Smackdab right in the middle of Seattle, this park is a treasure! In addition to the wide open spaces, trees, and fountains, the Volunteer Park Conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum are also located here. If you want to see a good view of Seattle, check out the Volunteer Park Water Tower's observation deck in the southeast corner of Volunteer Park right on top of Capitol Hill. There's no elevator so be prepared to climb the 107 stairs to the top and be rewarded with 360-degree view of Seattle! There are bars and fencing at the windows though, which does detract a little from the experience. Between the windows are informational signs about Seattle's history. I'll be back to check out the art museum and the conservatory in the future! read more

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I don't know if this is an appropriate comparison yet I feel that Volunteer Park is Seattle's mini version of Central Park in NYC. Why? Because it's vast and it has so many little (or large) treasures that you find as you meander through the trees and flowers and pathways; there are duck ponds, sculpture, a city reservoir, large pastures, a botanical conservatory, a museum *the Seattle Asian Art Museum. You get the idea. I really enjoy this park every time I visit. Located atop a hill it also offers a lovely vista of Seattle. read more

Volunteer Park was really nice. I especially liked the water tower and seeing all the ducks around the park. It was a peaceful and enjoyable place to walk around. read more

We enjoyed a quiet afternoon in the park. We grabbed a spot on a dead tree to sit and relax. Others were also soaking up the sun and hanging out. read more

Definitely worth a visit. Volunteer Park is a beautiful historic park located in the heart of Seattle, designed by the Olmsted Brothers and a it's a must see as one of Seattle's well known landmarks. We skipped the inside of conservatory and Asian Art Museum but enjoyed strolling the grounds and admiring the views and taking in the fresh are. The sculpture, Black Sun by Isamu Noguchi, is here too and perfectly frames the Space Needle when you look through it. The highlight was climbing the water tower. The hike up was tiring, we were so out of breath and had to take some breaks, but the views were stunning. Definitely worth it and the walk down was so much easier! The park is peaceful and well-maintained, with plenty of spots to relax. Parking is free but fills up fast. A must-visit for locals and tourists alike! Check out the website for more info at https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/volunteer-park read more

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Growing up in Seattle, Volunteer Park was a place we visited often when I was a kid. Fast forward to adulthood (and living far away in the more affordable 'burbs), and it had been quite awhile since I visited this magnificent, iconic park. I returned on a crisp fall day, and although I had missed nature's autumn glory by about a week, the trees were still doing their best to impress with hues of gold and red. It was a great spot to take a nice stroll and get some fresh air. The park is clean, felt safe, and there were lots of people and families strolling about enjoying their day. I highly recommend a visit to this park if you need a little serenity in the middle of the busy city. read more

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A really stunning park designed by John Olmsted. Among the park attractions are the Water Tower (built in 1906), with great views from the top observation area, the Volunteer Park Conservatory (opened in 1912), and the Asian Art Museum. read more

Beautiful park! Here in a business trip and so after my inspection I needed some grounding with Mother Nature ! walked barefooted through this gorgeous & lush mini forestry trail . I fell in love with the redwoods, pines, and so many species of trees ! Saunter and engage with Mother Nature and hug a tree, the energy these grandfathers give are amazing . Recharge, Reset and get inspired ‍‍‍ read more

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This is a massive, sprawling, big-treed city park. The type of parks you only find in the gorgeous PacNW. You can more or less walk from downtown up into Capital Hill, using almost exclusively footpaths fanning up into this park...with very little need to ever even cross a road. I didn't know that was even possible in Seattle, but it apparently is. It's massive and its expertly maintained. A great place to read a book or take a nap or run some laps or maybe all three...depending on what you're into. read more

Volunteer Park - sunset in the park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went mid-September to see the dahlia garden and they were in full bloom. Stunning and definitely worth a visit. It's free and just in the middle of the park. read more

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Cute walk in the park and a lot of shade for a picnic. Plenty of parking on the sidewalk near the amphitheater. read more

Volunteer Park - A lot of flowers and things to sniff . 10/10 - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great place to chill! Shady and beautiful. Plenty of spots to lay out a blanket and just enjoy the day. From downtown, it's an easy #10 bus ride. read more

Volunteer Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My partner and I lived within a mile of Volunteer Park the first 2 years we lived in Seattle. One of our outdoor enjoyment activities is meandering thru various parks; the fresh air, sunshine, and wild animals...certainly increases the endorphins. We've walked Volunteer Park numerous times and it's one of our favorites in the area. With its vast, nature filled ambiance, it's definitely a treat. We've never had trouble with parking and because we always arrived in the morning (between 8a-10a), there was never a large crowd. Although we've since moved further away, we still make sure we periodically stop here. read more

Family friendly park, great for walking, jogging. Have nice view, pools and grass field, and an art museum! Love this place. read more

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The conservatory was a nice escape into pure bliss. After the hustle and bustle of downtown, paying $6 to walk through a diverse range of tempered climates and foliage was a treat. Tons of color, endless variety, and a peace in the air. A cute little gift shop that is every plant lovers dream. Lots of little plants for purchase. The park itself is beautiful to stroll through. There are some great lawns to bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic. Lots of space for families and dogs. Tennis courts. It was a beautiful spot. Pro tip: 1ST Thursday and Saturday of every month is FREE admission to the conservatory. read more

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An amazing and beautiful park nestled in the middle of the city, though you would never know once inside. Expanses of glorious, grassy fields surrounded by huge and wonderful trees, a paved path around much of it, a wading pool and large playground. Within the park, one can also visit the Conservatory and Water Tower. But make more than one trip, as the park itself can easily be enjoyed for the full day! read more

Volunteer Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I liked this park a lot. It was lively with people and pets. There was lots of neat things to see. It was a little smaller than expected but totally enough green space to lay out and picnic. There was also a water feature for kids and pets to play. I was even tempted. There was an Asian art museum there as well, but I did not make it there. The Conservator was closed (due to COVID-19) when I visited The biggest draw for me was visiting Bruce Lee's grave. What an icon. read more

Walkable from downtown, or an easy bus ride! I walked and it was so serene. Fall leaves all around and just a few other walkers/joggers in the morning. There's lots to do here, and everything is spread out nicely. read more

Great place for walking and attending to different events. There is always something happening. And if not, you can always sit down at the lawn area near the auditorium just to sunbathe. Hope soon we can have the pet events (Summer and Halloween :)) or art expos which include also the tower in the middle of park. It is open at night so you can take a look to the rest of the installations. The part I don't like that much is that there is no parking space. It can get super crowdy. Driving around and around can tired you. Please be mindful of people crossing. read more

One of my favorite parks in the city!! There's so much to do here, and it's all spread out pretty well. You never feel like the park is too crowded or loud. I always love visiting the Conservatory, or the Asian Art Museum. Today we saw the dahlia garden which was gorgeous and blooming (8/20/22) definitely worth checking out if you're there around the same time of year!! read more

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Favorite neighborhood park! From the stunning sunset views over the open water reservoir, playground and open water fountain for kids during the summer, several fields for sports, open amphitheater, beautiful Conservatory and trails throughout the park, Volunteer Park is perfect for a stroll, jog or picnic. Ample free parking throughout the park, including convenient locations by the Asian Art Museum, as well as by the water fountain along the road. Spacious park grounds with a little something for everyone. read more

My friends and I came here on 1/3/20 and there were a few dogs walking around with their owners. It was pretty relaxing and there were not too many people. There were a few photo ops and good to walk around. The water tower was something to check out as well. A few people parked their cars but it was mainly empty. There was a greenhouse that we didn't go to but was in the area if somebody was interested. I would recommend checking this park out if you're in the area. read more

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Great dog and kid friendly park! Lots of nice sculptures and Duck ponds. Relatively flat and mostly paved with some stairs.

Wow....beautiful view from anywhere in the park. Parking was on the streets close by. There were crows flying, butterflies gliding, ducks wading, and dogs walking by their masters. Such a peaceful, mind cleansing, and soul grounding park. You could view the space needle and the city from afar. There was a Water Tower that you can enter that was free of charge and get to the top by stairs(only) and check out the view of Seattle. There was also an Asian Art Museum that was closed due to construction. And of course the famous Dahlia Garden. But, because of my poor time management, I had to leave and miss this part of my tour:( Now, I will make it a point to cover all of this on my next trip. Check out this park next time your in the area. read more

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I've been wanting to come to this park for a while now, and I can see why it's so highly rated! A good size park with attractions in addition to the usual tennis courts, playground, and trails. There isn't a dedicated dog park, but there is a grassy field by the restrooms wide enough that people were unleashing their dogs. As for the attractions, check out the Black Sun sculpture in front of the Volunteer Park Reservoir. If you stand at the right angle, you will be able to see the Space Needle through the hole. Behind the sculpture is the Asian Art Museum that is currently closed, but is scheduled to reopen next February. Then there are two Lily Ponds positioned on both sides that are full of mallard ducks. A bit further south is the Water Tower Observation Deck where you can climb up to get a glimpse of downtown. On the opposite side up north is the Volunteer Park Conservatory full of different plants. The building is paid entry of $4 for an adult ticket, but is a neat place to visit. My favorite part of the park has got to be the gorgeous Dahlia Garden next to the conservatory though! The flowers are still in full bloom and lots of people were taking pictures of them or with them. read more

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An absolute must see! Beautiful gardens and the greenhouse is filled with spectacular plants. Rivals Brooklyn Botantical. Gorgeous Noguchi sculpture that overlooks the park. read more

Volunteer park in the Capital Hill neighborhood of Seattle! I came few times....always feel so peaceful place. Lots of greens, huge trees, water playground, kids playground, the Asian art museum ( closed during renovation till 2019 ), Conservatory and Lake View Cemetery is next. Just walk to Bruce and Brandon Lee's gravesite. Also extra exercise to go walk up to Water Tower. Conservatory is educational plants place. You'll see many people walking with cute dogs and very friendly. Good to go with family or friends or great date place. Even Capital Hill area is rich neighborhood. You can see nice architecture houses and garden. Volunteer park maintenance well, good environment, safety and good to go~! read more

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so beautiful i love this park. make sure to stop by the dahlia garden which was amazing and in bloom read more

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Love love love this park! Super dog friendly! It's so big that there's always something new to explore. My dog and I love it here. Will most def come back read more

Volunteer Park - People watching - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Beautifully maintained park! Not much foot traffic so it was perfect for a nice quiet walk. Didn't get to check out the observatory but we didn't get to go up the water tower and check out the view. Definitely recommended for a low key afternoon. read more

Volunteer Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I absolutely love coming out to this park! It's so clean, and it has lots of large open spaces - perfect for playing frisbee!

Great place to explore while you're in Seattle. You can walk inside the tower (if it's open) and go up these stairs that take you to the top with a view! read more

Volunteer Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place has everything anyone needs to connect with nature and feel at peace right in the middle of a big city like Seattle. It's safe and in the most part clean. It's up to us to keep it that way read more

Volunteer Park - My temporary shelter as I'm facing homelessness and working hard to rent my own place as we speak so this can be a thing in the past. - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a wonderful park north of Capitol Hill. It is great for walking around and dogs love it. It is very clean and safe with lots of places for people to rest. It is also home of the Asian Art Museum. It feels great to walk around this park--one of the highlights of Seattle. It has a variety of trees and flowers--including a dahlia garden. One great facet is that as you walk through it, you do not even feel like you are in a big city. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Volunteer Park - Dahlia garden - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Havent been here in a long time, came back last night to enjoy the "summer picnic at the park" hosted by the Volunteer Park Trust. They had a bluegrass band play some music on the main stage, had about 6 food trucks show up, free Cupcake Royale ice cream, free infused water by Aegis, and a information booth on how to get involved. What a great night at the park! Volunteer Park is nice looking park with the water tower to climb to the top for a great city view. Also, the Seattle Asian Art Museum to check out nice pieces of Asian Art, I do like the pop art they are currently showing. Conservatory for nice looking plants, flowers etc, but they were closed for the day when we got there. The park has nice open spaces to play frisbee, picnic, enjoy the sun or keep cool in the shade, dog friendly, good amount of benches around, nice sculptures (especially the "black sun"), and peaceful & relaxing atmosphere. I plan on coming to this park more often as it has made it on my personal list of favorite Seattle parks. A park you must visit, whether you live in Seattle or not! read more

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Very beautiful and relaxing park! Makes for a great place to go and have a nice walk (nothing too strenuous) & enjoy the sun. Lots of people set up picnics all around & the place is dog friendly too. Great place to check out! read more

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I LOVE this park! It has so much to offer, including a beautiful dahlia garden, a conservatory, walking paths, and so many varieties of plants, flowers, and trees. It seems more like an arboretum! Volunteer Park is very clean and well maintained. Parking is free and plentiful. Acres of land with green grass and huge trees provide the perfect place for people and their pets to lounge or play. It's really fun to watch dogs run through the park with that happy "throw the ball" face. :-) There are benches and seating spaces throughout the park that are perfect to sit on with a good book. While walking the grounds, I noticed a large variety of trees. There was an especially beautiful redwood that was nearly as wide as a car. The view from under this tree was quite a photographic treat. In fact, the whole park is a photographer's dream. If you like flowers, spend some time in the dahlia garden. So many lovely blooms the size of your head. And do not miss out on the conservatory for a small $4 fee (totally worth it). In addition to orchids, cactus plants, palm trees, etc., you get to experience the unmistakeable scent of freshly watered ferns. I wish someone would figure out how to bottle that fresh smell. read more

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Fantastic park on Capitol Hill. It reminds me of parts of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Not all that big, but it is really a nice place to go to spend a weekend afternoon. Many sunbathers at the park over the weekend. It is not as crowded, so it very possible you can find a spot beneath the trees here. There are numerous features like the Asian Art Museum and Conservatory. Also there is a children's play area and tennis courts if you walk further past the Conservatory. It is a very peaceful place to be, though has just a slight creep factor. Maybe not the best place to be after dusk though. Overall, I like Volunteer Park. It is within the urban core, yet it feels like it is away from the hustle and bustle. And the fact it is just a few blocks from the 15th Avenue neighborhood makes it a good place to swing by in the area for some outdoor activity. read more

What an amazing park - I could spent days here exploring and I fully intend to! There are so many different areas to explore with a variety of options for everyone. The park is so clean and well cared for - bravo volunteers. A small warning in the bathroom for the ladies - there was a lot of fast web building spiders...one was swinging at me. Be mindful when you pee - nature is a cruel mistress. read more

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Revisited Volunteer Park after hanging out in the Pike/Pine corridor of Capitol Hill to enjoy some late summer sunshine. Lots of park goers, picnicking, large wedding party from a stretch limo having photos taken, families, an active game of frisbee, flower enthusiasts, people soaking up some Vitamin D despite that the Conservatory and art museum were closed already. Reminded me of pleasant urban times spent here in the past. I learned though this afternoon that there's a sizable dahlia garden. Woodland Park Zoo and UW Drumheller Fountain has amazing roses, but I enjoyed gazing at these dahlias at Volunteer Park. Nice, easy going visit during the Labor Day weekend. read more

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