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    Washington Park Arboretum

    4.7 (303 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Kumar V.

    Really amazing spot to be in touch with nature again. I came here towards end of Cherry Blossoms season and it was amazing to still fine so many trees still holding the pink glow. Really great walk - top spot for a picnic on a sunny day. Parking can be tricky specially when sun is out.

    Ratish K.

    best time to visit during the Spring, the flowers blooming everywhere! you can go down the foster trail to see the boats and the 520 bridge. there are no restrooms on the trails, so plan accordingly

    Fall vibes
    Peter L.

    The Arboretum is a gem of a park that is free and right in the middle of the city. To see so many large trees including Sequoias is pretty awesome and keeps the park cool even in summer. There are sections of other flowering trees such as magnolias, camilias, etc. as well as geographic areas such as the Japanese Garden (only area that requires a fee but definitely worth visiting at least once), New Zealand, etc. Until recently, we would see a coyote every morning but I believe park officials may have euthanized it.

    Many pathways, many gardens
    Jen W.

    This park is included in a Yelp Top 100 parks in the U.S.collection. Even though November is not prime garden season, I had to stop by and check it out. Located along the shore of Lake Wahington, the garden is a collaborative effort of the University and City. Enter 'Graham Visitor Center' into your GPS for easy navigation. There are three parking areas here along with restrooms, a gift shop and information. Additional parking areas are scattered around the park. Some are paved, others dirt. If you begin your explorations from the visitor center, a paved pathway loops around the park. Parts of it seem to be pedestrians, bikes, strollers, joggers and so on 'only' while other sections are streets with sidewalks. Many dirt pathways meander in and out of the paved road. The gardens are built on a slope so there is some up or down-hill walking. We headed behind the visitor center and accessed a dirt pathway. Besides intersecting with the paved road, the dirt paths meander through a variety of gardens, criss-crossing each other and include options of beautiful stone stairways. The garden designs here are lovely. We encountered several garden styles on our walk. The Azalea garden would be a gorgeous pop of color in the Spring. The meadow garden offers a variety of low growing plants and views. There are some gazebos along the way and benches. Definitely the spot to sit a spell and enjoy nature. We couldn't begin to see everything the gardens have to offer in our hour walk about. This is a beautiful plot of nature nearby the city. Open dawn to dusk in the winter (according to a sign in the parking area), or dawn to 8pm (according to the website). Free admission. Signs throughout the park describe ongoing experiments, garden information and art installations. The paved path includes directional signage (visitor center, nearby gardens, etc.). Even on a rainy week day there were a lot of people in the park. The rain did not seem to phase anyone. Most were wearing Seattle attire i.e. a rain coat, plus hats and gloves on this November day. Parts of the park are very shady under beautiful old trees while others are open to the sky. So dress appropriately for the season and bring water on a hot day. The restrooms at the visitor center are accessed from the outside. The doors were propped open so a few leaves had blown in. It was 'public restroom' clean but ladies, please use more care! Someone had an issue with removing a 'seat cover' from it's dispenser and littered much of the floor with pieces from several of them. Also, paper hand towels had not made it into the conveniently placed, large bin. There are 3 stalls here and two more restrooms are available in other areas of the park. This is a park we would definitely frequent if we lived nearby and will happily visit again on a future visit. Donations are welcome to help maintain the gardens.

    Winnie H.

    Washington Park Arboretum is a nice, enjoyable park to visit year round. I was concerned all the trees would be dead in the winter but there were still plenty of green plants, birds, and tall trees - lots of nature to see. They do a really good job preserving the nature here. The trails were easy to walk. I love that it is free of charge to the public. There is plenty of parking in the parking lots. I wanted to visit the Seattle Japanese Garden nearby but unfortunately it was temporarily closed. I love wandering around this park. It is the perfect place to get some steps in and pass time. I came here to get away from every day distractions and to get lost in nature. My mission was accomplished because I did end up getting lost within the trails, but I was fine with it!

    Flower
    Suz A.

    Free entry and free parking. Donation suggested for admission. Stroll through the evergreens and Rhododendrum, Azalea walkways. restroom is by the front entry area.

    Diem N.

    Cherry Blossom seasons. So beautiful!!! I can walk around for hours. Highly suggest it. So much fun!!! Definitely going again.

    Terri C.

    This is one of the best parks I've ever been to in our travels. Not only is it free to wander around, but there are 230 acres of it to explore. There is a Japanese Garden at the south end that does have an entry fee, but we did not have time to visit that. We visited in mid-October, so the trees were showing off their autumnal colors and it was magical. It's a beautiful place to just roam, breathe the fresh PNW air, and enjoy the beauty of the plants and greenery. There were lots of people there, many with their dogs, too, but you don't feel overwhelmed because the park is so spacious. Just follow one of the many trails and go with the flow.

    Leaves
    Francine L.

    Washington Park Arboretum is gigantic and has many different paths to go and walk through. You can find many people walking around on the different trails and seeing many different plants and trees. I love all the green here. One of the coolest and biggest arboretums I have ever been to in my life. I'm glad I got to visit here and I would totally suggest people come here as well. Staying healthy and also just having a nice walk.

    Cherry blossoms
    Carrie M.

    We came searching for the cherry blossoms because according to Google, this is a top place to see them. We walked all the way down Azalea Way, which is supposedly where the cherry blossoms are located, but we only saw two or three trees scattered about. Certainly not deserving of a top spot, unless they were all hiding in another undisclosed location of this large park. Nevertheless, this is a pretty park with cool flowers, plants, and trees. I wish more of the flora were labelled because I wanted to learn the names. I resorted to using my phone camera to identify them. I appreciate how it's open 8am to 8pm, and it's free. The Japanese Garden is the only paid section.

    Heliana M.

    What a gorgeous park this was. So many beautiful spots and ample trails to walk along. Loved the woodland and azalea trails. We saw a lot of rhodonderons, magnolias and all sorts of plants and ponds. Very beautiful and very green with ample spots to picnic. There was also a kids playground with clean bathrooms. Absolutely my favorite part of visiting Seattle

    Dominique A.

    Whether you are a nature nerd or are just looking for a beautiful place to lose track of time, the Arboretum is a true gem of Seattle. They also have some really awesome educational programs for all ages, if that's something you're into, be sure to check those out! *beautiful spot for cherry blossom viewing/pictures in the Spring, if that's your jam!

    Emily T.

    A gorgeous park with lots of paved trails perfect for taking a nice stroll. There are little park signs which tell some history and information about the plants at the park which we enjoyed reading. We came a little later in the day so we didn't have too much time to walk around but we saw some beautiful blue hydrangea flowers in bloom. There's also a field with a little park and bathrooms nearby. There is also a japanese garden in the park, but we didn't have time to go see it. This park is dog friendly and a perfect place to spend time with friends, family, and your pup!

    Pretty azaleas

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    Beautiful place with very helpful staff. Well maintained property. I really enjoyed my visit here

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Washington Park Arboretum

    What is the parking situation here? do I pay to park?

    There are a few parking lots around the park that are free parking but they tend to get packed pretty quickly on a good day.

    Hi, Is this place good for stroller?

    It is. There are some paved paths and some gravel paths.

    I might be missing this information. I've combed the arboretum website and can't find any mention of a pet policy. if they are allowed or not. Can anyone provide information about if this location allows dogs to visit?

    Dogs are permitted on leash.

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Washington Park Arboretum

    Free entrance (except Japanese Garden is $8) to the many trails traversing the 230 acres of wood & wetlands.

    Mentioned in 62 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Definitely worth a visit. Volunteer Park is a beautiful historic park located in the heart of…read moreSeattle, 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

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