Lawton Park - Seattle, WA Area Guide

Originally home to the Duwamish people, Lawton Park attracted both indigenous peoples and white colonists for its access to Puget Sound and Salmon Bay. An entrepreneurial colonist laid out a train depot and port in the late 1800s, making Lawton Park a trade hub. The U.S. military bought so much land in the area that the City Council eventually donated the rest, christening the new base Fort Lawton in 1989. Fort Lawton proved key in training soldiers for World War I, but the base was slowly decommissioned and turned into current-day Lawton Park during the 1970s.

History buffs interested in the greater Lawton Park area visit the Magnolia Historical Society website, with information about cultural and historical sites to visit. Folks interested in the region's Native American history gather at the annual SeaFair PowWow, a celebration of traditional dance and music held every summer in nearby Discovery Park.

Lawton Park is home to several upscale eateries located within its boundaries. Bay Cafe, a sleek retro-diner at Fisherman's Terminal, serves up a great breakfast. Locals love indulging in the seafood omelet, which features a hearty assortment of shrimp, crab, and scallops. Other favorites include any one of the benedicts and the blueberry pancakes.

Chinook's at Salmon Bay, located on the water, serves fresh seafood with a view of the Salmon Bay docks. Watch the fishing boats unload the day's haul, and order the alder planked salmon, a tender cut of fish smoked on a piece of wood and served with sweet pepper beurre blanc.

While Lawton Park dazzles with upscale dining options during the day, the neighborhood mostly shuts its doors after nightfall. Locals and visitors patronize the Highliner Public House, located near the docks on Salmon Bay, for late-night socializing with a generous row of taps and an enticing seafood-heavy menu.

Residents get around using a combination of walking and driving. Lawton Park stretches its boundaries over about a 15-block radius, so it can be walked across with relative ease. The small neighborhood streets provide comfort for walkers used to urban Seattle's congested boulevards.

King Country Metro serves Lawton Park with the 24 and 33 lines, connecting the neighborhood to the greater King County area. Hailing a cab on the street takes a bit of a wait; most cab riders call ahead when in Lawton Park, and Uber provides service to this area. Public parking in Lawton Park, while more plentiful than in much of Seattle, can take time to locate and is typically either free or priced very low.

Many streets in Lawton Park contain separate bike lanes. Narrow street lanes prove a safety hazard when bikers do not have access to a bike lane, so use precaution if traveling by bike.

Seattle loosely defines its neighborhoods by its parks, and Lawton Park is no exception. Joggers run the loops in this 12-acre patch of land, located directly in the middle of the neighborhood. Kids have a play area, and you can bring your four-legged friend to the open acreage for a romp. Bring some friends, and play in the baseball/softball fields. Lawton Park costs nothing for general use, but the fields can be reserved ahead of time for a fee.

Discovery Park borders Lawton Park to the northwest, occupying the northwest tip of the peninsula. A full 534 acres of natural splendor in the city, Discovery Park takes up the area formerly used by Fort Lawton. The park crams in plentiful madrona groves, dunes and 2 miles of beaches into its tranquil confines. Hikers and joggers take to the numerous paths, winding all throughout the park, and history buffs love the information about the indigenous Native Americans available at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center. Children have a play area, and dog-owners love the off-leash area for their pets.

In October, take the kids to the Happy Halloween Hike at Discovery Park. Designed for tots aged 2 to 3 years, this naturalist-led special event lets the little ones show off their costumes during a stroll to get to know the park animals associated with fright night.

A one-bedroom apartment in Lawton Park costs about $200 more than the city average, sliding in at an average of $1,398.35. The neighborhood costs more than the rest of Seattle for utilities, goods and services. A beer costs about $4.50 at local spots, and drivers pay 18 percent more at the pump than the national average. Taking the bus to downtown Seattle costs $2.50 during non-peak hours.

Lawton Park tucks away a few shops, sprinkled in between the residences. Boating enthusiasts find a wide selection of marine supplies near the Salmon Bay docks, at the northeast corner of the neighborhood.

Perfectly situated near the running trails of Discovery Park, Seven Hills Running Shop peddles a variety of running shoes, including Salmon, Merrell and New Balance brands. The Net Shed specializes in one thing: nets. Whether for fishing, your home batting cage or slow erosion in your garden, the Net Shed sells nets for any type of home or recreational project.

Albertsons, in the southern reaches of Lawton Park, serves customers with its familiar selection of groceries. Buyers looking for a wider organic and local selection patronize the Metropolitan Market Magnolia, located just east of Discovery Park. Magnolia Farmers Market convenes every Saturday from June through mid-October in the far southwest reaches of Lawton Park.