Market Watch
The best way to get a feel for a city is to hang out at its markets, where you’ll find a cross-section of what locals are making, growing, craving, and selling. Indoor or outdoor, farmers or artisans, and often located in up-and-coming neighborhoods – as long as there’s space for stalls, vendors from throughout the area come to sell their handcrafted, homemade, or locally sourced products. Here, we take a look at four cities’ markets that you should have on your list for your next trip to a Four Points by Sheraton.
Boston
Located in the city’s revitalized design district, the SoWa Open Market (that’s South of Washington) gets the best of New England’s creators all in one place every Sunday afternoon from May through October. Wander between the restored warehouses and peruse handicrafts like jewelry and ceramics by local artists, taste treats and fresh produce from food trucks and farmers, and drink regional brews in the 19th-century Power Station.
Winnipeg
Set at the intersection of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, in the heart of Winnipeg, the Forks has been a meeting place and a trading center for more than 6,000 years. Now, it also hosts events and attractions, but its heart is still its market, a converted stableyard built in 1900. Browse the regularly rotating line-up of stalls, which sell everything from housewares and Aboriginal crafts to books and cured meats – all from Manitoba and the surrounding area. The recently redesigned food market is especially popular for its craft beer and wine.
Seoul
If you’re looking for something in Korea, you’ll find it at Namdaemun Market. Dating back to the 1400s, this sprawling daily market hosts more than 10,000 stores at any given time, and approximately 300,000 visitors per day. Get lost in its alleys and aisles, where vendors offer everything from clothes and home decor to fishing equipment and dried spices. The restaurants in the market are renowned for their traditional Seoul street food.
Vancouver
Hop on the ferry for a scenic ride over to Granville Island, a Vancouver cultural hub that’s home to the industrial-style Granville Island Public Market, open daily since 1979. The market was originally designed to for food, so follow the city’s top chefs to the farmers’ and fishmongers’ stands, sample culinary treats from around the world, and stock up on the best local teas and cheeses. The island also regularly hosts festivals and family-friendly activities, so anticipate live music, performances, and more as you explore.