Best Parks in Seattle

Alki Beach Park

A sandy, 2.5-mile beach and waterfront promenade in West Seattle with skyline views across Elliott Bay. Go to stroll or bike the paved path, dig your toes in the sand, and grab fish and chips or ice cream from the nearby strip. Practical note: it has a California-boardwalk vibe and can be packed on warm days; the water is cold year-round and there are no lifeguards outside summer.

Parks

Discovery Park

Seattle's largest park at over 500 acres on a former military fort in Magnolia, with forest, meadow and bluff trails overlooking Puget Sound. Go for the 2.8-mile Loop Trail and the walk down to the West Point Lighthouse and beach for big water-and-mountain views. Practical note: parking lots fill on sunny weekends, so arrive early, and it's a fair hike from the lot down to the shore and back.

Parks

Gas Works Park

An iconic 19-acre park on the north shore of Lake Union, built around the rusting machinery of a former gasification plant. Go for Kite Hill, which delivers a sweeping panorama of the downtown skyline across the water, plus picnic lawns and the Burke-Gilman Trail. Practical note: there is no swimming and the old gas-plant structures are fenced off, but the views are the main draw.

Parks

Green Lake Park

A beloved urban park ringed by a flat, 2.8-mile paved loop popular with walkers, runners and cyclists. Go to people-watch, rent a kayak or paddleboard, or swim at one of the beaches in summer. Practical note: the inner pedestrian path and outer wheeled path can get very crowded on weekends, so keep right and watch for bikes.

Parks

Kerry Park

A small hillside viewpoint on the south slope of Queen Anne that offers Seattle's most famous skyline view, with the Space Needle front and center and Mount Rainier behind on clear days. Go at sunset or after dark for postcard photos. Practical note: it's tiny with limited street parking and gets busy at golden hour, so plan to arrive early for a good spot.

Parks

Olympic Sculpture Park

A free 9-acre outdoor sculpture park run by the Seattle Art Museum at the north end of the downtown waterfront. Go to see large-scale works like Alexander Calder's red 'Eagle' set against Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, along with a small pocket beach. Practical note: it's outdoors and free 365 days a year, with the most pleasant visits on dry days; the indoor PACCAR Pavilion has more limited hours.

Parks

Seward Park

A 300-acre forested peninsula jutting into Lake Washington, home to roughly 120 acres of surviving old-growth forest. Go for the flat, car-free 2.4-mile paved Shore Loop with lake and Mount Rainier views, plus interior dirt trails through towering trees. Practical note: it's a quieter, more natural alternative to Green Lake and a good spot for birding and a swim at the small beach in summer.

Parks

Volunteer Park

The crown jewel of Seattle's Olmsted-designed park system, a manicured 48-acre green space on Capitol Hill. Go for the free climb up the 1906 brick water tower for a city view, the 1912 glass-and-steel Conservatory, and the lawns around the reservoir. Practical note: the Conservatory and the on-site Asian Art Museum charge admission and have set hours, but the park grounds and water tower are free.

Parks

Warren G. Magnuson Park

Seattle's second-largest park at 350 acres, set on the former Sand Point naval station along a mile of Lake Washington shoreline in northeast Seattle. Go for wide-open spaces, sports fields, the swimming beach and boat ramp, art installations, and one of the city's biggest off-leash dog areas. Practical note: it's spread out and easy to explore by bike; grounds are open 4 am to 11:30 pm.

Parks

Washington Park Arboretum

A 230-acre living plant collection run by the University of Washington, with woodland trails, seasonal blooms and the Azalea Way path. Go for a peaceful walk among the trees and to visit the separately-ticketed Seattle Japanese Garden at the south end. Practical note: the Arboretum grounds are free, but the Japanese Garden charges admission and is closed in winter, so check hours before visiting.