It can get pretty crowded, although it's to be expected to a place this gorgeous. Who doesn't like…read morethe beach? When I visited, there were cyclists, roller skaters, people flying kites, numerous dog-walkers and even a pair out walking their pet goats!? Totally amazing atmosphere. On clear days, there are great views of Seattle and surrounding mountains. On lucky days, you can spot orca whales! Keep an eye out especially during the fall and winter, or if you're particularly committed, there are several social media groups dedicated to posting about whale sightings. You might just want to bring along a pair of binoculars whenever you visit...just in case. There's street parking that's a close stroll to the beach, and one public washroom that I could find.

According to history, "Alki Beach is the site of the landing of the first white settlers in Seattle…read moreon a cold, stormy day in November of 1851. Chief Seattle and his tribe greeted them and helped them build their cabin to stave off the cold, wet winter." Little did that settlers know that a little over 100 years following this the beach would be a party beach with teens driving up and down the street with their loud motors, bonfires and Bluetooth speakers and other activity clearly trying to draw attention. The beach itself is nice but it's way crowded. I came here and it was only like mid-April, and it happened to be a decent day with some sun but boy was it crowded and noisy. Like a lot of beaches parking is a bit touch and go as well with mostly street parking that you have to luck out with. I'm told you can walk and bike your way downtown from here which must be interesting. While Alki is nice, the vibe seems totally for the young blood out here trying to impress one another. Lincoln Park beach is a bit more my scene.

This is everything we hoped for in a floating expedition. We wanted an introductory whitewater…read moreexperience with our 9-year-old boys, and they accommodated our request to navigate Level 2 rapids. Andrea was our guide, and she gave us a perfect stretch of sizable time on the Skykomish. In the middle of the trip, we shored the raft, and Andrea set up a delicious lunch spread. The spread even accommodated my wife's dietary restrictions. We also had the opportunity to swim around in a crystal-clear pool of water that was behind the rock bar. You could go with the mega-sized outfit that probably gets more hits on Google, but I've dealt with those companies. They tend to rush people in and out, and see their operation as more of an amusement park. With Chinook, Shane and Andrea love what they do, and have decades of experience on the river. They will give you the firsthand experience that you are looking for.

Shane and Andrea are so river and nature wise. Their passion and excitement about sharing this…read moreexperience with you is contagious!! We felt safe, educated and so happy during our 2 different floats!!

Absolutely amazing experience!! The staff were 10/10 every single moment. Full of jokes, positive…read moreenergy and awesome at teaching us about zip lining safely and helping us have a fun time out there. Paddy and Josh were our guides and we loved them. There's a total of 6 zip lines. They start at shorter and easier and increase in difficulty. I wouldn't say it's a very extreme zip line, there were plenty of young children doing it as well. Fun fact: the longest zip line is slightly longer than the Space Needle in length! There were about 8 people on the tour with my husband and I (not including guides). I think the only con is having to wait for everyone at every canopy which is understandable for a safety point of view but can take some time and I'm a bit impatient. But you're quite high up so I took the time to enjoy the views, peace and quiet of being in the forest! Also, a good opportunity to strike up some conversation with everyone else. The staff helped us get into our gear, get in and out of every zip line and gave us a velocity push when we wanted extra speed very kindly. Halfway through the tour, you even get freshly made lavender lemonade which was delicious. I would try to book this in advance if you're trying to go on a weekend. I went on a Friday afternoon and was lucky enough to book same day. All in all, if you're looking for a fun day trip activity nearby Seattle - this was an hour and a half drive and just a lovely day! Would come back for sure!

Wow!! What a fun adventure through the forest!! Our guides, Tony and Austin were knowledgeable,…read morefunny and very careful with us. No one in our group was fearful!!! Everyone should experience this adventure. We will bring our grandchildren next time. GREAT time and great job Tony and Austin!!

Great park for picnics, bbq's, and celebrations. The ample space and playground provides a wide…read morerange of activities for all age groups. The city of Seattle did a great job designing Jefferson park. I love seeing all of the families that live on Beacon meeting up. You always run into someone either before or after at Red Apple or D'pite bakery that is heading to the park.

Huge, clean space with beautiful views! Very little shade, but I imagine that's not a huge issue in…read moreSeattle. We explored: - skate park: well laid out with a bowl and lots of ramps to practice (my son rode his bike) - splash pad with slides - two zip lines (highlight) - playground for smaller kids - great, flat trails for biking Overall, I am so impressed and wish we had something like this by us.

Centennial Park is a very cute little park that could use some nicer restrooms and many more ways…read moreto cross the tracks to get to it. We ended up crossing right before the Sculpture Garden across a fairly wide pedestrian bridge, but having a few underpasses would have been a much nicer and easier cross. Sadly Pier 86 has been shut down, so there seems to be no real restroom access beyond a portable restroom with no sink, but otherwise there's been quite a bit of work done on the trail and park and it definitely shows.

It's so nice to walk along the water and listen to the birds chirping and smell everything outside…read moreon this beautiful Thursday afternoon 5/25/23 This is a great way to get my steps in while enjoying the weather and sights!!

Camp Long is the biggest park in West Seattle most people don't know about. It's not on the water -…read morebut that's not a bad thing. Within the boundaries of the park are miles of trails that most people drive hours out of town to walk on. Not to mention owl spottings, blackberries, bathrooms, cabins to camp in, a natural rock climbing wall and a cool events space. I had dear friends get married here and it felt like they had rented a overnight camp to celebrate - but it was a ten minute walk home. Weeds are a bit overgrown with COVID having Parks only doing essential maintenance but not too bad. Spend an hour or an afternoon here - it's worth it!

I grew up in Burien and have lived here all my life. As a teenager with lots of energy and nothing…read moreto do, I can remember going to a church group who took kids, like myself, on weekend trips camping. I can remember going with the group to camp at the park and fell in love with the beauty of the park and all the fun we had playing games and camping. This was in the mid 70's and I haven't been back since but I should revisit the park to remember the great times I had there that helped me stay out of trouble and be productive in life as I got older. Great place to take the family to back then.

it's a great place to take kayak classes I learned from…read moreRobert in a private class He helped me to advance a lot, especially in recovery techniques, strokers and many other things He is a very devoted coach giving very helpful individualized instructions. Also he helped me a lot with selecting gear I highly recommend Salmon Bay Paddle

I thoroughly enjoyed my class on currents, tides and navigation held at deception pass this…read moreweekend. His attention to detail and patience was thoroughly enjoyable.

This is the most amazing adventure I have experienced. If you want a fun time book an adventure…read morewith Outdoor Adventure Center. It's a beautiful area as well. The host are wonderful people.

A group of six purchased Living Social vouchers for the Lopez Island 3 hour Sea Kayak Tour…read more We needed to take a ferry to get to Lopez Island. Plan accordingly. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ Outdoor adventures keeps the guided groups small (maximum 12 people). I appreciate the small groups since this was my first time kayaking. Three types of kayaks are available: single, double or triple occupancy. Discover is an accepted form of payment. A Discover Pass is required to park at Spencer Spit. If you do not have a pass, a $10 day pass can be purchased with cash or check. There were several rangers checking passes on our visit so be sure to have a pass visibly displayed to avoid being ticketed. WHAT TO BRING - Signed Release of Liability - Bathing suit or non-cotton under layers preferred - A synthetic shirt (capilene, polypro, Under Armor, etc) - Shorts or pants made of a synthetic material (may get wet/damp) - Lightweight fleece jacket or windbreaker/rain jacket to provide warmth - Water shoes or sandals that strap on (or shoes that can get wet) - Sun hat and/or sunglasses - Sunscreen and chapstick - Water bottle - Optional; Camera, Plastic bag for wet items and change of clothing - If you have a gift certificate or prepaid voucher (such as Groupon) please bring a printed copy with you! Dorito Dan was our guide for the day. Dan was friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The first hour is dedicated to introductions, procedures and safety. Be sure to use the restroom before departing. Once on the water, there is no turning back. Kayaking is great for teamwork and communication. Both are required to avoid frustration. I recommend wearing weight-lifting/bicycle gloves in order to prevent blisters. Each person in our group started getting blisters towards the end of the tour. During our 3 mile kayaking trip, we spotted starfish, seals and majestic bald eagles. Thank you Outdoor Adventures for providing a magnificent day of play while surrounded by gorgeous Mother Nature. We all plan to return in the near future for another go-around.

I can see why people would be a little off put by this park. It's got a lot of concrete, blind…read morecorners and (unfortunately) homeless people all around. The shortcut up the hill is way worth any of that though. And I think the park is beautiful in it's own way. I love the industrial look and how it melds with it's environment. Our experience was a good one. It was a bright and sunny day with minimal wind. We saw over 6 sets of homeless people and they didn't bother us one bit. Our hotel overlooked the park and we saw people in it with their dogs all the time, even when it was raining.

I'm not if they still run the water in the summer anymore. It's showing some neglect for sure…read morethere, a lot trash at the bottom but rest of park was chill there is an small homeless camp there

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.