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Woodland Park Zoo
Category:
Zoos
5500 Phinney Ave N
Seattle,
Washington 98103
(206) 684-4800
I always have a fun trip to the zoo!
3 months ago
I always have a fun trip to the zoo!
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I recently went there with my parents and we enjoyed watching the locks open/close, fill/empty and...
More 1 year ago
I recently went there with my parents and we enjoyed watching the locks open/close, fill/empty and see the seagulls in action, eating. Be prepared for the stench when you walk over from the locks to the salmon ladder. We did see salmon in one ladder, but never saw one switch from one ladder to the next. The free visitor's center has a small amount of interesting exhibits (the hands-on ones all seemed broken), a small gift shop, and a short film.They offer free, guided tours, but we did not take one. If you park on the Ballard side of the locks you have to walk partially through the Botanical Gardens/park to get to the locks. The park was not crowded and it would be a good spot to have a picnic.
Pros: lots of different things to see (locks, ladder, park, visitor's center)
Cons: not easy for people who have a hard time walking far.
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Pike Place Market
Category:
Playgrounds Parks & Trails
85 Pike St
Seattle,
Washington 98101
(206) 682-7453
I love Pike Place, they have all the fresh seasonal flowers and fruits here! I love the...
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I love Pike Place, they have all the fresh seasonal flowers and fruits here! I love the crowdedness of the place and the market feel of it. You can't complain when a bouquet of fresh flowers will only cost you $5-$10 only! You can't beat that! The fruits are a bit pricey compared to your normal grocery store, but it's so fresh and tasty! Very well worth it. Oh, don't forget to visit the seafood section, they have the freshest fish of every season. The only thing is freshness can be pricey, but if you don't mind spending the extra money and the pain of looking for parking, you should definitely get your groceries here.
Since I work in downtown, it's easy for me to go to the market to pick up some produce on my way home! My absolutely favorite place in the Summer!
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Just yesterday I drove past the Central library and thought that it's been far too long since I've...
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Just yesterday I drove past the Central library and thought that it's been far too long since I've visited. This place is simply incredible. Not only is the book/periodical selection second-to-none, eye candy abounds.
It's a great place to go on a rainy day. I love listening to the rain hitting the thousands of windows.
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Golden Gardens
Category:
Playgrounds Parks & Trails
Seattle,
Washington 98101
(206) 684-8021
There were sea otters that swam within 50 feet of the shore last time I was there. I hope they...
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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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Golden Gardens
Category:
Playgrounds Parks & Trails
Seaview Ave NW
Seattle,
Washington 98117
none
We had a really fun summer evening at the beach at Golden Gardens. We had brought our own metal...
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We had a really fun summer evening at the beach at Golden Gardens. We had brought our own metal grating and negotiated to share a friendly group's fire pit. It was fun just hanging out to the sound of the drum circle and people watching while taking in the gorgeous late summer sunset. The atmosphere was a tad hippie, but that was fun. There was a cute little hippie kid running around with dreads, and the fire jugglers and hoopers and whatnot. Perhaps they were practicing for Burning Man. It gave it a fun, surreal party vibe. But don't plan on finding a fire pit if you arrive at 7pm like we did unless you get lucky and find someone willing to share. Dogs are plentiful and love this place, though they may not be officially allowed. Beer on the beach is the norm as well, though again, unsure if it's allowed (pretty sure it's not). In general, I would say this is a nicer beach to hang out in than Alki, because of the physical surroundings and natural beauty (Alki is more urban with bars right across the road).
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Seward Park
Category:
Playgrounds Parks & Trails
5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S
Seattle,
Washington 98105
(206) 684-4396
It's one of those places with a few very stunning views that I recommend for photo excursions. ...
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It's one of those places with a few very stunning views that I recommend for photo excursions. It's a quite park in a quiet, affluent neighborhood, that seems like a safely kept secret. Perhaps a century ago it was merely a favored campsite miles from town where scouts and families would go on outings. Come at dawn for a quiet walk or at dusk, when the city starts to relax, breathe relatively clean air and at times get a glimpse of what life might have been like before some of our urban sprawl changed the face of Seattle.
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It's little gems like the Fremont Market that make Seattle the livable, lively city it is. It's a...
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It's little gems like the Fremont Market that make Seattle the livable, lively city it is. It's a great place to buy vintage clothes cheaper than the shops.
Although I'm not a huge fan of the urban craft movement - you can find some really creative jewelry and garden impplements.
My favorite booths are the ones that offer mid-century modern pieces. Forget the over-priced shops in Capitol Hill. You can find screaming deals on danish dining sets, lounge chairs, coffee tables, and lamps. If you're a fan of Eames, McCobb, or Saarinen (sp?) - FSM is the place for you!
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Sometimes when I'm standing atop one of the cliffs in Discovery Park, I like to pretend what I'm...
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Sometimes when I'm standing atop one of the cliffs in Discovery Park, I like to pretend what I'm seeing is what the first settlers experienced on their arrival; it's so refreshing and awe-inspiring. But then I remember that the coastline was a lot more forested and difficult to navigate back then, that a lot of grooming and maintenance is required to keep the park in the shape it is in. (How else would all the strollers, marathoners and dogs manage it?) Still, I think the magic about it keeps it among my favorite places in the city.
Whether you're going on a hike, bird-watching, playing ultimate frisbee or doing a trail run, Discovery Park harbors a wealth of activity. You get basketball courts and a visitor's center, trails and water fountains, all side-by-side. The park is especially great with out-of-town guests; you get to enjoy nature without leaving Seattle city limits. I love how in the span of a few miles, I can hike through some small forest, walk along a sandy beach and stand in the middle of what feels like a mini prairie. Although many of the visitors travel in groups, I still find Discovery Park a great place for solitude. Depending on the day, you can spend an hour exploring and not run into anyone. And even if there are lots of people around--as is usually true on a sunny summer day--it's hard to beat the views.
If you are going for a run in the rain, there's pretty decent tree coverage on the Loop Trail. If there hasn't been a lot of recent precipitation, the trails are usually manageable still, with limited pools of water to spoil your jaunt.
If you're letterboxing, I will note that I've never been successful at finding any of the boxes. Perhaps I'm going at the wrong time, perhaps my navigational skills are that off. I have a sinking suspicion, though, park officials are diligent about removing any foreign articles found.
I've never visited the park after sundown. I've heard interesting rumors about the goings-on once the sun has set, but I cannot confirm.
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Kerry Park
Category:
Playgrounds Parks & Trails
Seattle,
Washington 98101
(206) 684-4075
Kerry Park http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/parkspaces/kerry.htm is a runt of a park on Queen...
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Kerry Park http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/parkspaces/kerry.htm is a runt of a park on Queen Anne that has a very nice view of downtown Seattle, including the Space Needle, Stadiums, and on a clear day, Mt. Rainier. For serious tourists it is one of the best places to have your picture taken. If I were shooting an independent film located in Seattle, I would have a scene or two here. But if you are a serious professional photographer, you will find this place most useful for the purpose of scouting out other places to take pictures, because some apartments and skyscrapers have a much better view of the city. If you're not attached to getting a good picture of the Downtown Seattle skyline from land, you might consider a cruise instead. That said, most will consider the view is breathtaking.
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