Pike Place is one of the most instagrammable places in the world, and a it’s great place to re-create your version of iconic shots. As a resident of the Pike Place neighborhood for four years, and weekly visitor to the Market (at least, in the less crowded off-season) I learned the in’s and out’s of…
The 5 Best Study and Work Spots in Seattle, Washington
Sometimes I need to break up my routine and switch up my study or work spaces. A change of scenery and a little bit of background noise often helps me focus- and getting out of my tiny studio is never a bad idea. In this post I’ll be introducing you to some of my favorite…
Dig Your Own Crystals – Quirky Seattle Day Trip
I’m not a typical crystal collector. Neither geologist or a believer in healing crystals, I just like things that are pretty and sparkle- and crystals definitely fit the bill. I also love a good treasure hunt, as evidenced by the many posts on this blog about garage sales, gardening, and chicken-keeping (because what is…
Secret Seattle: Tips for Visiting Amazon’s Campus in South Lake Union
South Lake Union is a neighborhood in Seattle. While it’s not the hottest tourist destination, South Lake Union is only a few steps from iconic Pike Place market and, as the neighborhood that is home to Amazon’s headquarters, is a fascinating part of Seattle to include on your itinerary for visiting Seattle. In this post,…
Sightseeing Seattle for (Almost) Free – Cheap and Free Seattle
Seattle is an amazing place to visit, but with basic hotel rooms starting at $130 per night, budgeting for a low-cost trip to Seattle can be a huge challenge. As a graduate student, I and my friends have discovered some fun, free ways to get the full Seattle experience, so today’s blog post is all…
Visiting Seattle’s Freeway Park
The first time I drove down the freeway that cuts through downtown Seattle, my attention was drawn upward. I’d seen freeway lids plenty of times, but Seattle’s downtown freeway lid hinted at something unique and spectacular: towering evergreens extended high over the lid and wandering vines dangled far over the edges. This, I would later…
Christmas at Pike Place Market – A Bucket List
Christmastime is my favorite season at Pike Place Market. The crow thins out and the market is transformed into a pacific-northwest winter wonderland. Because of Seattle’s temperate climate, December temperatures hover in the 40’s to 50’s.. With cozy winter clothes and warm bakeries to slip inside to warm up, Pike is the perfect climate for a…
15 Things to Do at Pike Place Market – Plus Local Secrets
I recently read a popular list of things to do in Pike Place market that left me, a local of the neighborhood, thinking that anyone working their way down the list would miss some of the best parts of Pike Place! Since I moved to downtown Seattle in 2015, I’ve made it part of…
Thifty Traveler’s Tips to Enjoy Seattle’s Pike Place Market for (Almost) Free
I moved to Seattle last year to attend a school that’s located downtown, and on grad-school budgets my friends and I have learned to navigate Pike Place Market to enjoy the best it has to offer without sacrificing the experience or the epic Instagram photos! Here are 12 tips to get the best Pike Place…
How to Punch a Hole in an ORCA Transit Card
When I moved to Seattle and acquired an ORCA card so I could commute more easily around the Puget Sound on buses, ferries, and light-rail trains, I wondered if I could punch a hole in my public transportation card without damaging the card. Aware the card probably held delicate components that allowing it to be…
Pike Place Market Thursdays: Sunflowers & Halibut at the Market Grill
As the days grow shorter and the skies greyer here in Seattle, it marks the start of school, for me, a second year of graduate school, and the end of tourist season. I’ve learned to appreciate the wet darkness of winter in Seattle. It means days pass a little quieter in the strip of…
What to Pack for a Day at Pike Place Market in Seattle
In many ways, packing for a day at Pike Place is just like packing for a day at most tourist spots, with a few pretty important exceptions that I’ve explained below. I call the neighborhood around Pike Place market home. Despite being in the top 30 tourist spots in the world, Pike Place is actually…
Pike Place Market’s Secret Garden
One of my favorite free things to do at Pike Place Market is missed by 99% of market visitors- it’s the rooftop urban garden, hidden around a few corners, just a few steps from Pike’s iconic entrance sign. It made the list of my Local’s Guide to Pike Place Market, but directions to find it…
A Local’s Insider Guide to a Day at Pike Place Market
Pike Place market is one of the most alive places I have ever been. In every way, it is a sensory experience. Feet on uneven cobbled streets carry you towards the sound of the crowd and the dozen or so musicians performing throughout the market on a summer day. If you arrive early, the soundtrack…