Pioneer Square, Seattle

South of today’s downtown, Pioneer Square is the original Seattle. The 19th-century brick and stone buildings here are shaded by mature trees; it’s an appealing place for a walk, especially in summer, although the district is showing signs of decline—you’re likely to encounter more than a few empty storefronts and street people. Several spots are worth a stop; start with the compact Klondike Gold Rush Museum and Waterfall Park, a quiet nook whose manmade waterfall offers misty respite (219 S. 2nd Ave.). Then make your way through some of the art galleries Pioneer Square is known for; an Art Walk every first Thursday creates a party atmosphere as throngs wander the district. Crowds are common in Pioneer Square after games at nearby Safeco and Qwest fields, and since Pioneer Square’s nightlife is legendarily rowdy, you may want to avoid it after 9PM—unless rowdy's your thing, of course.

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