The King Street Station was built in 1906 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This historic station underwent a massive restoration in 2013, resulting in a stunning interior of marble, elevated ceilings, and ornate lighting. The station is located in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, allowing easy access to many of Seattle’s iconic locations. If you find yourself stranded at this station for a few hours, you will find plenty to keep you busy. In this post, we provide a list of some of our favorite things to do near the King Street Station.
The King Street Station is located on South Jackson Street and 4th Avenue South, in the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. The station itself is small and offers limited services, however, it’s conveniently located for easy access to restaurants and activities in the area. You can store your bag, at the station, for a small fee and set out by foot to explore the area.
PIONEER SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD
If you’re looking to refuel with coffee and snacks before your journey, you’ll find several nearby options. Zeitgeist Coffee is just around the corner, and you can also easily walk to the Starbucks on Occidental and Jackson. Stock up on foods and drinks for your train ride at the Cone & Steiner General Store on King Street about two blocks from the station. It’s nice just to wander through the charming cobblestone streets of the Pioneer Square Neighborhood and stretch your legs. You’ll find a variety of art galleries, bookstores, and little urban parks in the area.
While in Pioneer Square, you can take a guided tour through the famous Seattle Underground. This 75-minute walking tour begins at Doc Maynard’s Public House and takes you through the dark underbelly of the city. The tour starts on the hour every day and offers an interesting historic view of Seattle’s lurid past.
THE CENTRAL SALOON
If you like beers and music, you’ll definitely want to stop in at the oldest saloon in Seattle. The Central Saloon is located on 1st Avenue, just a few blocks from the station. Established in 1892, the saloon offers cheap drinks and your typical American pub grub. This bar is considered by many to be the birthplace of grunge music – Seattle bands such as Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Nirvana have rocked out at the Central. The saloon is a great place to hang out and experience the nostalgia of Seattle’s Grunge History, through old photos covering the walls and a snazzy stage that continues to host a variety of musical entertainment.
MAGIC MOUSE TOYS
If you forgot to pack cards or another source of entertainment for your train ride, you can stop into Magic Mouse toys. The store, located on 1st Avenue, has two floors filled with games, stuffed animals, puzzles, and other fun items. We found a cool cribbage board to pack with us in our carryon luggage.
ARUNDEL BOOKS
After shopping for games at the Toy Store, you can pop on over to Arundel Books. They offer an eclectic variety of books. A great place to wander through aisles of books, searching for that out-of-print book you’ve been wanting. Perfect for finding something interesting to read on your train excursion.
SEATTLE WATERFRONT
If you have extra time to kill, you may want to head down towards Seattle’s waterfront. Take a ride on the Great Ferris Wheel or check out the sea life at the Seattle Aquarium – both are open daily. While you’re down there, make sure to check out all the quirky little trinkets and souvenirs at the Ye Old Curiosity Shop. Check out the shrunken heads and get a palm reading while you’re there!
PIKE PLACE MARKET
Of course, you can’t be in Seattle without carving out time to visit the iconic Pike Place Market. Fortunately, there’s a new Overlook Walk that will take you from Pier 62 right up to the market. Take advantage of the opportunity to snap some amazing city photos along this pedestrian walkway. Once you get to Pike Place Market, you’ll be overwhelmed with scents of baked goods and other diverse food options. It’s one of the oldest continuously operating public farmer’s markets in the U.S., and offers an array of artisian goods, specialty foods, and of course flying fish! It’s often crowded, but definitely worth a visit!
TIP: If you prefer not to walk, you can hop on the Seattle Light Rail. You can take the Light Rail from the Transit Tunnel next to King Street Station. Ride to Westlake station and walk about 4 minutes to the waterfront and Pike Place Market. You can also take the monorail from there to the Seattle Center. Here you can visit other popular Seattle locations such as the Space Needle, Science Center, Climate Pledge Arena, and Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP).
We’d love to hear your questions or any tips you have to share! Comment below!
