| Maybe
it's the long rainy winters followed by inexplicably beautiful sunny days, but
shopping in and around Seattle has become a year-round pastime for many. As a
result there are plenty of great places to go when you get the urge to spend a
little money or browse the amazing variety of goods available in shopping centers
and malls in and around the city. One
place you absolutely won't want to miss is the Pike Place Market. While “the Market”,
as it is commonly known, is a farmer's market in the truest sense, it is also
a multi-level shopping mall built into the hill overlooking the waterfront. Imported
teas, handmade soaps, Native American art, exotic clothing, collectibles, hand-carved
acoustic instruments, and jewelry are just a few of the other items that can be
found in the Market. There is also a tantalizing variety of freshly prepared food
and the always-entertaining fishmongers, who will pack fresh seafood for you to
be shipped back home for a last souvenir of your visit. There
are wonderful clothing, art, and antique shops located throughout the downtown
area, so be sure to give yourself time to window shop before you head up to Westlake
Center, located just a few short blocks from the Red Lion on Fifth and the Inn
on Sixth Avenue. Connected to the underground bus tunnel, the Westlake Center
and surrounding stores offer some of the best quality merchandise available in
the city. While you're in the neighborhood, you might want to look up the schedule
of events at the Convention Center , which hosts many trade shows throughout the
summer. If you're staying at Sutton
Suites or Best Western Southcenter, then you may want to take advantage of a number
of outlet stores located in the area behind the Southcenter mall. The Red Lion
Bellevue and the Hilton Bellevue would also give the traveler convenient access
to Bellevue Square, a huge-upscale shopping complex, which is also home to the
Bellevue Art Museum. During the summer, Bellevue Square also plays host to one
of the biggest arts and crafts fairs in the region for the Pacific Northwest Arts
Fair . There are additional shopping
malls located at University Village, Alderwood, and Northgate. University Village,
located just down the hill from the UW campus, is home to a mixture of quality
boutiques and cafes in a pleasant outdoor configuration. While Alderwood, located
twenty minutes north of Seattle in Lynnwood, is a sizable department store style
mall that is surrounded by acres of discount and outlet stores. For
those looking to get away from the city for an afternoon, Gilman Village in Issaquah
and the antique mall in Edmonds are highly recommended. But, if just a taste of
antiques and collectibles isn't enough for you, then you should head out to Snohomish,
where you can spend the whole day browsing through their numerous antique malls.
From ‘78s to fine china and cartoon memorabilia, you never know just what you're
going to find. There are so many treasures, it can really wear you out, but the
visit is sure to take you on a trip back in time. If
you're looking for something a little closer to home, don't worry, there are great
shopping districts in many neighborhoods located throughout the city. Ballard,
Fremont, Wallingford, Roosevelt, Madison Park, West Seattle, and Queen Anne (located
conveniently to the Marqueen Hotel and the Inn at Queen Anne) all have lovely
shops to browse. No matter where you stay in Seattle, you're sure to find something
interesting right outside your door. |
