From The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle Best Nearby Shopping Districts (Shopping) (10 Overall Closest) Metro: Seattle, WA Pike Place Market (Shopping - Shopping Districts) 1st Ave at Pike St, Seattle  WA  98101 • 206-682-7453 • 206-774-5249 Distance: ~1315 ft User Rating: 10 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. It could be argued quite persuasively that Pike Place Market is Seattle's heartbeat. Situated along the water, the market was originally founded to allow produce growers to sell directly to consumers. Today, it's a protected historic district that inundates you with sights, sounds, smells, and the best people-watching in town. Whether in suits or tie-dyed t-shirts, wearing boutonnieres or strewn with wildflowers, people of all persuasions find the market a fabulous place to spend the day. The Market Foundation offers fun and informational tours Wednesdays to Saturdays, starting at the Market Heritage Center at 1531 Western Avenue. International District (Shopping - Shopping Districts) 4th Ave S at S Jackson St East of Pioneer Square, Seattle  WA  98104 • 206-382-1197 Distance: ~0.40 mi         Description: INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. The International District, or the "ID," was originally settled in the 1880s by a group of Chinese railroad workers. Since that time, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean cultures have come together to form the Asian-American district of Seattle. The area also boasts a plethora of delicious Asian restaurants and authentic shops well worth your time and a visit. Particularly noteworthy is Uwajimaya, an enormous market where you can find everything from arts and crafts to live fish to fresh produce and herbs. Pioneer Square (Shopping - Shopping Districts) 119 First Ave S, Seattle  WA  98104 • 206-667-0687 Distance: ~0.46 mi         Description: Pioneer Square was one of the first permanent settlements in the area and still maintains a connection to the Old West. This area of Seattle is loaded in history, and – nowadays – boutiques and restaurants. The streets are often filled with patrons of the arts, who bustle off to one of the Square's many galleries, or with tourists, who meander from place to place, taking in a little history as they go. Downtown / Belltown (Shopping - Shopping Districts) Between Elliott and 5th Virginia and Denny, Seattle  WA Distance: ~0.73 mi User Rating: 8.6 / 10         Description: BELLTOWN. Business people crowd the sidewalks of Seattle's bustling downtown during the day while clubbers take the night shift. An incredible variety of restaurants, theaters, bars, galleries, and shops can be found here, as can City Centre, one of Seattle's most popular malls. Seattle's heartbeat, the Pike Place historic district, inundates visitors with sights, sounds, smells, and the best people watching in town. Whether in suits or tie-dyed t-shirts, wearing boutonnieres or strewn with wildflowers, people of all persuasions find the market a fabulous place to spend the day. Queen Anne (Shopping - Shopping Districts) Seattle  WA Distance: ~2.25 mi         Description: QUEEN ANNE. The Queen Anne neighborhood is full of Victorian-era mansions, complete with wrap-around porches and breathtaking mountain views. The area, settled by those who got wealthy in the Alaska Gold Rush, takes its name from the mansions' prevailing architecture. Today, the once-quiet district has as many restaurants and entertainment venues as other areas of the city, and visitors find it a veritable treasure trove of shopping. Even so, Queen Anne still holds on to its splendor and easy majesty. Republic of Fremont (Shopping - Shopping Districts) 465 N 36th St north of Queen Anne and east of Ballard, Seattle  WA  98103 • 206-632-1500 Distance: ~3.14 mi         Description: FREMONT. Entering this neighborhood, you're greeted by a sign that says, "Welcome to the Center of the Universe." Thanks to its bohemian culture, Fremont is often considered a sister to Paris's Left Bank. Some of Seattle's most famous public artwork can be found here as well, including "Waiting for the Interurban," the Fremont Troll, and a statue of Vladimir Lenin. The area continues to accumulate new restaurants, cultural venues, and unique boutiques. University District (Shopping - Shopping Districts) University Way, Seattle  WA  98105 • 206-547-4417 Distance: ~3.75 mi         Description: UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. The University District, as full of young faces as you would expect, features plenty of shopping venues, restaurants, cafés, and cultural centers. The area was also the site of the Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exposition in 1909; a few of the buildings constructed then are still in use today. Aside from the gorgeous campus, the district offers museums, libraries, comedy clubs, and bars for day and evening entertainment. In addition, the area boasts a farmers market and a veritable cornucopia of unique stores and boutiques. Copyright ©2001 10Best Inc. All rights reserved.