My friend and I were out and about and wanted to stop at Alki. The beach was packed but we found…read morethis viewpoint that has access to a beach walkway. Street parking available. Clean area with spectacular views. Access to the water. It was a nice afternoon and great access if the main beach area is full for parking.

Loved coming out here to see the tidepools during low tide. The parking is street parking in the…read moreneighborhood. The views are gorgeous, and we saw SO MUCH wildlife, many of which this Midwesterner had never even heard of before. Amazing!

West Seattle has a great path along the entire waterfront and the Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook is…read moreone of the lovely stops along the way. There's a good amount of seating areas, beautiful views, and beach access. Come here at the "right" times of the year to see whales, seals, sea lions, and otters. On the day I went I saw a few otters, but everyone else was either absent or hiding well.

Beautiful place to stop, watch the ocean or walk around in West Seattle. From here, you can see…read moreBlake Island and Fort Ward. Peaceful, calm, serene in the warm months. Watch people kite surfing and sailing. Bring a special someone and hug it out while watching the sunset. Saw a guy snoozing in his convertible, content as could be.

A couple squares of green along the northern edge of Pike Place Market, this small park recently…read morereopened in March 2025 after some renovations to improve the structural integrity of the park grounds and the underground parking below it. This park provides a little bit of open air respite from the crowds within the market, on July 4th weekend it was pretty packed with loungers, picnickers, tourists taking a break or snapping the waterfront views. Some benches and picnic tables are available. The site of the park is south of what was once the Washington State National Guard Armory built around 1909, was partially destroyed in a 1962 fire, then almost turned into high rise developments and offices during a period when Pike Place Market was proposed to be demolished, but ultimately saved by protests by "Friends of the Market". The city purchased the land on which the armory used to stand and then transferred jurisdiction of a parcel to the parks department, which designated this as "Market Park" in 1982, then renamed in honor of Victor Steinbrueck, an architect, faculty at the University of Washington, and historical preservationist of buildings in Seattle. He was known for his work in helping to design the Space Needle and his advocacy for the restoration and preservation of Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square.

The Victor Steinbrueck Park is an open passive park where people come to picnic and enjoy the views…read moreof the marina and waterfront area. It is a short distance from the Pike's Place Market area. The park itself was pretty but the population of people hanging out on a nice warm day were pretty interesting. Some looked a little more like drugged out zombies and yet there were children running around enjoying the day as well. The large totem pole is one of many artistic pieces of work in this area. The iron wings are another. There were places to sit and take a look around as well as plenty of food stalls to grab a morning coffee or a bite to eat. I was not as impressed by this park as I was with the Overlook Walk which was along the way.

A very nice walk through park to park (from West to East Montlakes). The trail is over the…read moreconnection to the lake. But the part underneath the bridge has a urine smell. Some people have painted the some walls. At the end, there is a little beach and a tiny spot for a picnic. Loved that there were some trashcans and a benches to admire the water. I advice to go back through this trail because if you yo back through the Arboretum, you'll have to cross some streets and cars don't stop in more of the times. And it can get very warm during the summer.

I love this area, one of a few places in Seattle where I can relax and breath. Has a nice view and…read morewater canal. Only street parking, 2 hours

There is plenty of free street parking for cars (the associated paved lot here is pay-by-phone, but…read moreI think it's reserved for people who are actively using the boat ramp/on the water as this is one of the most popular saltwater boat ramps due to proximity to salmon fishing spots). Launch permits are required here. There's a public restroom here as well which was pretty clean when I visited. The view of Seattle's skyline across Elliott Bay is very pretty here. When I visited there were a bunch of photographers and people walking around enjoying the day. There were also a lot of car lovers parked here posing with their cars and hanging out. Interesting spot to choose to gather, but really adds to the atmosphere! They weren't bothering anyone and the park wasn't particularly busy. I'm sure they would let you take photos of their cars too if you wanted.

I recently found this park and I'm really in awe of what a wonderful view of the Seattle skyline…read morethere is. It's one of my newly found favorite parks. There was plenty of parking when I went, which I was kind of shocked about because I thought it would be more popular because if you take a look at the pictures, it's just so awesome. It has a small walking pathway and benches along the way if you want to stop and just gaze. It's almost too hard to take it all in since it's so quiet and serene. There are more grassy areas nearby as well if you want to lay out a blanket or a yoga mat or have a picnic. I was going to say there isn't a playground or anything for kids, but who needs a playground when there is just so much to see naturally. The water is actually super clear as well. Watch the boats go by or people watch or you may or may not see some special wildlife pop up. It's really a great place to relax. They do have restroom facilities on site just in case.

A great short hike through the wetlands, close to U of W. Lots of bird watching opportunities,…read moreseeing lots of ducks, hummingbirds, raptors, and other water loving birds and creatures. A cool spot of nature, between lake Washington, Washington State Arboretum, and the University. Looking forward to coming back, when the ice is gone, and enjoying a sunny breezy day by the lake. Easy hike with lots of food and drink opportunities close by. Yelping on, Cheers!

I love, love, love the nature!…read more I love walks. Urban walks that make you feel like you've left the city hold a special place in my heart. The only bit that bothered me a little was related to this park being situated on an old landfill. I hear those leak eventually, and it was a little disturbing to see a couple of puddles of oil on the ground and some slightly unusual bubbles coming from the creek. I definitely prefer parks and trails to development and blocked off unused space, so... I guess this is as good as it gets for such a space.

This beach/park is right on the water near Alki with a great view of downtown Seattle…read more There's a small strip of beach. They have some historical markers, a water fountain including a water bowl for the dogs and a huge anchor. There's a pier with benches. Free parking on the street.

Hard to beat this view of Seattle!!! This location can be enjoyed by car, foot, bike, stake board,…read morekayak or paddle board. There are plenty of rental shops to help you get around. If this is your first time to Seattle or not, this is a wonderful place to enjoy breathtaking views. Enjoy!!!

I came to Bergen Place in advance of Norwegian Constitution Day (17 May) this year, 2023, as a bit…read moreof a self-priming for the holiday. I arrived around 7:30 a.m. today, Sunday 7 May 2023, and vendors as part of the Sunday market had started setting up their tents on 22nd Avenue Northwest. There is no designated parking area for the park, so I went with street parking closer to the Mighty-O Donuts on Northwest Market Street (about a 0.2 mile walk). The park has various sculptures, a mural, and stones with engravings dedicated to Seattle's sister city, Bergen, Norway, and the role of Scandinavians in the history of the Seattle area. The park is roughly in the shape of a quadrilateral and has a large paved open space with a long bench on one side where one can sit and rest. I appreciated the informational placard at the base of the mural that provided some of the historical/cultural significance it conveyed. As for the name of the park, Bergen is my Norwegian hometown so I am happy. I also like it considering I have encountered a number of people in my life experience who have thought Oslo is the only urban center in Norway... Per fifth-generation law, I still have land rights in Norway. A return or go back for me to Bergen or the land of my ancestors (fjordlands and further north) would be an interesting change of pace. Bergen Place here in Ballard is a fun place to go and get the creative juices (both reflective and forward mapping) going.

For visitors, this is named after Ballard's sister city, Bergen, Norway…read more Quaint little park in the center of Ballard. Take a seat. Have a nosh. People watch. Why not, this is Seattle. A part of one of Seattle's many neighborhoods. Ballard is kinda hip kinda wow. Fooderies. Music venues. Movie theaters. Nice mural and quirky sculptures. This place is more a landmark than a park.