There were sea otters that swam within 50 feet of the shore last time I was there. I hope they didn't bother anyone and thus be forced to move. I enjoyed hearing them and see them play on the... More

There were sea otters that swam within 50 feet of the shore last time I was there. I hope they didn't bother anyone and thus be forced to move. I enjoyed hearing them and see them play on the water to show off. There is a bath house here which can be rented for events. I saw a wedding take place outside by the wooden area. With proper framing, it looks gorgeous and private. Amplified music is not allowed. With that it's nice to hear the sounds of people playing beach volleyball, the kids playing in the playground nearby. Different groups of the population are here depending on the time of day. If you go in the evening, plenty of 20-30 somethings abound. Anytime of the year, you get an amazing view of the Olympics in the horizon. On certain times, you can see the snow-caps of Mount Olympus in the background. In the foreground, you see the Puget Sound and occasional wind surfers. Other times you might catch a glimpse of the resident J or K pods (Orcas). There are hiking trails and 2 different dog runs. In the north-end is a nature reserve where you can visit the ducks. There is a large field for kite flying and occasional pick-up games of Ultimate Frisbee. To the east, the BNSF train whizzes by. All this and 15 minutes from downtown! Take 85th St. exit of I-5 and drive west until you get to the water.
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One of the best things about this beach is their fresh water stream that flows into the water. It's cold, but it doesn't matter to those kids who just want to dig, wade, climb, and build damns. So,... More

One of the best things about this beach is their fresh water stream that flows into the water. It's cold, but it doesn't matter to those kids who just want to dig, wade, climb, and build damns. So, if you have a child (crawler on up), it's an awesome place to go sit and let your kids roam. You can see them, but you don't have to join them - it's really shallow and there's room for all!
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Golden Garden is a great park to go. Mostly I go there to enjoy the sun on the beach. It is relaxing. Golden Garden is also a great place to go crabbing. My friends and I went there quite a few... More

Golden Garden is a great park to go. Mostly I go there to enjoy the sun on the beach. It is relaxing. Golden Garden is also a great place to go crabbing. My friends and I went there quite a few times last summer and had pretty good catch. It is simply a nice beach park that is so close.
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This is a great place to come to whenever for whatever reason. While the water can be very cold it seems cleaner to swim here than over by alki. At night you can build a (city approved!) bonfire... More

This is a great place to come to whenever for whatever reason. While the water can be very cold it seems cleaner to swim here than over by alki. At night you can build a (city approved!) bonfire and watch the sun go down behind the Olympic's. This is seriously one of the best places to watch a sunset anywhere in the world. The waters here are relatively calm and there is not a lot of boat traffic close to shore which also makes it conducive for swimming. There is a place to buy beach appropriate snacks during the summer. When your friends and family come to Seattle to visit this would be the second place I would take them after a ferry ride to Bremerton. The people who come here seem pretty laid back and I have never had a problem at this beach/park. Come and enjoy!
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I think Golden Gardens is great at night. That's because there aren't hordes of little kids running around. On the down side, at night you don't get the view of the Olympics, the sail boats, and... More

I think Golden Gardens is great at night. That's because there aren't hordes of little kids running around. On the down side, at night you don't get the view of the Olympics, the sail boats, and all the wind surfers or whatever they are, however it's great to be on the beach with a nice warm fire. Bring some snacks and friends and have a picnic! The fire pits get taken pretty quickly when it's nice out though in the spring/summer/fall so plan well ahead and get someone to stake one out for you, otherwise go in the winter and brave the rain!
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The sand is nice and warm and the water cold. Golden Gardens in the absolute best place to be when it is nice out in Seattle. We do not get that many super nice days here so when it is nice people... More

The sand is nice and warm and the water cold. Golden Gardens in the absolute best place to be when it is nice out in Seattle. We do not get that many super nice days here so when it is nice people flock to Golden Gardens. So if you head out here be prepared to be there with a few hundred other people as well. In addition, you will probably be search for parking for and hour or so.
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Golden Gardens has been one of my favorite places in all of Seattle for a few years now. The park is a relaxing mix of sandy beach, large grass fields and beautiful views. It's a great place to... More

Golden Gardens has been one of my favorite places in all of Seattle for a few years now. The park is a relaxing mix of sandy beach, large grass fields and beautiful views. It's a great place to grab a frisbee or baseball to play, or just to grab a book and lay in the sun. Weekend nights are especially fun... plenty of bonfires and people partying the night away.
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This Washington State Park is right on the beach, near train tracks and the Shilshole Bay Marina. It has barbeque pits that you can reserve for a modest fee and fire pits for roasting. One draw back... More

This Washington State Park is right on the beach, near train tracks and the Shilshole Bay Marina. It has barbeque pits that you can reserve for a modest fee and fire pits for roasting. One draw back is that it closes at 11pm in the summer, which is a bit early for my tastes. Also, a great place to walk with your kids and explore.
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