Seattle has its fair share of highs and lows. Surely not seeing the sun seven to eight months of the year can be rough, but one of the biggest upsides about living in the Emerald City year-round is its plentiful parks, stunning landscapes, and picturesque viewpoints. If you ever find yourself in Seattle, be sure to visit at least one of these beautiful parks, most of which can be found within 10-15 minutes of the hustle and bustle of the city.
Discovery Park
Located along the Puget Sound in the Seattle neighborhood of Magnolia, this park Seattle’s largest covering over 500 acres with nearly 12 miles of walking trails. My favorite hike is the Discovery Park Loop trail that starts at the historic Fort Lawton homes and ends at the Westpoint Lighthouse on the beach.
Golden Gardens
Golden Gardens is a popular beachfront in the Ballard neighborhood for people to come and roast s’mores, hangout with friends, swim, and participate in silent dance disco parties. But for real, it’s totally a thing. While it can be crowded during the summer months, Golden Gardens is a great little beach to visit year-round. During the holidays bundle up, and watch the sail boats decorated with Christmas twinkling lights pass by, or join your friends in the New Year as you burn your Christmas trees on the beach.
Elliott Bay Marina
The Elliott Bay Marina is also located in Magnolia but the paved trail parallels the Puget Sound, offering gorgeous views of the water, boats, marine life, Mount Rainier, and more. You can walk in the Marina and grab a bite to eat Palisades or Maggie Bluffs, or continue on to the Elliott Bay walking/bike trail which ultimately ends at the Olympic Sculpture Park, and straight into downtown near Seattle Aquarium. This is probably one of my favorite walks to take in the fall as the leaves change colors.
Kerry Park
Don’t let the name deceive you – Kerry Park is more of a viewpoint, rather than a full-on park. I’ve included it in this list as it’s a great pit stop located on the south slope of Queen Anne hill for those who want a quick photo op with a nice backdrop of the Seattle cityscape. On a clear day, you can even see Mount Rainier from here!
Gas Works Park
Gas Works Park, located in the Fremont/Wallingford neighborhood, is a public park situated on the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant on Lake Union that offers a gorgeous view of the Seattle skyline. This is a great place to gather with friends to play Spike Ball, a place to play fetch with your pup, or a place to sit and watch the sailboats and sea planes take off and land during the summer. Pro tip: make sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair as there is typically a place that geese frequent, aka there’s lots of goose poop on the grass.
The Ballard Locks
The Ballard Locks is where the Puget Sound meets Lake Union, and is a popular place tourists and locals like to visit, especially during the sunny months of the summer. Here you can observe boats pass through the Locks system, spot seals swimming in the Puget Sound, and find schools of wild salmon swimming upstream in the Ballard Lock’s fish ladder. In the summer, the Ballard Locks also offers free outdoor concerts from June until August.
Carkeek Park
Carkeek Park is a little further outside of the city than the others (roughly 9 miles), in the Broadview neighborhood of Seattle. Carkeek Park is a great place to go with kids as it offers both easy walking trails and a big beachfront to play in! This popular park offers beautiful views of both the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
Other notable parks to visit in Seattle:
- Green Lake: Great for running, swimming, or biking around the 3 mile loop around the lake
- Volunteer Park: Don’t forget to visit the conservatory, and stop by Bruce Lee’s gravesite if you go
- Magnuson Park: Perfect for those with fur babies as they have an awesome off-leash section of the park just for pups
Have you ever visited Seattle before? What are some of your favorite spots to visit in the city that offer spectacular views, or great walking trails? Stay tuned for a post regarding my favorite hikes within an hour of the city!
