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View Ridge Park
Category:
Playgrounds Parks & Trails
Seattle,
Washington 98101
(206) 423-4487
View Ridge Park boasts large grassy areas with sun or shade from which to choose, a seasonal...
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View Ridge Park boasts large grassy areas with sun or shade from which to choose, a seasonal wading pool, and a large playground with climbing equipment, slides and swings. One of the great things about this park is that the wading pool is shaded and there are plenty of places to lay out your blanket on the grass and hang out. Doesn't get too crowded either.
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Public Library
Category:
Playgrounds Parks & Trails
Seattle,
Washington 98109
If you live in Seattle city limits, chances are there's a Seattle Public Library branch within a...
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If you live in Seattle city limits, chances are there's a Seattle Public Library branch within a mile or two of your house. Do yourself a favor and check it out -- the public library here is really outstanding.
There's been a library building and renovation boom, and many local libraries are in brand new or newly refurbished spaces, with comfortable chairs, computer terminals and beautiful spaces. Free wi-fi is in most or all of them.
Although local branches have limited selections, you can "hold" anything in the system (books, CDs, DVDs, tapes) and have it delivered to your local branch. Convenient, though there can be a bit of a wait on new or popular materials.
Of the places I've lived, SPL is one of the best library systems I've seen.
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St. Edward's Park
Category:
Playgrounds Parks & Trails
Seattle,
Washington 98101
(888) 226-7688.
St. Edward's Park used to be a monastery but has since been converted to a playground and park....
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St. Edward's Park used to be a monastery but has since been converted to a playground and park. The Grotto, a scenic little corner of the park tucked under some trees, can be rented out for receptions and weddings. My housemate had her wedding here and it was just such a beautiful space- very intimate and earthy.
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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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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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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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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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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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Colman Pool
Category:
Playgrounds Parks & Trails
Seattle,
Washington 98101
(206) 684-7494
The Coleman Pool is an amazing public place. It offers great swimming, a slide, and amazing views...
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The Coleman Pool is an amazing public place. It offers great swimming, a slide, and amazing views of the sound. Beward that it is often crowded, so get there early to stake out your spot. The changing rooms are nothing special - this is a public park. A great place to cool off in Seattle.
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The Volunteer Park Conservatory is one of Seattle's hidden gems. Concealed in plain view on the...
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The Volunteer Park Conservatory is one of Seattle's hidden gems. Concealed in plain view on the northern edge of Volunteer Park, the conservatory is a miniature botanical wonderland, packing native plants from around the world into five connected greenhouse rooms. The intimate scale of the exhibits - the entire structure covers less than 4,000 square feet, and huge plants overhang the narrow walkways at every turn - creates an in-your-face nature exhibit for children of all ages. Best of all, on a cold winter day the steam-heated greenhouse is like a free tropical vacation in your own backyard.
My wife and I took our 9-month-old for a quick visit to the conservatory this last weekend, and he was fascinated by the huge leaves, bright colors and touch-and-feel intimacy of the experience. Best of all, apart from a few neighborhood families with their young children, the structure was almost empty, a nice contrast to the crowds and noise of other public indoor spaces in wintertime.
If you have kids, or just love new and out-of-the-ordinary experiences, the Volunteer Park Conservatory is a free community resource you should have on your list.
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