it was not on our primary itinerary. But on plan B. Having more time on hand we decided to take our…read morekid there so he could see farm animals and peacocks. It truly is amazing park. Very similar to Golden Gate but still very different. The ey don't charge fees but there is suggested fee ($7 for adults $6 for kids. Or you can donate Howe much ever you like. The farm animals and specially petting goats was the best experience. We saw many peacocks and peahens roaming freely. The ducks and geese in all the ponds were keeping children's entertained. They have multiple pathways and trails to walk or bike. We visited two of the children's playgrounds on two different days. Definitely plenty of parking all over. If you have little ones definitely recommend to visit to have their play time. It also is mini Butchart gardens if you missed the real one.

A huge public resource to the area; lots of manicured lawns and plants and wildlife surprisingly…read more We saw deer, heron, ducks, geese, and for some reason, peacocks. Fairly large sized area for walking as well.

Beacon Park lies at the foot of Sidney's Beacon Avenue, near the city's waterfront. For us, it,…read moreand immediate surrounding area, offered a lovely, scenic spot for some short walkabouts to catch some waterfront sights & sounds, on our way to catch the ferry back home at Swartz Bay. Wow, what a lovely spot, and our stop here provided a nice, but too brief time to really absorb and experience the offerings, but we did what we could, and sure enjoyed the views. And a fun plus for us, was chatting with some of the local residents out for their morning walks with their dogs!! Within the Park, there is art (some 'fun and clever' sculptures associated with the 'Sidney Seaside Sculpture Walk' begin here), a small pavillion, picnic tables, and walkways along the waterfront (to really enjoy the seaside views). And nearby, the boardwalk out onto the Sidney Wharf (with fish market, restaurant, access to boats/ferries, and such), and the back-side of the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre (with it's own great nature-related sculptures, set on the living tide-pool setup). We now know what's there, and next trip will plan better, to enjoy a little more of what Sidney's Beacon Park, and area has to offer. edit to add: stopped by again, April 27, on the way to catch the ferry. Shot a few pictures of the sculptures.

I only got to visit the American Camp side of this park, but it was wonderful!…read more Driving along Cattle Point Road you'll see signs to enter multiple different sites at the park. I mainly stopped at three locations: Cattle Point Interpretive Area: You can either take the steps down to the pebbly beach to feel more connected to the water, or go up the mossy mound to get a high ground view of... well, everything. I saw water, cliffs, islands, ducks, eagles, seals... unfortunately, no whales, though, prob because this is not the time of year they are around much. Cattle Point Lighthouse: Walked on a cute trail to the lighthouse, where I saw a humongous red fox on a hill, looking like it was digging or pouncing on something! On the other side of the lighthouse are views of miles of open sky and water. South Beach: On the road leading to the beach, we actually saw a black fox just chilling, lying on the road. It moved to the fenced area as we approached, and my gosh it was beautiful. I didn't even know black foxes existed! The beach itself is wide and has views of endless water, with some driftwood hanging out near you. I know there's so much more to the park that we didn't see, but I was quite happy with the wildlife and incredible scenery. Especially the foxes... I've only seen like one other (that I can remember), so seeing the ones here were such a bonus. The trails and sites that we missed are even more reason to return to San Juan Island National Historical Park. I just hope I'm able to come out to this island again someday.

Awesome ferry ride over to the islands. With Beautiful views. Entering was easy and quick.read more

I hadn't planned to visit Lime Kiln Point State Park while staying on San Juan Island, but our BnB…read morehost INSISTED we include a visit to the park in our itinerary. Lesson learned; always trust the guidance of locals when visiting a new place. This park is a gem! Visitors will find this gorgeous park located on the west side of the Island, perfectly situated to offer stunning views of the Salish Sea. The park is named for its historic lime kiln used by settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. An interpretive center has displays and activities about orcas and the area's lime kiln industry once important to the region. The coastline is incomparable! A five to ten minute downhill walk from the parking lot reveals remarkable views of the Olympic Mountains and an expansive view of sparkling water stretching far into the distance. It's said this site is one of the best whale watching locations in the islands, where visitors will most likely be able to see orcas! We weren't fortunate enough to find any during our visit, but the scenery was rewarding enough. The trail continues along the rocky shoreline, passing several pristine coves and thickets of madrones with twisted, curling red bark. The trail soon reveals a beautiful lighthouse on a rocky bluff, and the lime kilns in the distance. There is a well-curated gift shop back at the parking lot, as well as picnic tables, information kiosks, and public restrooms. There's a whole lot of beauty packed into this 42 acre park... something you won't want to miss!

Truly a picturesque park with beautiful coastal hikes. We certainly enjoyed walking along the…read morecoastline while taking in the scenery. Walking to the lighthouse was a perfect adventure and not strenuous if you are looking for a pretty easy hike. Stop and look out for whales (we didn't see any) and also check out the tide pools!

Beautiful and accessible to people,dogs,bikes etc. great amenity for a small but awesome communityread more

Very convenient and nicely maintained "park" with an old railroad bridge over the river. The trail,…read morewhich is paved, is part of a larger walking and cycling trail that winds through this part of town. I put park in quote marks because it's really just those two things - a walking/cycling trail and a bridge. There isn't any large grassy areas, for instance. I wouldn't say that going down to the water was encouraged yet there were some folks down there. Lots of people with relatives, kids, dogs, lots of cyclists going both directions. It is a birding draw - although the birds were being coy on the day we were there. Importantly, it is right next to (meaning the bridge is right next to) the Dungeness River Nature Center, which is definitely worth checking out and won't slow you down if you are antsy to walk/jog/cycle - it's small but very nice (reviewed separately). As an FYI and this is not something you should be worried about necessarily but this area does have coyotes - more so at night.

Beautiful park! I walk the 2 mile loop most mornings and enjoy saying hello to familiar faces and…read moredogs! This is a beautiful park with gorgeous views, beach access, boat ramp with ample trailer parking, a small campground etc. The loop walk is a favorite and there are no cars allowed before 10 am. There are also plenty of trails to explore if the paved loop isn't one's thing.

It's not a fun park unless you're a kid. Then it's a blast with a playground that has those weird…read morecircular htings that swing you around with your weight and other fancy playground items. But this park is more about the sunset. I was in town as a day trip and the weather was so nice that I wanted to check out the sunset. We sat there people watching on the bench as the sun started sinking over the water. People walked out down the pier and it made for really nice pictures. Once the sun went down, people left because there was a chill in the air, but until that moment, the sunset was magical. Definitely glad we hung around for twilight.

A great ridge hike with amazing views! Remember the parking opens after 9am though! There's only…read moreone outhouse at beginning of trail but the signage on the trails are awesome and you will not be lost! Value 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Service 3/5 Quality 5/5 18/20

Smaller than it appears in photos but lots to do for little toddler kids and bigger kids. About /…read morepark benches for parents to sit on. There is also a multi purpose court for sports use. It can be busy because it's hyped up so best to go on a weekday. The metal slide is pretty fast and not suitable for little ones in the rain.

Very well maintained and beautiful playground for children! My child occasionally asks for a visit…read moreand enjoys the park!

This is a pretty unique place as the spit is the longest natural sand spit in the United States,…read moremeasuring at about 5 miles long. Why isn't there an exact length? Well, it's because the spit is growing about 15 feet a year through the deposition of sediment by the motion of the tidal currents. If you have time, you can hike the entire length of the spit to reach the New Dungeness Lighthouse. There are daily tours available, or even better, you can opt to reserve to live in the lighthouse keeper's house! Don't worry about carrying all of your luggage on the hike - they will drive you in a four-wheel drive transfer vehicle. I've also heard of people boating to the lighthouse instead of land-based transportation. Anyway, this area is very gorgeous and amazing for getting outside. It feels like the sky and the ocean swallow you up in all of the shades of blue.

Had such a relaxing visit to Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge! The scenery is gorgeous and super…read morecalm. Couldn't hike all the way to the lighthouse this time around, but it's on my list for next time for sure. A couple of quick heads-ups for fellow visitors: * ​If you don't have a State Park Pass, the entrance fee is $3. Make sure to bring cash, as the card machine was down during our visit. * Free parking is available, and there's a campground right nearby. * Definitely bring a hat, sunglasses, plenty of water, and solid walking shoes. It's a lovely place to unwind!