New Girl's Guide to Seattle: Pike Place Market

New Girls Guide to Seattle - discovering the sights and sounds of Seattle and surrounding areas from the prospective of someone new to the city.

The first place that every new girl should go is Pike Place Market. Founded in 1907, Pike Place Market is the oldest operating farmers’ market in the United States. Each year 10 million visitors come from around the world to visit the market. When most people think about Pike Place, they think about seafood, but the market has much more to offer.

The first time I visited Pike Place Market was in 2005, when I came to Seattle to visit my family. The market was the one place, besides the Space Needle, that I was looking forward to visiting while I was here. When I finally got to Pike Place, I was amazed that it was a lot more than a fish market. They have fresh produce, handmade arts and crafts, unique foods and more.

Personally my favorite part of the market is during the spring and summer when they have the most beautiful flowers. The flower vendors seem to go on for miles and all have excellent prices! There is nothing better than coming home from Pike Place with fresh produce, amazing seafood and beautiful flowers.

One of the most sought after places in Pike Place Market is the original Starbucks. The flagship store was opened in 1971 and since it is located in the historic district, the store retains its original look. There are some people out there that think this Starbucks is just like any other one, but that is wrong. My favorite part of the original Starbucks is the exclusive products that you can only get from this store. From stuffed animals to coffee mugs, everything sold at this location is exclusive to the first Starbucks. The only downfall about the first Starbucks is there is always a line out the door, but the line gives you more time to pick up gifts for friends and family!

Come out to Hyatt Bellevue on September 28, 2011 to celebrate the fourth anniversary of Girl Power Hour and the kickoff of Bellevue Fashion Week! For more information or to purchase tickets head over to girlpowerhour.com!!