Insider's Guide to the Free Samples of Pike Place Market

The market is full of free samples from the local makers. Finding them can be tricky, but these are top notch products, so it's worth it. We are talkin' that Walter White level stuff, the best of the best. They know if you get a little taste you won't be able to stop from coming back for more.

We've compiled a comprehensive list of the spots that offer free samples. We just ask that you spend at least a little money when you visit (these are small business owners after all)!

Ellenos Greek Yogurt - Yogurt (usually lemon curd and marionberry)

The best free sample in the entire market. We know you're thinking, "Yogurt? What's the big deal?" Well, go get yourself a free sample and you'll be singing a different tune. We are completely hooked and always have Ellenos on hand for granola in the morning or a sweet snack in the afternoon. 

Britt's Pickles - A Variety of Pickles

Britt's has educated us on the power that is natural fermentation. Apparently the pickles you buy at the store are processed in a way to remove all the awesome vitamins and enzymes in the vegetable. Britt's doesn't stand for that crap. Head over and sample some of their options and taste for yourself! 

Beecher's Cheese - Cheese Curds

Beecher's not only has a huge window display where you can watch them make their cheese, but they also always have fresh cheese samples out. Most commonly found is their flagship cheddar, which is almost as good as their No Woman No Cry. 

Pike Place Fish - Smoked Salmon

Watch them toss some fish, oogle the beautiful displays of crab and salmon, strike up a conversation with a monger about the sustainable nature of their business, and then grab a taste of their smoked salmon. It's great with bagels and cream cheese in the mornings, but good enough to eat completely plain.

Market Spice - Cinnamon Orange Tea

Market Spice is right next to Pike Place Fish and offers free Dixi Cups of their famous Cinnamon Orange Tea! We love to sip a sample as we peruse all the beautiful loose tea offerings and see what various tea products we need to add to our growing collection. 

Sosio's Produce - Fresh produce

If you wander down the main arcade odds are you'll notice a bright produce stand on the west side. This is Sosio's and they have amazing fresh produce and always offer up samples. From pears and apples to the occasional exotic options, we never turn down the slices of fruit and a smile from the employees. 

Simply the Best - Apple Chips

A healthy snack option once you start to feel a little weighted down from all your other samples is a bag of dried fruit from Simply the Best. This wonderful stand is piled high with varieties of dried fruit like pineapple, bananas, and mango. You can usually get a few apples to sample if they aren't busy with other customers. 

Mick's - Pepper Jelly

You might not think of jelly as a big draw, but Mick's friendly staff and unique recipes keeps locals coming back for more. We love their famous pepper jelly, which you can pair with crackers and cream cheese for a yummy snack. 

Pappardelle's Pasta - Chocolate Pasta and various olive oils

Alright, we aren't going to lie, we don't really hit this place up for samples of the pasta... the chocolate pasta isn't thatttt great. It's uncooked and kinda dry, but this stand has been peddling that pasta for a longggg time, so we see it as something you have to check off your list, even if it's just once. The real joy comes from their olive oil stand. Stab some bread, spin the wheel, and get yourself as many of those flavors as possible! Yum.

Chukar Cherries - Chocolate Covered Cherries

This Seattle institution is a great stop for people with a sweet tooth! They take local Washington cherries and other berries and cover them in delicious chocolate. The combinations are almost endless between all the different types of chocolate and fruit. Our favorite are the white chocolate covered blueberries and the milk chocolate truffle cherries! 

La Buona Tavola - Truffle oil

This little shop in on the main street (same as Beecher's) and is always good for some delicious and rich truffle product samples. They always have their olive oils with bread to sample and sometimes if you are lucky you can catch them on a day when they have some of their potato soup with truffle oil on top! 

What are your favorite samples in Pike Place Market? We would love to hear!

White Center: Seattle's Mexican Food Mecca

White Center is the home of Seattle's most authentic (and cheap) Mexican food. If you are a lover of food from our southern neighbor then you MUST plan a visit for lunch/dinner and bring a big appetite. Oh, and cash, don't forget cash either. 

All the best food is sold to-go, so follow along and we will get you everything you need for a great, big, Mexican meal and a picnic table to eat it at (or you could take it home, but we doubt you'll want to wait).

Tamales at Carniceria El Paisano 

Your first stop needs to be this little grocery store/butcher shop. It's next door to another Mexican food place and at first glance it might look like you're in the wrong place since it's a grocery store, but trust us, you're not! Head to the register in the back and you'll see a large silver pot. The goodies are inside!

They offer three kinds of tamales, rajas (cheese and jalapeño), and two pork options, mild and spicy. Our favorites are the rajas and spicy pork. They also have fresh salsa and pan leche, along with tons of other great sundries. Feel free to stock up! 

Roasted Corn @ Roasted Corn Stand

Alright, now walk half a block down to the Roasted Corn Stand. This is going to be the highlight of your trip. This roasted corn is amazing. Seriously. They serve it a variety of ways, but obviously if you want to keep with your dinner theme you should get the Mexican (#2). They basically take your corn, cover it in mayo, and then douse it in cojita cheese and chili powder. Mmmmm! You can get it on the cob or cut off into a cup if you prefer the clean way of eating it (the messy corn on the cob is so much more fun though). This place only accepts cash, so plan accordingly -- each cob runs $3. 

Tacos @ Taqueria La Fondita

Alright, now for your final stop. Walk about 10 feet to your right and order your main course. The taco plates from this little taco truck are to die for. We can't recommend anything other than the carnitas. They are so juicy and flavorful you'll be begging for their recipe. How do they make the pork taste so tender and delicious?! We don't know, but we're hooked, that's for sure. Obviously you should top off this amazing meal with a sugary Jarritos (why not at this point, right?). 

And now you have your full meal.

There are several picnic tables under an enclosure for customers to hang out and enjoy their food right next to Taqueria La Fondita. Spread out your goods and chow down! 

Date Night in the International District

With all the amazing neighborhoods and cool activities to do in Seattle, you think it would be easy to come up with new adventures for date night. But, you know, sometimes you're stuck in a rut. You've been to all the usual spots and need something different. We're here to help! Whether you are meeting up with friends, on a first date, or just need a night on the town with your honey, the diverse and interesting International District is a great place to go. Here are our recs for putting together a night out in the ID.

Activity: Imperial Foot Massage

A massage on a date? Why not! This place is a prize spot in Seattle and needs to be put on your radar immediately. For $27 you can get an hour long, full body massage. Now, this isn't like your typical massage. You will not be served cucumber water and given a luxurious bathroom to change into a fuzzy robe. You will be ushered into a large room filled with other patrons getting massages. You'll stay fully clothed and sit in big pedicure-style chairs that leans back while the masseuse works you over from head to toe spending extra time on your feet. Please note: this is not for the faint of heart. You might wake up fairly sore the next day as they don't hold back. There might have been a few times we wanted to tear up. But for $27, we say who cares! Breathe through it. It's good for you. We also recommend making a reservation as this place is catching on and getting popular.

Other great date activities: Wing Luke Museum, International District Food Tours (daytime only), Pinball Museum, Karaoke 

Dinner: Dong Thap

Beef and Meatball Pho/Pork Bun Cha with spring rolls

Sure, there maybe are nicer places you could take a date, but we love this Vietnamese restaurant for their homemade noodles! You would be surprised at how much those chewy, thick, delicious noodles elevate the soup. You have never tasted a bowl of Pho like this before! We also recommend ordering the Bun Cha, which is a bowl of rice noodles topped with peppery grilled pork, lettuce, spring rolls and covered in a lovely fish sauce. It tastes crazy authentic and fresh. They also have a "Superbowl Challenge" where you can attempt to eat a bowl of pho containing four pounds of noodles, four pounds of meat, and four liters of broth. We don't recommend doing this on your date unless, of course, it's a first date that isn't going well and then you can eat the entire bowl, making yourself sick, and go home.

Other great dinner spots in the I.D.: Tamarind Tree, Green Leaf, Tai Tung

Drinks: Fort St. George

The best part about drinking in the ID is that the cocktails are stiff AF. This Western/Japanese style pub is a bit hidden, you'll find it in the top of an office building. Look for the neon sign in the window. It's the perfect after-dinner drink spot as it is a bit of a dive but in a good, non-scary way. They have a short cocktail list plus your usual liquors and beers. They also have four sakes (hot or cold) to choose from. We like to get a large house sake and a Sapporo! If you are still hungry and need a snack, we recommend the flaming dried squid, which literally comes flaming to your table --uh COOL ,right?! 

Other great drink spots in the I.D.: the bar at Ocean Star (formally Sun-ya), Dynasty Room at Four Seas

Dessert: Dole Whip at Go Poke

Have you guys heard about this Dole Whip business? Apparently this dessert is at Disney theme parks and has a huge cult following....as in people wait in line forever to get this pineapple flavored soft serve treat. Well, lucky for you, you don't have to go to Disney, you can get it at Go Poke (add an extra $7 if you want the souvenir glass). You can also get a Dole Whip float, which is served with pineapple juice. Go Poke closes at 8pm, so plan your date accordingly.

Other great dessert spots in the I.D.: shaved ice at Bambu, bubble tea at Gossip, Taiyaki from Uwajimaya

Alright, go and have a great date night! Expect more neighborhood date night posts to come in the future. 

5 Secret Tiny Parks of Seattle

Seattlelites love parks, and with over 485 to choose from in the city, there are countless options to find a place to spend a sunny afternoon (check out our parks and hikes page to see a few of our favorites). But what if you don't want to be surrounded by a bunch of people? What if you just want a quiet spot and a patch of grass to call your own? Well, no problem! There is a good chance you'll be one of the only people visiting these tiny, but mighty, parks around Seattle.

Bhy Kracke Park

Probably the most popular and well known park in Queen Anne is Kerry Park because it boasts what are arguably the best views of the city. However, with popularity comes crowds and tourists (and lots of selfie sticks). What most people don't know is that Bhy Kracke Park is located right down the street and it's just as wonderful in its own way. This tiny park has an upper and lower level connected by a winding little path. The lower level has a playset for kids and a picnic table tucked under an arbor of ivy. The upper level has a nice grassy lawn for spreading out and beautiful views of Lake Union, the Space Needle, and downtown.

Sidenote: Hanging out in Queen Anne always involves walking the streets and staring at the homes. They give us serious house envy -- how do we get one?!

Louisa Boren Lookout

Located right next to Volunteer Park, this little park has breathtaking views of Lake Washington, some impressive trees, little benches for watching the world go by, and a unique (and untitled) sculpture by artist Lee Kelly. There is also a running path that goes right through the park in case you feel like getting some exercise. This is a perfect spot to have a picnic, mediate, or take a little rest. It's in a very quiet and quaint neighborhood with only a few joggers and dog walkers passing through.

Howell Park

It's hard to find a spot on the shores of Lake Washington where you don't have to wrestle crowds and jockey for a spot. Howell Park is a true secret Seattle gem. It's hidden down a tiny street (that looks almost like a driveway) and has no parking, but the little park butts up right to the lake with a little shore providing easy access for wading in on a hot day. Chances are you will have this lake front spot all to yourself. Since there is also no parking on Lake Washington Blvd., your best bet is to park down the street at Denny Blaine Park (another tiny park with amazing views!) and walk to it.

Thomas C. Wales Park

This park was once a gravel quarry, but now it's a unique park tucked in Downtown Seattle. The city worked with an artist to create these amazing rock structures. There is a small pond in the center, which makes it an ideal spot for birds (and apparently bats) to hang out. We suggest grabbing a sandwich at the nearby Lyon's Deli and finding a bench to pass the time.

Rainbow Point

Hiding next to an I-5 on-ramp in North Seattle, you are almost guaranteed to have this little park to yourself. It has great views of downtown, Green Lake, and (on a clear day) the Olympics. There are a few benches for sitting and a little grassy area for relaxing and picnicking. We recommend grabbing snacks from the deli at the nearby PCC and heading here for a quiet afternoon of reading.

What are some of your favorite little spots to visit around Seattle on a nice day? We would love to hear about them in the comments!