I've had this park on my list to check out for awhile now! It's a nice little escape from the city…read moreand isn't very crowded at all! My husband and I drove here and it was a little confusing at first because there is no set parking lot that we found, we kind of just drive to one of the entrances and parked nearby. There's also neighborhood street parking. This park is also dog friendly! There's a main trail that's paved and some side trails that are unpacked and can get a little muddy depending on the weather. We saw some possible turkey tail mushrooms growing on the logs and some horsetail plants. For us the park, wasn't too big, it's very beautiful and lush but the trail itself is on the shorter side unless we missed something.

Stunning and magical gem. Friendly folks passing by, the freshest air North of California, hands…read moredown. I had some time before work so stopped in and hit the trail off E Galer Street and 19th Ave. You will always return I promise, it's a small green paradise this time of year.

While taking a mini stroll along Eastlake Ave, saw a random sign that mentioned a park. To access…read morethis park from the street, simply follow a set of stairs. While going down the stairs, there is a small dirt path you can veer off and see the plants/some flowers. Once you reach the bottom of the stairs, you'll see a nice open space with benches and a grassy area ideal for a small picnic or playing with your dog or kids. Venture a little further and you'll see a small ramp that leads out to the water. Here, you can easily launch boats/canoes/kayaks or simply just sit and enjoy the nice view of the water and such. For a sunny day, this place was close to being super empty (at least, to me when I visited), which is pretty awesome if you're seeking a nice oasis from the busy city vibe and such. Do be aware that there are quite a few gnats and bugs near the grassy area but nothing near the water :) Also, the park itself super small and you can easily just finish everything in like.....10min or less.

This is another of my favorite places in Seattle to go and escape the noise and rush of everyday…read moreresponsibilities. It's a small park hidden off of Eastlake Ave. Here you will find two or three benches, a small patch of grass, a neighborhood garden patch and a boat launch that's perfect for canoes or kayaks. I love to sit here and watch the last golden rays of the setting sun slowly disappear and then wait for a few minutes until the bats come out, darting here and there.

This park seemed a bit rundown and/or in need of some maintenance... despite the fact that it was…read morein a pretty nice neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't horrible but I would have expected nicer. For example they have a couple wooden bleachers that seem like they'd fall apart if more than a few people sat on them.

This is the bigger of the two queen anne playfields. It is adjacent to the Queen Anne community…read morecenter and across the street from the pool. There are softball and baseball fields, which can also be used for soccer and other sports. Towards the north west corner of the park there's also a playground area for kids and toddlers. there are two large picnic tables near the playground which can be great for a meal on a nice day. There are also paved paths that kids can use to ride bikes and scooters on, though they are slightly hilly.

Peace at 5:31 AM. This place is unusually loud but early in the morning brings a sense of peace.read more

"Excuse me, how do we get to the ocean?"…read more I was standing at a corner near Westlake Park waiting for the light to turn when a lady and her daughter came up to me and asked me this question. I pointed them towards Elliott Bay. We were definitely nowhere near the Pacific Ocean but I was pretty sure they wanted to get to the waterfront. I chuckled a little after they went on their merry way. It was an organic, human connection that happened during my lunch break. This wasn't the first time someone came up to me and asked me for directions. I kinda expect it when I'm around the retail/hotel district. I'm ok helping folks out; it's a test of my own navigational skills. When my cousins and I were kids we used to run through the park's water fountain. They shut the water off years ago though. They say it's broken but I think people bathed in it or used it as a toilet. Blech. Supposedly they're going to remove this art piece and make way for a redesign. Westlake Mall used to have an outdoor patio overlooking the park. You used to have an aerial view of the Salish basket weave pattern. Then the mall got rid of the top floor food court and decided to close off the patio section. Unless you work in a nearby building it's hard to view the public art's entirety. Kitty corner from the park on 4th & Pine is a building where The Bon Marché used to be. Every winter they would install a giant star on the SE corner of that building. It's lit up to brighten the dark days. Walking past this building always reminded me of the Day-O, One Day Sale jingle. They hold special events and activities year round. They also host food trucks during the workweek. It's easy to get here. Just take the bus to Westlake Center or the light rail to Westlake Station. Side note: If you have time, check out the 80-foot Sequoia Tree a block away. Man In Tree made it popular :) Also, if you're looking for free brochures and visitor guides they have stands at the Convention Center Arch Building, Pike Place Market, the Seattle Ferry Terminal, and King Street Station.

This park has a nicer part and then a fenced off not nice part. Great for reading and relaxing…read more There is police presence

I found the spot where the homeless hang out. I managed to transit this area and not get stabbed or…read moreaccosted or even asked for money. That's a big plus. The security guard at the Smith Building around the corner told me later that they really only hassle each other. They mostly leave the outsiders alone. It smells like pee.

Steve and I were in Seattle's International District a few weekends ago and I had the community…read moregardens that are within Kobe Terrace (there is a separate Yelp entry for that) in my Yelp bookmarks. I didn't know anything about Kobe Terrace so it was a nice bonus as we were coming here just to check out the community gardens. The wavy chairs down at the bottom of the park is cool as well as all the woodwork around the bottom entrance which is right next to those chairs. As we went up the stairs that reach the top of terrace and through the community gardens we enjoyed all of the greenery and the informational plaques as we made our way. At the top of Kobe Terrace there is a beautiful stone lantern at the top. We definitely took some pictures of it. Apparently going off of some of the pictures other reviewers have made it's beautiful here in the Spring as many of the trees are blooming trees, it looks like cherry blossoms to be specific and it looks so amazing and enchanting strolling through those trees from those pictures so that's definitely something to keep in mind!

It is tricky to review Kobe Terrace. It is a tidy little park that if you come in late March, maybe…read moreearly April, it is heavenly. The place is FILLED with cherry blossom trees. Sure, UW has them, but this place doesn't have the crowds. We were there in late March. Some of the petals have fallen. With every breeze, more petals would fall as though it's raining petals. In Japan, the favorite viewing of cherry blossoms is not necessarily at the peak of the blossoms, but it's just a bit past the prime, exactly at this time of falling petals. We stumbled on this time at Kobe Terrace, and it was just the best. The ground is white-ish with the infinite petals. They also have wave benches and a lantern from Kobe, Japan. So, what's the catch? Well, this park attracts 'others', too. You are very likely sharing space with them. Hey, it's a public park; they can sit on the benches, too. With every breeze, you might pick up extra scent. Enough said. Just be mentally prepared. An Asian gentleman was doing tai chi at the park. Good for him. I am happy to see a local enjoying the park. A group of five young ladies were happily snapping photos of the cherry blossoms. Yay for them. I will likely return during cherry blossoms season. I doubt I would return during other times of the year. It barely feels safe in the daytime because this park is in a corner, backed up against I-5, away from any visible crowds or street traffic. It's always shaded from much visible light. There are several low-income housings nearby, but very few choose to spend time at this park. It is fine if you are in a group. Side note: Adjacent to the park is the Danny Woo Community Garden, tended to by several local communities.

The University Playground is definitely not one of the famous Seattle parks... that is for sure…read more It's more of a neighborhood park for all of the nearby residents and in that aspect it's fine. The park is actually pretty clean aside for some urban camping going on in one corner of the park. There is a lot of playground equipment for the kids to enjoy as well as a playing field so this park definitely has all of the basics covered as to what makes up a park. It just isn't one of the parks with a lot of bells and whistles ( ex. leash free dog park, swimming pool, etc.). Despite not having a lot of walking trails in this park it is still a decent park to take a stroll through. There is a piece of playground equipment with a troll statue on it... definitely not to be confused with the Fremont Troll.

As far as playgrounds are concerned for toddlers and kids this is kinda weak and lackluster…read more There were a few homeless camps set up in the perimeter of the play area, 'tho the transients didn't cause any trouble nor bother anyone, their presence seemed alarming and disturbing by sight as more of a negative than positive to the environment and atmosphere. The play area itself and equipment for toddlers and kids were not that much to do or play around on or with, so I'd probably never come back here again for the purpose of getting a kid to play. This place has the potential for re-invigoration 'tho.

Lawton Park is the epitome of a neighborhood park and contains two play structures and little…read moreleague field. It's a bit of an odd trek entering in on 26 Ave as it's a significantly steep climb. Leaving past Williams Avenue also doesn't look on the map like the trail goes through the woods, but boy does it and those mildly creepy woods spit you out right onto 29th Ave. The park itself was incredibly clean and while it didn't boast much seating or culture (the one star loss), it does seem to be aimed at the Elementary School age since it nearly adjoins Lawton Elementary School. I could easily see the school using the field for their local team. For the most part Lawton Park is probably meant only as a park for the school and locals, and doesn't seem to be aimed at being anything other than a children's recreation area so unless you're bringing children here, it's probably not going to be your cup of tea.