Ahoy matey! One of this city's best features? All of its beautiful bodies of water. So one of the best ways to experience this city? Well, come on abroad and see for yourself! Argosy Cruises offers this scenic Lake Washington tour that leaves from the public docks at Marina Park in Kirkland. The relaxing cruise highlights stunning scenery and includes interesting trivia and tidbits about the area's history and most famous residents. Snacks and beverages are available onboard, and free parking is available in Peter Kirk Municipal Library garage. Argosy also offers a variety of wonderful cruises departing from downton Seattle.
Recommended for Beaches because: View beaches from a water perspective, abroad the Lake Washington Cruise that pushes off from Kirkland.
Corinne's expert tip: If you own an Entertainment Book, have a look inside for Argosy coupons.
On the north end of Lake Union, you'll find what may be the most unique park in the area. The 21-acre industrial area, formerly the site of a gas plant, was transformed in the 1975 into a recreational complex (a worldwide first). You'll find that there's plenty to do in the park, including kayaking, sailing, picnicking, and bicycling. From atop the park's 60-foot hill, visitors have one of Seattle's best views, and the park is a favorite place to view the city's Fourth of July fireworks display. To reserve their 200-seat picnic shelter for special occasions, call 206-684-4081 for reservations. BUS: 26
Recommended for Beaches because: While Gas Works Park doesn't offer a traditional beach experience, its waterside knolls are the next best thing when the sun shines.
Corinne's expert tip: The extensive urban Burke-Gilman Trail runs past Gas Works parking lot and follows the Burlington-Northern Railroad 12.5 miles north to Kirkland Log Boom Park.
Olympic Sculpture Park: Stroll through the grounds and admire the fascinating large-scale works on display at this nine-acre green space. Extensive landscaping enhances the park's beauty, and a walkway, extending from the beach to Belltown, provides views of the Puget Sound and of downtown landmarks. Among the pieces on view along the way view is "Eye Benches I, II, III" by Louise Bourgeois, a series of functional carved-granite benches that take the form of giant eyeballs. Also here is a work from the height of famed sculptor Alexander Calder's career, "The Eagle" from 1971, a huge abstract steel sculpture in bright orange. Free public tours of the park are offered, and times and topics vary by season.
Recommended for Beaches because: Downtown's Olympic Sculpture Park reveals some hidden beaches (down the hill from the art), perfect for strolling (with dogs!) or simply taking in the scenery.
Corinne's expert tip: Although it's mostly an outdoor experience, the sculpture park features the PACCAR Pavilion, within which the Seattle Art Museum operates the SAM Shop at Olympic Sculpture Park. The shop offers a delightful and distinctive collection of artist multiples and art objects that serve as tasteful souvenirs of your visit here.
Olympic National Park provides Seattle visitors with a huge range of recreation options in a compact area. About an hour to an hour-and-a-half southwest of Seattle on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula, the nature preserve centers around the Olympic Mountains and its system of rivers and valleys to the Pacific Ocean. Hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or just touring by car, it's easy to check out the varying microclimates and zones within the park, which is encircled by U.S. Highway 101. So whether it's crunching along a dirt and gravel trail up a mountainside, padding over fragrant pine needles along a path deep in the temperate rainforest, or finding solid wet sand to save energy exploring along rugged Pacific Ocean beaches, this natural wonderland offers it all.
Recommended for Beaches because: Hailed as home to some of the region's most breath-taking terrain, Olympic National Park offers a coastline (often rocky) that visitors will not soon forget.
Corinne's expert tip: While it is related to other marmots and groundhogs of North America, the Olympic marmot is unique, an endemic species found only in the Olympic Mountains of Washington State. The cute critters are hard to spot. For the best shot at seeing one, plan a hike into the park's high country on a nice day, and you might spy a marmot sunning near its burrow.
This local park accommodates a host of joggers, in-line skaters, and sunbathers that exercise and bask along the greenbelt that circles Green Lake, the park's picturesque centerpiece. A favorite of locals, the park's plentiful green space and open water in the midst of an urban landscape creates a true oasis. The park also serves as a natural preserve for hundreds of species of trees and plants, as well as for numerous birds and waterfowl. Seattleites also make good use of the expansive athletic fields or visit the park for boating, picnics, and swimming. Make sure to visit Green Lake Small Craft Center, which is located at the southwest corner of the park and offers rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and sailing classes.
Recommended for Beaches because: Green Lake Park doesn't offer a beach in the traditional sense, yet its sandy zone and swimming dock draw crowds in warmer months.
Corinne's expert tip: The 2.8-mile path around the lake provides a perfect recreational spot for runners, bikers, skaters, and walkers, but hardcore athletes often test their abilities on the unpaved 3.2-mile, outer-loop track.
Situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound, this expansive urban park � the largest in Seattle – offers two miles of beach trails and nine miles of winding footpaths. Ostensibly a bluff-top reserve, Discovery Park protects a remarkable urban wilderness and is a great place for nature-watching. The Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, which features art and cultural exhibits, is also located at the park, as is a marine reserve. An 1881 lighthouse, the oldest in the area, can also be found here. Offering breathtaking views of both the Cascade and the Olympic mountain ranges, the park's remote site includes two miles of protected tidal beaches as well as open meadow lands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, active sand dunes, thickets, and streams.
Recommended for Beaches because: Discovery Park offers urban hiking trails and a perfect reward: sandy beaches marked by a lighthouse and stunning views.
Corinne's expert tip: The park occupies the grounds of the former Fort Lawton military base, and there is interesting interpretive history here about the park's past and information on its pioneering role in the national military base re-use program that began in the early 1980s. The park's Fort Lawton Historic District includes "Officers' Row," military buildings surviving from the park's days as a fort.
In West Seattle, visitors and residents alike relish one of Seattle's finest gems: Alki Beach. Offering stunning views of the downtown Seattle skyline and Puget Sound, Alki Beach is where the Denny Party settlers arrived and spent the winter of 1851, before retreating to Elliot Bay. Today, joggers, rollerbladers, kayakers, paddleboarders and beach bums convene at this 135.9-acre park that is lined by a sidewalk "boardwalk" and driftwood that create natural benches. Cafes and bars line the most concentrated section of the strip, and rooftop balconies prove the perfect spot to grab a bite or a drink on a sunny Seattle day.
Recommended for Beaches because: Alki Beach offers stunning views of downtown Seattle as well as a pleasant beach strip, bustling with activity.
Corinne's expert tip: Grab brunch at Salty's, often ranked as having the best views in Seattle.
West of Ballard, visitors find one of Seattle's best-kept secrets: Golden Gardens beach. Located on Puget Sound, this popular public park offers extraordinary views of the water and nearby Olympic Mountains. The park includes wetlands, beaches, hiking trails, as well as picnic and playground areas. The park is bisected by the BNSF Scenic Subdivision railway line. Golden Gardens offers wanders along a rugged coastline, hikes through forest trails, sunbathing on sandy beaches, fishing from a pier and a boat launch. In summer months, sandy volleyball courts fill with active folks, while the waters fill with swimmers, kite-surfers, kayakers, sailors and other nautically-inclined guests. The park is also home to an off-leash area for dogs in the upper northern portion of the park.
Recommended for Beaches because: Golden Gardens offers a beautiful beach with stunning mountain views. Volleyball, parks and an off-leash dog area attract all types of guests.
Corinne's expert tip: In the summer, keep your eyes peeled for the amazing, monthtly bonfire concert series.
