The Pike Place Market in Seattle

Funny Side-by-Side Photos

While you’re at the Pike Place Market, check out the side-by-side photos at the market. The photo exhibit is on the corner of Pike and First. You can pose for your photo next to a photo of someone famous, like a current or past U.S. president, a celebrity, or even a notable person from Seattle. You can also find a photo of someone famous next to your photo. There are only 45 side-by-side photo sets at any given time. You can also follow the market on Facebook or Instagram to find out when new sets are put up. Side-by-side photos are a great way to have a little fun while exploring the Pike Place Market. You can even make it a mini-adventure and go with a friend or family member to take photos.

Pike Place Chowder and Salmon Museum

While you’re in the area of the main market floor, check out the Pike Place Chowder and Salmon Museum. The museum is just outside the main entrance to the market on the corner of Pike Place and Virginia Street. The museum is dedicated to two things: the history of salmon fishing in the Pacific Northwest and the history of chowder. The museum features artifacts, pictures, and even a mini-theater where you can watch a salmon documentary. The museum is free, and it’s a great way to learn more about salmon and chowder while you’re at the market. Be sure to check out the gift shop at the end of your visit to get some delicious chowder to go.

The Gum Wall

A few blocks from the main entrance to the Pike Place Market, you’ll find the Gum Wall. The Gum Wall is a wall where people have been putting their chewed gum for decades. While the wall isn’t in the best condition, it’s definitely something you don’t want to miss if you visit the market. To be honest, the Gum Wall is a little gross, but it’s also a lot of fun to explore and see all the different types of chewed gum stuck to the wall. The Gum Wall is located in between the Pike Place Fish Market and the Pike Place Market Parking Garage. If you walk towards the parking garage, you should see the Gum Wall on your right.

Mark and Beecher’s Food To Go

Mark and Beecher’s is a food stall at the Pike Place Market that has been there since the market first opened in 1907. Mark and Beecher’s specializes in fish and chips, and you can even get a fish sandwich if you don’t want the chips. While the fish and chips at Mark and Beecher’s are delicious, the real reason to go is to see the fish throwers, who toss the fish from one person to another. You want to sit as close to the fish area as possible so you can watch the fish fly through the air. Mark and Beecher’s is open from 11 am to 6 pm. Be sure to get there before 5:30 pm so you can watch the fish flying before the shift changes at 6 pm.

Firmer fudge

The Pike Place Market is known for fresh flowers, fish, and produce, but it’s also famous for some fudge. You can find fudge shops all over the market, but the most famous is the firmer fudge stand. The firmer fudge is a hot, gooey, delicious mess that you can eat with a spoon. It’s made with butter, so it’s definitely rich, so you don’t want to eat too much, but it’s a great treat to take home as a gift or just to keep for yourself. The firmer fudge stand is located in the very back of the market between the fish market and the parking garage. You can’t miss it, because the line for it is always long.

Best Way to Visit the Pike Place Market

If you only have a few hours to visit the Pike Place Market, then we recommend focusing on the main market area first. You can walk through the main market and food court areas, and check out the Gum Wall and the firmer fudge stand on the way out. Once you’ve explored the main area, then you can walk through the back of the market where the firmer fudge stand is located. From there, you can walk through the shops and gift stores in the back of the market before heading back towards the main entrance. If you have a full day to explore the area, then we recommend starting at the Pike Place Market before exploring the rest of Seattle. You can walk along the waterfront and check out the Seattle Great Wheel and the Seattle Aquarium on the waterfront, then walk up and down First Avenue to explore the shops and other sights in the city.

Conclusion

Balancing the fun and tourist activities at the Pike Place Market with the quieter, more peaceful parts of the market can make for a great day. You can even extend your day at the market by watching the sunset from the waterfront. Whether you’re in Seattle for one day or a week, the Pike Place Market is a must-see. It’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Seattle and a great place to experience the city.