
A Space Needle Employee’s Guide to Seattle
A Space Needle employee gives her insider tips on visiting the Seattle icon and the best of the rest Seattle has to offer.
Walking distance from key landmarks in Pioneer Square and Downtown, Waterfall Garden Park measures just 60 feet by 80 feet (18 meters by 24 meters), but it’s become a beloved spot to find quiet in a busy area. United Parcel Service was known as the American Messenger Company when it was founded here; now the company’s former location is a worthwhile stop on a day of exploring.
Bring a coffee or picnic to enjoy in the park, which has a handful of tables and chairs.
Look for the plaque on the park grounds marking the 100th anniversary of UPS.
Plenty of shade makes this a comfortable place even on hot days.
Access to the park is through a gate but admission is free.
Waterfall Garden Park is located at 219 Second Avenue S, in the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. Buses stop at Second Avenue S and First Avenue S. There is limited street parking in the neighborhood, but multiple paid-parking garages are a short distance away, including a lot at 200 Second Avenue S.
Open Monday through Friday from 8am to 3:45pm, the park is busiest during lunchtime hours, when workers come to enjoy their meals in the shade. A security guard oversees the entrance gate, which is locked after Waterfall Garden Park closes for the day.
In java-loving Seattle, it’s no surprise that there is a long list of coffee shops within a block or two of Waterfall Garden Park. Grabbing a steaming cup of locally roasted coffee might be the perfect way to enjoy this quiet spot. Check out nearby Elm Coffee Roasters, on Second Avenue; Convoy Coffee, on Second Avenue; or the Cherry Street Public House, on Occidental Avenue.