Historic Pioneer Square, settled in 1852, is Seattle’s first neighborhood. What was once mucky tidelands is now filled with trendy art galleries, bars and restaurants in elegant brick and stone buildings from the turn of the century. There’s plenty of fun here for families, both visitors and locals.
Come try out the new climbing gym in Occidental Square (just opened in October) and other oldie-but-goodies: measuring your weight in gold, visiting antique fire trucks, exploring subterranean streets and – our favorite activity – snacking.
Occidental Square play area, 117 S Washington St.
Since 2010, the number of children living downtown has doubled to nearly 4,850, according to the Downtown Seattle Association. Increasingly, downtown is a place where families live, and those kids need a place to play.
Occidental Square is a leafy plaza at the center of the Pioneer Square neighborhood. It has a new nature-inspired Kompan jungle gym with a wooden bench circling it. Artificial turf provides cushioning in the play area. The rope climber is small, but it’ll let the kids work out some wiggles. Through an agreement with the city, DSA manages this urban park, as well as the one at Westlake that opened in 2013.
Over on the south end of the cobble-stoned plaza, there are colorful bistro tables and games set out for everyone to enjoy. Look for an over-sized Connect Four, ping pong tables, foosball, wood blocks and a reading corner stocked with kids’ books. A wood-and-glass pavilion is planned for this area; construction is scheduled to begin in January.
A note about safety: Parents, there’s a lot of homelessness in this part of Seattle. Visiting during daylight hours is generally fine. Have a conversation with your kids before going about what they’ll see. Occidental Square is staffed 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Even so, we saw a clearly unwell man lingering by a group of kids working on art projects. This is downtown Seattle. Use your common sense, be safe, have fun.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, 319 2nd Ave S.
The nearest public restroom from the play area is around the corner at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. It’s open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and admission is free! But don’t just go for the very clean facilities. Come learn about how Seattle boomed when gold was discovered in the Yukon in 1897. Kids can pick up an activity book and redeem it for a junior ranger’s badge and a temporary tattoo in their choice of rainbow colors. The museum also has the one scale you’ll love getting on – you’ll find out how much money you’d have if you owned your weight in gold.
Free skittles at Beast Mode Apparel, 558 1st Avenue S.
If you’re feeling nostalgic about the Seahawks’ glory days under Marshawn Lynch, you can pick up gear from his official clothing line. The Beast Mode Apparel shop is located conveniently next to Century Link Field. The athletic wear is kind of pricy, but they do have a good sale rack. Even better, the store has a free Skittles vending machine in honor of the running back’s favorite sideline snack.
Cow Chip Cookies, 102A First Ave S.
Not sure why anyone would name their bakery after doody, but there’s no question the shop smells absolutely amazing. Cow Chip Cookies has been in Pioneer Square since 1982. Flavors include chocolate chip, of course, and oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle, M&M, even a gluten-free. The cookies range in size from bite-size "chiplettes" (40 cents each) to massive "Bull" patties ($8). Despite my 20 years of cookie-baking experience, I had to admit, these cookies are better than mine. You can taste that real butter and salt in each chewy, moist bite.
Magic Mouse Toys, 603 1st Ave.
Kitty corner from Cow Chip Cookies is Magic Mouse, a 2-level toy store packed with fun stuff. There are more than 6,000 square feet of toys, stuffies, games, books, puzzles and more. Browse at your own risk – it’s really hard to leave without opening your wallet.
Wander through the restored King Street Station, 303 S Jackson St.
It’s the most elegant waiting room you’ll ever see: terrazzo tile floors, Corinthian columns and bronze chandeliers. The restored King Street Station currently serves Amtrak and Sounder trains, and it’s open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. for anyone to take walk through.
The station, built in 1906, was remodeled over the years to “modernize” it. A drop ceiling covered the ornate coffered ceiling, brass chandeliers were swapped out for fluorescent lights and sheetrock replaced marble panels and glass tile mosaics. The City of Seattle bought King Street Station for $10 in 2008, then threw in $50 million to renovate the building for structural work and to restore the station’s former grandeur.
The city’s Office of Arts & Culture moved into the upstairs part of the station earlier this year into what used to be the BNSF Railways Company’s offices. Check out the new 7,500-square-foot gallery and cultural space dedicated to art by communities of color. Families are welcome, and there’s even a little play area with toddler books and puzzles. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. -6 p.m., free.
Salumi Artisan Cured Meats, 404 Occidental Ave S.
Last Thanksgiving, Salumi moved out if its tiny but famous hole-in-the-wall to a new location with room to actually sit and eat. The Batali family (yes, they’re Mario’s folks) still owns a part of the cured meat and sandwich business, but they’ve retired from day-to-day operations. I miss the days when it was Gina Batali slicing off sample after sample for you, never mind the line out the door. With a kid in tow, though, now I really appreciate no wait time. We grabbed a 4-flavor sample pack ($16) for a savory snack on the go.
Last Resort Fire Department Museum, 301 2nd Ave S.
Sound the alarms! The Last Resort Fire Department is a museum dedicated to Seattle firefighting history. The eight rigs on display are rotated to show off the collection. You might see an 1834 Hunneman end-stroke hand pumper or a 1937 Seagrave 100' tractor-drawn tillered aerial. There are also historic photographs, vintage firefighting equipment, and Seattle Fire Department uniforms and badges. Admission is free, but note the museum’s limited hours: it's only open Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Don't miss the small but pretty Waterfall Garden Park (219 2nd Ave S) across the street, open daily 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The pocket park has a 22-foot waterfall, and it marks the site of the first United Parcel Service (UPS) headquarters, founded in 1907 by two Seattle teenagers.
Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, 614 1st Ave.
Yes, it’s a tourist trap, but a funny and educational one that every Seattle-ite should do at least once. Underground Tour guides lead visitors under the streets of Pioneer Square, where there’s an entire sublevel of storefronts and sidewalks. Seattle raised the city’s streets up a story after the Great Fire of 1889, resulting in this hidden underground. You’ll never see those purple glass tiles on the sidewalk the same way again. $22 adults, $20 students, $10 youth (7-12), free for ages 6 and under, although the 75-minute walking tour is better suited for tweens and up.
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