'''Pioneer Square''' is the oldest part of downtown Seattle. Located just south of the modern city core, it's an attractive, fairly pedestrian-friendly area during the day with many art galleries, and full of lively bars and taverns at night.

Get in

Most city buses that go to downtown Seattle from other parts terminate in or pass through Pioneer Square. From central downtown, it's about a five-minute walk due south down hill toward the stadiums.

See

  • Pioneer Square. Pioneer Square proper is just a small corner park that's often occupied by homeless folks, but generally safe during the day.
  • Occidental Park.

    Do

    Pioneer Square is very rich in history.

  • Art Walk. The Art Walk is almost synonymous with Pioneer Square and takes place on the ''first Thursday'' of every month. Galleries are open until 9PM. Show up early for the free wine and hor d'hoevres.
  • SceneInSeattle Fine Art Tours. ttp://www.sceneinseattle.org. If you aren't in town for "Art Walk" but still want to know about what is happening in Seattle's art scene try the SceneInSeattle Fine Art Tours. This tour was started by a local gallery and is headed by a curator or gallery owner. You walk through the "East Edge" galleries and learn about Seattle's art history, up-and-coming artists, scandals, and public works. It is a lovely insiders view about makes it a lot easier to find the galleries which can be hidden away. They also tour other neighborhoods like the West Edge.
  • Underground Tour. The underground tour starts at Pioneer Square. On June 6, 1889, a great fire burned down most of downtown Seattle. City engineers rebuilt the city several feet above the high tide line to prevent flooding, giving rise to a complex underground tunnel system which housed the old downtown. Take a trip sub-level from the rest of Seattle.
  • Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit. 17 S Main Street. ust east of 1st Avenue. A key attraction in the Pioneer Square area. It is the Seattle branch of the '''Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park''' [http://www.nps.gov/klse] (Other units are in Alaska). Open 9 to 5 daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. The Seattle unit highlights the city's key role as the "Gateway to the Gold Fields" in supplying most of the Klondike stampeders of 1897 - 1898. National Park Service Rangers and volunteers staff the Seattle unit. They can provide information and perspective not only on the Gold Rush but also on Seattle's past and present. The Seattle unit contains many artifacts and historical photographs related to the Gold Rush. Movies about the Gold Rush (27 minutes), Seattle (15 minutes) and the Chilkoot Pass (15 minutes) are shown upon request except in summer when they're shown on a regular schedule. Rangers also conduct free walking tours of the Pioneer Square area in the summer. They also demonstrate gold panning for school groups. The Seattle unit is scheduled to move in January, 2006, to the historic former ''Cadillac Hotel building'' at Second Avenue and South Jackson Street, about two blocks from its present location.
  • Smith Tower. 06 2nd Avenue. ttp://www.smithtower.com. The Smith Tower is probably the only tall building left in Seattle where uniformed attendants operate the elevators. Instead of stepping into a metal box with no view, you'll observe the different floors and peer into offices as you ascend or descend. How many people under the age of, say, 20 or so have ever had that experience? Smith Tower, named for the typewriter and firearms manufacturer L. C. Smith, stands 42 stories (522 feet; 160 meters) and was the tallest building in the United States west of New York when it was completed in 1914. An outdoor observation deck on the 35th floor wraps completely around the four sides of the tower, providing panoramic views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, including Mt. Rainier, as well as of Elliott Bay, downtown Seattle, and Pioneer Square.
  • Waterfall Garden. econd Avenue at S. Main Steet. This small, tranquil park features a 22-foot high waterfall cascading over natural granite boulders. The park occupies the site where two 19-year olds, James Casey and Claude Ryan, began a messenger service in 1907 in the basement of a tavern. That messenger service grew up to become United Parcel Service. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, started by James Casey and his siblings in honor of their mother, created the park and maintains it "in honor of the men and women of United Parcel Service."

    Buy

    Eat

  • Trattoria Mitchelli. 4 Yesler Way. A longtime Seattle favorite with good pizzas and pasta. Open until 4 AM, it's hands-down the best place for recuperating after a pub crawl.
  • Grand Central Bakery. n the arcade between 1st Avenue and Occidental Park, just off South Jackson. ttp://www.grandcentralbakery.com. One of the best sources for artisan bread in Seattle, this place offers an excellent lunch, cafeteria style (but stylish!). Not open on Sundays.
  • Salumi. 09 3rd Ave S. ttp://www.salumicuredmeats.com/. This is ''the'' place to eat lunch in Pioneer Square. There is often a line that can take over an hour to get through. Salami sandwiches on artisan bread... can't beat it.
  • The New Orleans. 14 1st Ave S. ttp://www.neworleanscreolerestaurant.com. Great gumbo and jambalaya, but the real winner is the fried oyster po-boy sandwich. Great lunch spot on the cheap.

    Drink

    Coffee

  • Zeitgeist. nd Ave Extension and Jackson St. ttp://zeitgeistcoffee.com. Elegant and arty.
  • Elliott Bay Books Cafe. Main St and 1st Ave S. Known for their generosity in allowing clients the ability to plunder the books in the store and proofread them before buying while sipping on a latte. It is a great experience surrounded by all the bookshelves in the basement of the store.
  • Trabant Coffee & Chai. nd Ave and James St. ttp://www.trabantcoffee.com. Trabant has won many accolates for their coffee, including Citysearch.com's "Best Coffee" award in 2005 and 2007. Modern design, great espresso and Clover coffee brewer, and competition-level baristas.

    Coffee/Wine/Beer

  • All City Coffee. th Ave S, Prefontaine Pl S and S Washington St. ttp://allcitycoffee.com. A great artsy coffee/wine/beer shop together in a fabulous corner setting in an up and coming artist loft building.

    Nightclubs

  • The Last Supper Club. 24 S Washington St. ttp://www.lastsupperclub.com. One of the most popular nightclubs in Seattle. The sexual and erotic atmosphere is ideal for singles. The DJ's usally spin hip-hop on Friday nights, and dance/techno on Saturday nights.

    Sleep

  • Best Western Pioneer Square Hotel. 7 Yesler Way. 1 206 340-1234 or +1 800 800-5514. Close to Safeco Field, Qwest Field, and other Seattle attractions.

    Contact