With its fresh sea air, great dining options, and views of the deep blue, it’s no secret that Seattle’s portside promenade puts the wind in the city’s sails.
Picture this: you’re walking along Seattle’s Waterfront, a medley of towering buildings rising sharply to one side, the mirror-like waters of Puget Sound on the other. Yachts and ferries are moored in neat rows amid the piers and pylons marked by tidelines. Sound pretty good? We thought so. Add fresh-caught seafood, shopping precincts, waterfront trails, and a swashbuckling dose of nautical charm, and you’ve got yourself one of Seattle’s most surefire crowd pleasers.
Seattle Waterfront holds a century of history on Puget Sound’s inner-city seaboard. It dates back to the time the city first made a name for itself back in 1896, when the Klondike Gold Rush served as the genesis for Seattle’s role as the “Gateway to Alaska.” Thanks to the growth of that major shipping port, Seattle’s Waterfront got the attention it deserved.
Spanning approximately 2 miles (3 kilometers) of gloriously flat esplanade from Pioneer Square to Centennial Park, the Seattle Waterfront was made for walking. If you just want to tick it off your list, you can walk it end-to-end in 40 minutes. But who wants to do that? Spend a little time savoring the Puget Sound promenade and you’ll make memories worth hanging onto. Check out boutique shops and seafood restaurants in pretty port buildings. From freshly shucked oysters to newspaper cones of battered fish, and the kind of clam chowder worth writing home about, the Seattle Waterfront’s dining scene has got it made. For locals, summer hasn’t begun until you’ve had your first Northwest Copper River salmon of the season.
Traveling with the whole troupe? Kids will love the touch pools at the Seattle Aquarium. If you feel like making the most of a fine day, hit the trails that weave around Olympic Sculpture Park or go for a leisurely cycle along the Myrtle Edwards Park pathways.