Picture this: You’re walking through the always bustling Pioneer Square in Seattle. Iconic brick buildings and busy businesses surround you, and you can hear the telltale Seattle sounds like cars driving, horns honking, building construction and people chatting. And then, suddenly, everything vanishes and you’re standing in front of a beautiful waterfall, which muffles the sounds of the city.
You might think you’re in a dream, but in reality, you’ve just discovered the Waterfall Garden Park, the best local secret.
You’ll find this peaceful little park on 2nd Avenue between Washington Street and Main Street.
It can be tough to spot unless you know what you’re looking for.
The park was constructed in honor of the UPS on the site of the company’s original location.
In 1907, a young entrepreneur borrowed $100 from his friend and started the American Messenger Company in Seattle. The company eventually became the United Parcel Service, our current shipping giant. This kind of ingenuity is common in Washington, which is also the original home of Costco, Amazon and Boeing, among others.
The man-made waterfall is an impressive 22 feet.
The park also includes tables and chairs, plants and small trees to enjoy.
Needless to say, this is the perfect place to read a book or just take a nice break from the business of the city.
This is not a city park. It was paid for entirely by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Annie was the wife of UPS founder Kim Casey. The park was built to honor the men and women who have worked for the UPS, and the foundation maintains it to this day.
And just think, some Seattleites don’t even know the Waterfall Garden Park exists.
We won’t tell if you won’t.
Washington is full of surprises. Here are a few more spots most people aren’t aware of.
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