Seattle's Child

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All photos by JiaYing Grygiel

7 ways to enjoy Seattle’s newest park: Overlook Walk

Overlook Walk connects Pike Place Market to the waterfront

Getting from Pike Place Market down to the waterfront is now literally a walk in the park. On the opening weekend, Overlook Walk was packed with Seattle-ites soaking in the sun and enjoying the views while snacking on goodies from Pike Place. Seattle doesnā€™t always get things right, but in this case, it did–and in a big way.

About Overlook Walk

New York has Little Island, San Francisco has Salesforce Park. Now Seattle has a drop-dead gorgeous public park downtown to be proud of too. The long-awaited Overlook Walk links the best of Seattleā€™s downtown. Along the way is a jaw-dropping panorama of Elliott Bay, lovely greenery, benches everywhere, even a small playground tucked in. Itā€™s open daily, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Start at Pike Place, and youā€™ll find Overlook Walk connected to the west side of the iconic market. Cross over Elliott Way, then stroll across the roof of the Seattle Aquariumā€™s Ocean Pavilion. Overlook Walk covers 60,000 square feet and is fully accessible with ramps and elevators. This pedestrian bridge took a mind-boggling 15 years and $70 million to build.

Seattle history lesson

If youā€™re new to Seattle, hereā€™s the backstory: There used to be a double-decker concrete highway that cut off the waterfront from downtown. It was loud, dark, and worst of all, crumbling because of damage from the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. Then-Mayor Greg Nickels, from four mayors ago, pushed for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel. After countless delays, cost overruns, and other delays, the tunnel opened in 2019. The old viaduct was demolished, and construction on the new walkway began in 2022.

Now you stand 100 feet above street level, on the footprint of the ugly, noisy viaduct. Look out onto the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier. To the north, itā€™s an easy walk to the Olympic Sculpture Park. To the south, follow the promenade down to Colman Dock and Habitat Beach, both shiny and new.

Things to do in downtown and at the park

Head over to Overlook Walk. The pedestrian-only stretch makes for a full day of fun with the whole family and hereā€™s how to do it without spending a dime:

Park downtown
Street parking is free on Sundays and major holidays. Or pull into an Amazon garage; theyā€™re free weeknights after 4 p.m. and all day weekends.

Stop by the Seattle Art Museum
Pop into the SAM lobby for a free dose of art. You donā€™t need to buy a ticket unless you go to the galleries upstairs. Above your head hangs a monumental John Grade sculpture. ā€œMiddle Forkā€ is modeled after a real western hemlock tree made from a million pieces of reclaimed cedar jigsawed together. The log has hung in SAMā€™s lobby since 2017 and is on view through Feb. 2, 2025. Psst, stop by Franā€™s Chocolates across the street. You might get lucky with a free sample of the smoked salt caramel, Barack Obamaā€™s favorite.

Busy, busy Pike Place
The quickest way to root out an out-of-towner is when you hear them say, ā€œPikeā€™s Place.ā€ Our Pike Place Market is world-famous, so play hometown tourist. Take a selfie at the gum wall. Pose on Rachel the Pig. Sample your way through the food stalls: slices of fresh fruit, chocolate-coated Chukar Cherries, a baguette dipped in balsamic vinegar, sticks of honey and jam.

Sneak peek at a tropical reef
The Seattle Aquariumā€™s Ocean Pavilion expansion opened in August and is spectacular. Also, spendy. But everyone gets a free peek at the reef ecosystem through an oculus at the buildingā€™s entrance; no tickets are needed.Ā A polka-dotted clown triggerfish wiggles by, followed by a bowmouth guitarfish named Rhina. Itā€™s the same tank paying visitors see.

Playground time
Families with young children will love the mini playground on the top of Overlook Walk. Thereā€™s a small curvy slide and roller slide on tot-friendly rubber surfacing.


Construction is still underway at Pier 58, between Minerā€™s Landing and the Seattle Aquarium, where a new marine-themed playground is taking shape. Its centerpiece is a 25-foot-tall jellyfish sculpture, whose wavy tentacles provide places to slide, climb and hide.

Games and open space at Pier 62
Pier 62 opened in 2020, creating 40,000 square feet of new park space jutting out into Elliott Bay. Join a pickup game at the mini soccer field or the giant chessboard. Thereā€™s room for skateboarders to practice their jumps, next to fishermen trying their luck.

Lively entertainers
Itā€™s not downtown without street performers and buskers. Overlook Walk has an amphitheater built into the base, which is a nice spot to picnic and catch a performance with a view. We saw a musician playing a sax and a clarinet, and a robot impersonator painting himself gold. What will you see?

 

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About the Author

JiaYing Grygiel

JiaYing Grygiel is a photographer and writer in Seattle. Find her on Instagram @photoj.seattle and at photoj.net.