PIKE PLACE MARKET

Pike Place Market is not like any other farmer's market I've seen. What a glorious mixture of artfully arranged produce, fresh seafood, and gorgeous cut flowers. Craftsmen sold their wares among the food venders while street musicians entertained the crowds in front of the many specialty shops and restaurants. We spent the morning leisurely shopping but bought very little. Jill and I did laugh ourselves silly, though, playing with the wind-up toys in one of the shops.

Seafood is supreme in Seattle, of course, and there was plenty of it at Pike Place Market. The Copper River salmon was in season and for sale at several booths. We ate ours, however, on the patio of a waterfront restaurant on Lake Union. The manager of our hotel recommended several wonderful places to eat and we tried to fit as many as we could into our short vacation. We dined well, if you don't count the hurried trip through the Burger King drive-thru when we were late catching a ferry.