Best Places to Shop in Seattle on an Alaska Cruise
There’s more than Starbuck’s coffee and an iconic mug to buy in Seattle on your Alaskan cruise! Commonly referred to as the Gateway to Alaska (or the Emerald City), Seattle offers up a sensational variety of shopping all over the city. And, depending upon your docking area, you may even be able to walk to quite a few spots.
Seattle Port – Best Places to Shop in Seattle on an Alaska Cruise
Smell something fishy? Hopefully it means you’ve arrived at the famed waterfront Pike Place Market and not a pesky prank from your precocious traveling companion. After dodging the “flying fish”, meander down the cobblestone street past vendors selling all kinds of wares—fresh flowers, arts, crafts and Seattle souvenirs. Be sure to pick up some fresh, local produce from a nearby farmer and artisan cheese (and see how it’s made) from Beecher’s Handmade Cheese for a savory sail-away happy hour.
Around Seneca and 4th Avenue, you’ll find yourself in the middle of Seattle’s downtown shopping experience where you’ll get lost in Nike, Gap, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and any number of eclectic boutiques. If a more traditional mall is more to your liking, bop over to Westlake Center Plaza that includes many retail favorites including ZARA or newer, extravagant Pacific Place which has a Tiffany & Co. store and is within walking distance to your ship.
Pioneer Square, Seattle’s first neighborhood and home of the original Starbucks, boasts an eclectic assortment of shops along its charming streets, including Elliott Bay Book Company. Here you’ll find the ultimate Seattle coffee table book from the outfit’s 150,000 titles lovingly displayed on cedar shelves. For goods from a dozen diverse ethnicities, walk south of Pioneer Square to the International District (called the “ID” by locals). In this eight-block district, you can explore a fortune cookie factory and a branch of Kinokuniya, Japan’s largest bookstore. Follow your nose to Uwajimaya, a massive Asian specialty supermarket providing fresh seafood and meats, traditional Asian groceries, gifts and produce.
Get schooled in shopping at Seattle’s laidback University Village and its unique mix of upscale shops, local boutiques and traditional chains in an open-air, lifestyle center setting. Nearby, the Fremont Shopping District, according to Seattle Magazine, is a “…funky strip … truly the center of the universe for vintage wear and statement accessories.”
Looking for deep discounts on designer merchandise? A 45-minute ride will take you either to Seattle Premium Outlets with Kate Spade, Michael Kors and more than 125 of their fashionista friends or North Bend Premium Outlets which is a bit smaller. The Outlet Collection|Seattle boasts a mix of 130 traditional and outlet stores—your choices are endless!
For this season’s style, head across Lake Washington to The Bravern where you’ll browse Jimmy Choo, Neiman Marcus, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and the exquisite Holly Zhang Pearl Gallery. Equally impressive, the Bellevue Collection has amassed about 250 of the world’s most beloved retail brands, albeit more mainstream.
Our travel advisors look forward to assisting you in booking that trip to Alaska that includes Seattle in your itinerary. In fact, now is a good time to book your Alaskan cruise plus land tour. Check out our fun Alaska blog that explores some of the offbeat lingo from the Last Frontier. Call today at 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784) or visit our website www.CruiseExperts.com.