Naming a winner in this category was as difficult as choosing a favorite child, but since we could only pick one, we went with an icon. Few places exemplify Seattle more than Pike Place Market, where history, food, art, and nature meet in one of the oldest and longest-running public farmers markets in the country. While it’s normally packed to the gills with tourists, locals frequent the shops and stalls as well—neighborhood residents often joke that in the winter the market becomes “theirs” again—and stopping to snap a shot of the abundant flowers, the flying fish, or Rachel, the famous bronze pig, isn’t an impulse exclusive to out-of-towners. The new overlook walk, which connects Pike Place with the waterfront via 60,000 square feet of elevated park space, is an absolute game-changer that encourages people to explore the evolving waterfront and offers 360-degree views that sweep the sports stadiums, Mount Rainier, Elliott Bay, and the Olympic Mountains.

pikeplacemarket.org