand's, an ice-cream and cheese shop in Washington State University's food-science building, to buy aged Cougar Gold, a cheddar-type cheese in a can. Ice cream is made daily from milk from the university's dairy cows and served in cones, dishes, shakes, malts, floats, sundaes, and banana splits to enjoy on the spot. Or take home a pint, quart, 3-gallon tub, or party pack to share. Espresso drinks are also available and about half the price of a chain coffee shop.

Since 1904, this family farm has been growing and selling cherries, peaches, apples, pears and other local fruit. The historic white clapboard shop also carries pies, muffins, cookies, and tarts. 

Since 1980, this enormous three-story bookstore has been an anchor of Fairhaven, bringing literary-minded folks together to shop for recent releases, attend readings and discussions, and socialize amid the shop's several spaces for eating and mingling. These include the Colophon Cafe (a full-service restaurant) and Evolve Chocolate + Cafe on the top floor, whose seating areas have grand views of Bellingham Bay. There's a newer branch in downtown Lynden.

In this impressive trifecta of shopping centers, you'll find just about any chain store you've heard of (and some that you haven't). Bellevue Square's wide walkways and benches, its many children's clothing stores, kid's hair salon, and first-floor play area make this a great place for little ones, too. A variety of local restaurant groups and national chains serve quick, good casual food, and you can park for free in the attached garage. Take the sky bridge to Lincoln Square to catch a flick at their 16-screen cinema, organize your life at the Container Store, or sample an assortment of other retail outlets. Eat at one of the several high-end restaurants, the famous Din Tai Fung, or the upscale food court. Bellevue Place, across from Lincoln Square, hosts a variety of stores, restaurants, and a Fonte Coffee Roaster. From Black Friday through Christmas Eve, thousands of people line Bellevue Way between the shopping centers every night at 7 pm to experience the festive and free Snowflake Lane extravaganza.

Since 1977, this two-story, 7,000-square-foot shop in the heart of Pioneer Square has been supplying families with games, toys, puzzles, tricks, candy, and figurines. They claim a professional child runs this friendly store—and it shows.

It seems every Seattle neighborhood has its beloved bookstore, and Queen Anne’s favorite is no exception. The selection is thoughtfully curated, blending popular titles with unexpected finds, and the well-read staff love talking books. They shine in their recommendations for kids’ titles and regional reads. Even better, the shop is attached to Queen Anne Coffee Co., so you can grab a latte, settle onto the patio, and dive right into your new purchase.

This beloved Seattle bookstore is well-known for its friendly, knowledgeable staff and extensive book selection. Pop in for children's storytelling sessions on the third Sunday of every month, or browse at night and catch one of the many author events. After you grab your new books, slip into El Diablo, the cute coffee shop adjacent to the bookstore.

Named after the Francis Hodgson Burnett classic, this cozy shop has delighted readers for decades. It stocks a wide array of imaginative literature and thoughtful nonfiction for all ages, but their children's section is particularly noteworthy.

Tucked into this Wild West–style clapboard building is a haven of treats: myriad candy bins, boxes of chocolate bars, and—behind the glass case—all kinds of house-made chocolates and fudge. Choose from more than a dozen flavors of homemade ice cream in the summer. Shady tables on the patio provide respite for grown-ups, and there are saddle-topped stools for the kids. Hot dogs, curly fries, and milk shakes are also available.