Gilman Avenue West Street End provides shoreline access in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood where the street meets Puget Sound. The avenue honors Daniel Hunt Gilman (1845-1913), who founded the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway in 1885, now part of BNSF Railway with its old right-of-way along Lake Washington becoming the Burke-Gilman Trail. The street was created in 1890 as part of Gilman's Addition to the City of Seattle by Dr. Henry A. Smith and Franklin M. Jones, with Jones representing the New York banking firm Jameson, Smith and Cotting that financed Gilman's business ventures. Seattle designated this location as shoreline street end #99 in 1996, preserving it among 149 public rights-of-way for public uses and enjoyment along the city's waterfronts.
Kayaking launches from the beach access into Puget Sound for paddling exploration with views of the Olympic Mountains, Bainbridge Island, passing ferries, and Elliott Bay's maritime traffic. Paddleboarders navigate protected waters near the Magnolia shoreline while enjoying the neighborhood's scenic bluff setting rising above the sound. Beachcombing along the rocky shoreline reveals driftwood from storms, smooth beach stones, shells, and occasional beach glass deposited by tides. Wildlife watching includes harbor seals hunting near shore, bald eagles perching in nearby trees and soaring overhead, great blue herons stalking shallows, and diverse seabirds including cormorants, gulls, and scoters. Views from the street end capture Puget Sound's expanse with the Olympic Mountains forming a dramatic backdrop, shipping lanes busy with cargo vessels and container ships, and Washington State Ferries crossing between Seattle and Bainbridge Island. The location's designation as a protected street end ensures public access despite surrounding residential development, creating a neighborhood water access point. Discovery Park's 534 acres of trails, beaches, and natural areas lie within Magnolia, providing additional outdoor recreation opportunities.
Magnolia dining offers diverse neighborhood options near Discovery Park and waterfront areas. Palisade features Pacific Northwest cuisine including Dungeness crab cakes and grilled salmon with breathtaking Elliott Bay and Seattle skyline views. Damoori Kitchen serves traditional Lebanese dishes including beef kafta pita arous with herb-flecked beef, pickled turnips, tahini, tomato, and radish just blocks from Discovery Park. Mura Asian Eatery creates homestyle Korean and Japanese dishes including chicken karaage, beef bulgogi, katsu, spicy tofu stew, yakisoba, and fried rice. Pink Salt specializes in Peruvian fare including ceviche, Cordero lamb shank roasted with vegetables and herbs, and pan y chicharron slow-roasted pork belly on homemade bread. Mondello offers classic Italian and Mediterranean cuisine featuring homemade gnocchi, paper-thin pizza, and prosciutto-wrapped veal.
