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.

A tiny space, across the street from our hotel, with a waterfall…read more It's well-maintained and clean and closes at 10 pm.

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.

This is an area in pioneer square area that has lots of trees but I wasn't sure what was exactly…read moregoing on here as there were some homeless people gathering and there was open space and then some art stuff.

I love what this place wants to be-a central location for people to congregate, enjoy live music…read morefrom street performers, participate in yard games or sip on their coffee while people-watching. It's obvious that this is what it was intended for. However, we found it to be dirty and overrun with people whose intentions might not have been as wholesome. The stale smell of urine hung in the air and there was trash everywhere. I believe that public space should be open to everyone-regardless of their living situation. However, I also believe that illegal activity such as doing drugs, littering or panhandling shouldn't be allowed. Perhaps I visited on an unusual day. There really is a lot of potential here and I'd love to visit again and enjoy what it was meant to be.

Nice views and a great place to catch the sunset. Safe area to walk by the water. Lots of food…read morespots nearby. Good place to take photos and ample seating.

What a lovely place with benches and a great view!! Unfortunately, there is no many seats. We stood…read moreup and waited for music in yhis specific date. There was a festival, and that's what I like from here. It is vibrant with different kinds of festivals. The view is spectacular and has a little less people than upstairs. It can get pretty hot on summer. No restrooms near as far as I know. Parking would be across the street by yhe Pike Place Market one. So had to walk around...

Attractive clean park with a Korean pavilion. Clean when I visited. The bike path next to it was…read morebeing well used. The only drawback is the noise from the freeway but the greenery helps improve the air quality.

Lovely park on E slope of Beacon hill. The Korean pavilion is a nice picnic spot, and it has never…read morebeen crowded when I've visited Good signage lets you know the history of how this park was built.

Came for the troll and stayed for the beautiful weather and open space. Convenient parking and…read morerestroom facilities. The troll is a short walk on flat ground from the parking area closest to the road.

Fun small park across from the High School. Pia the…read morePeacemaker troll is a huge photo opportunity enjoyed by many!

Originally the honey and I were hoping to take the trail that cuts off from the 1-90 trail down and…read moreunder the East Portal Viewpoint, however it was cordoned off so we ended up taking in the gorgeous view and going back through the tunnel to Bradner Gardens Park. The view at the East Portal Viewpoint is amazing, especially on a clear day. It's so pretty that when you're on the other side of Lake Washington, you can think back on what it looked like like from so high up. It's almost entirely an easy walk from Sam Smith Park through the large tunnel, though the last 20 feet or so after the tunnel up to the view is up a steep incline, so be prepared. Otherwise this was a fun point in our day, and definitely worth the detour!

We've driven under here for decades but never looked to see what's above. After studying Google…read moremaps, I learned of this viewpoint and decided it's time to search for it. Essentially, you'll be standing above where it says "Seattle - Portal to the Pacific" This spot is not easy to find so definitely GPS your way there. If you drive a stick shift, be aware of some steep streets in the area. It was a cloudy day and the fact this is not a park with resting places, it's not crowded at all. It's kind of nice to stand here and take some pictures. If you want to explore, there's a walk/bike path to get down to I-90 and Lake Washington. The walk/bike path tunnel has some cool art work. Because it's relatively quiet, I'd suggest proceed with caution rather you're on foot or bike. I'm not familiar with the safety in this area. Probably don't come alone at night for your first visit. Anyway, as a local, I think it's a visit at least once worthy scenic stop.

Ok for sheer delight in an unexpected pleasure. It's a neighborhood delight. A neighbor has…read moreaccumulated little figurines in a boardwalk that goes over a small ravine. It's one of those delightful spot in a way that only Seattle can create. So if you are in he area you do have to visit. It's not easy to find. It joins a dead end in Denny Blaine and the big Madrona drive street. Go for it！

This place is so fun for gnome lovers! I was in Seattle for a few weeks helping a friend get…read moresettled and was looking for fun places to go see, and this was definitely a fun surprise. There are so many gnomes and it feels like more appears every time you visit. The "valley" itself is small-- it's basically a bridge that goes across and up a set of stairs. But don't be surprised that you'll be able to find so many gnomes!