West Barrett Street End provides shoreline access in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood along Puget Sound as part of the Carleton Park area platted in 1915. Carleton Park was developed by real estate promoter Arthur Phinney, who named the subdivision for his father Guy Carleton Phinney, with streets including Barrett, Raye, Armour, and McGraw extending from the bluff down toward the sound. While specific documentation of Barrett Street's etymology remains unclear in available historical records, the street follows the naming pattern of early 20th-century Magnolia platting when developers established the neighborhood's street grid. Perkins Lane West hosts six shoreline street ends at West Bertona, Dravus, Barrett, Armour, Raye, and McGraw Streets, with Barrett Street End among these designated public access points. Seattle's 1996 shoreline street end preservation program protects this location as public right-of-way ensuring continued waterfront access despite surrounding residential development.
Kayaking and paddleboarding launch from the beach into Puget Sound for paddling exploration along Magnolia's western shoreline with opportunities to observe marine wildlife, navigate toward Discovery Park, and experience Olympic Mountain views across the strait. Beachcombing along the rocky shoreline reveals smooth stones shaped by wave action, weathered driftwood from Pacific storms, mussel and barnacle shells, and beach glass in various hues deposited by tides and currents. Wildlife watching includes harbor seals resting on rocks and hunting near shore, bald eagles soaring overhead and perching in shoreline conifers, great blue herons stalking shallows during low tides, and seabirds including cormorants diving for fish, pigeon guillemots in breeding plumage, and scoters rafting offshore. Views capture the Olympic Mountains forming a dramatic western horizon with snow-capped peaks, shipping lanes busy with cargo vessels and container ships navigating toward Elliott Bay, Washington State Ferries crossing between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, and recreational sailboats enjoying protected waters. The street end creates a neighborhood access point to Puget Sound's marine environment among Magnolia's bluff residences.
Magnolia dining offers neighborhood options near West Barrett Street End and Carleton Park. Palisade features Pacific Northwest cuisine including Dungeness crab cakes and grilled salmon with breathtaking Elliott Bay and Seattle skyline views from waterfront dining rooms. Damoori Kitchen creates traditional Lebanese dishes including beef kafta pita arous with herb-flecked beef, pickled turnips, tahini, tomato, and radish blocks from Discovery Park on Government Way. Mura Asian Eatery serves homestyle Korean and Japanese dishes including chicken karaage, beef bulgogi, katsu, spicy tofu stew, yakisoba, and fried rice in Magnolia Village. 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 Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with homemade gnocchi, paper-thin pizza, and prosciutto-wrapped veal.
