Pike Place Market Walking Tour

Difficulty: Easy, except for the climb from the waterfront to 1st Avenue via the Harbor Steps.

Total distance: 1.7 miles

Approximate time: 1 hour

The Walk: Begin in the Market Square, just above the Pike Place Market underground parking garage.

Head east down Western Avenue, toward the visible high rises in central downtown. Walk past the park.

Turn left at Virginia and cross Western Av.

Turn right and walk along the perimeter of the market, obseving all of the vendors' wares along your way. Continue along until you pass under the roof of the market proper, heading toward the displays of flowers and produce.

Once you reach the first of the fish markets, detour down the ramps into the underground shops of the market for a time--the variety is not to be believed.

When you have had your fill of the variety of the underground shops, return to the main level of the market and resume your original course toward the rows of produce stands. Stop to watch the flying fish at Pike Place Fish Market, have your picture taken with Rachel the Piggy Bank, and watch the inevitable street performers for a bit before continuing on.

Enter the south arcade by making a right turn at the sign that says "Economy Market Atrium" near the back entrance of DeLaurenti's. Here you will pass the tanks of the Pike Place brewery. Continue on until you exit at 1st and Union.

Head back up 1st Avenue towards Pike St, passing the Showbox Theater along the way.

When you reach the "Read All About It" newstand, you will cross the street toward the flower market and turn left. Go inside of this annex and see even more shops, with myriad foodstuffs and other products before coming back out and passing by the exterior shops.

When you reach the "first ever" Starbucks, go into the adjoining Soames-Dunn building for additonal exploration.

When you have finished there, turn left at Western and Lenora until you reach the elevators and staircase, where you will go down to waterfront level.

Cross Alaskan Way and turn right to Pier 66/Bell Street Pier, which is the downtown Seattle Cruise Terminal. Here you will find a maritime museum and the Bell Street transient marina. Take the outside elevator up to the observation deck level (though you CANNOT do this on cruise days, as it is closed for security reasons at that time), where you can watch the ferry and maritime traffic in Elliott Bay.

Once finished on the observation level, come back down to street level and walk south along the waterfront. You will pass the Seattle Aquarium (also worth a visit if you have the time) and a lot of renovation/construction that is currently going on in the waterfront area.

At University Street, cross Alaska Way and climb the Harbor Steps (take your time, there are a LOT of steps there) back up to 1st Av, where you will find the Hammering Man sculpture at the Seattle Art Museum.

Turn left and continue back up 1st Av past the Market until you reach Virginia St. Turn left and return to the park where your walk began, and now ends.