Peace at 5:31 AM. This place is unusually loud but early in the morning brings a sense of peace. read more

See all

"Excuse me, how do we get to the ocean?" 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. read more

If you feel like shopping, come to this mall -- there's a UNIQLO as well as Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack nearby! The Christmas decorations this year are actually quite nice and create a great festive atmosphere! read more

See all

This large open space is less of a park and more of a small plaza. The plaza is home to a small jungle gym, a connect 4, and space for adults and small children can sit and do a variety of activities including people watch, play chess, play games, eat ice cream, rest, or simply just exist and soak in the "sun." I mostly use it as a place to take a quick rest in between the shopping, pike market place, and when the train is still more than 20 minutes away. Small events and performers perform here and if you're lucky you can catch some live music and entertainers. Otherwise it's mostly a place if you're lucky to walk by, you can sit and rest. Wouldn't go out of my way to come here. read more

See all

Westlake Park is a large open public Plaza in the downtown area of Seattle of course. Westlake perfect spot to take a break and admire the fountain. It's large and often populated area so very often concerts; festivals and random acts of urban activity are taking place here. When walking through here it was rainy out but could see easily a lot going on any given day when it's nice out. The city website corrects me in saying Rain or shine, you'll find outdoor games, tables and chairs and a children's play area. There are plenty of shops and restaurants nearby so Westlake Park looks like kind of a way point for all of those things. The train station as well as bus stops are all around so if you're intent on coming here it shouldn't be a problem if taking public transit. I just happened upon it on foot going to Capitol Hill. Again, even on the dreary day I was passing through I could tell this space has potential for some happenings. Maybe on a return trip there will be. read more

See all

I am writing this review to share a good spot now that the Holidays are coming. There are always installations there. A fun park to sit on one of their many colourful tables or play something. During fall and holidays there are festive lights. The tree lighting is one of the fun days to come here. It is a point where Santa Con begins or the Christmas Run takes place. Very centric surrounded by lots of good big stores. People without home tend to be around too. read more

It is a city park that comes alives in all seasons!! its at its best during Christmas where the entire park is lit up. they also have a carousel during Christmas. absolutely no parking available near the park. you will need to find nearby parking garages for parking. read more

See all

Plaza in Seattle downtown for various gatherings and activities. Note, the tasty hotdog stall in the corner. Walk to the waterfront, catch the subway or shop on 4th Ave. read more

Westlake Park - Carousel at Westlake park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a small park in the downtown of Seattle. At least this park has put up some events in the past. It is very close the Westlake Center Mall and the Train Station. The park mostly design brick paver. Many group has use it for gather area. It has a waterfall structure with water sheet. It lighted at night and make this park beautiful. Many food truck has gather here before. It has some table and chair which is perfect for lunch break. It also has a molecular metal ball. Sometimes they have free fitness in the park. read more

See all

Constantly blasting terrible pop music, which I can only assume is an anti-homeless/sleeping tactic, and is unbearable! I want to enjoy my hotdog in peace without having to hear Panic! At the Disco and the top 40 hits of 2012 in the trees above me. Gorgeous spot otherwise. Well maintained. read more

Westlake Park - evil speaking currently playing pumped up kicks (which I actually like but that's beside the point) - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It's worth going into downtown Seattle to go and have a look and take some cute pictures at the Christmas light installation at Westlake Park. It's small but a light in the winter darkness. If you have kids there's a tiny playground there in front of Sephora that's fenced in. It's close walking distance to Pike Place Market where they have cute Christmas lights and some backdrops you can take photos in front of. They did have a menorah for Hannukah but sadly it wasn't lit. read more

See all

Westlake Park is more of a public plaza than a park as there isn't really any greenery here. I have been here many times. Mostly passing through or waiting for a bus on the curb next to the park. Due to its central location, it is the venue of public demonstrations of numerous social causes in Seattle. Some of which have gotten violent. But is also the place to go for the holiday tree lighting ceremony in November. There seems to be things going on here regularly. As for amenities, this park has a nice water display near the Pine Street side of the park. This is also where numerous food trucks park to sell their wares on weekdays during lunch from about 11 am to 2 pm. Currently there is a lot of seating available here. So if it is nice out, it is a good place to enjoy an outdoor work lunch rather than take it back to the office (if you work in the area). There also are some recreational games setup for people to play here. However, this place is a police hotspot as they tend to scope this area for questionable characters and are on hand when there are protests held here. If it weren't for the public demonstrations and police activity in this area, I think Westlake Park would have a better rep than it has now. read more

Westlake Park - Food Trucks on Weekdays - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Walking tour in Seattle and came across this center park. Nice place to sit relax and have a bit to eat. Food can be purchased at nearby restaurant and food trucks parked right in the park. The fountain and different structures were fun to look at and the is a play area for children. read more

Westlake Park - Fountain - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I like the Westlake Park. It has different things going on at different seasons: mary-go-round at times, concerts, protests, rally, etc. Lots of people just come here and chill and chat. There are some small but nice shops right next to the park. The Westlake Center is also right across from the park. read more

Westlake Park - westlake center from 2011. it has changed so much from then - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Being from out of town I'm surprised to find not one but two ping pong tables. Great for impromptu matches. Granted it's kind of chilly this time of the year to hang out but who can resist those balls of fury?! Foosball and a children's play area also available. Lots of tables and chairs too. read more

This is a little, urban park in the middle of the downtown Seattle shopping area. (Not a "green" park.) Season to season there are different attractions, including outdoor games and concerts in the summer, and holiday activities over the winter months. It's generally a mixed bag of tourists, children, commuters (bus stops nearby) and homeless/ crazies. This isn't the type of place I'd let my young children run around unattended. However, it is a fun place to take supervised kids to break up the walk downtown or the shopping day. Additionally, this park tends to attract a lot of rallies for causes. Don't be surprised if you hear loud chanting, picket signs, or if you get stopped by someone wanting you to sign something. And usually right outside of the park a lot of brand set up marketing booths to hand out free samples and such. There is a water fountain that is seasonal and you can walk through if you're feeling that kind of way. Also, there are often many food trucks and carts that set up here to cater to the tourist/shopper crowds and the working locals. You can anticipate a decent amount of seating and tables, but they fill up fast during busy times. Lastly, this park does tend to have at least 2-3 folks passed out or severely intoxicated on ground at a time. I've also never walked past when there wasn't someone just out of their mind on drugs or having a mental breakdown, screaming at the air. This is how it is almost anywhere downtown, so it's not a surprise--just more of a reminder to be alert and attentive, especially with children. read more

12/01/15 If you are looking for some holiday fun to break up all that downtown shopping your kids will love the Holiday Carousel in the park. Rides are cheap and it is a fabulous photo moment for everyone. Let your kid pick out their favorite horse to take a spin on. My two year old loved it! It was freezing out, but that didn't deter her at all. The carousel is old fashioned and beautiful. Cost: $3/person suggested donation for Treehouse. Worth the trip downtown. Seattle sure knows how to celebrate the holidays. From a spectacular holiday parade and tree lighting ceremony to giant gingerbread displays, festival of trees and the Emerald City pulls out all the stops when it comes to spreading holiday cheer. And there's no better place to catch the most festive holiday events than downtown Seattle.  Tip: If you're looking for a fun Christmas Eve activity, the carousel will be open until 5 p.m. read more

See all

A lot of people do not realize this area between Pike & Pine on 4th Avenue is a park... but nearby "Dogs in the Park" is a hint. The park has been around since 1963 and was the original Downtown terminal area for the Monorail. However, once Westlake Center was built in 1988, the original terminal station was torn down and replaced by the current mall. The park functions as a town square with regular festivals throughout the year. One popular past time is the oversized chess board. Also, if you look on the ground, there are many embedded medallions that pay tribute to the region's history. Features: The Arch (a nod to the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile of Paris) is used as stage. There is a fountain in which you can walk under it's falls. It's fun to see people jump when it comes on while they are on the cat walk under the falls. The park, while not green, features nice shade tree which makes for a nice canopy during the summer. The park also has WiFi. read more

See all

Westlake Park is a small, urban park right across the street from the mall. It's much nicer in the summers - a fountain that you can walk through, giant chess, table tennis, and plenty of seating. Not worth the drive from anywhere, but it's a nice break among all the buildings if you happen to be walking by. read more

A park that centralizes the big brand names and where random world events occur. Today's encounter featured the techniques about discipline, relaxation, and opportunities to get outside and stop using your smartphones all while still being in the spotlight. Instead of getting likes, subcribes, and thumbs up approval, you are instead grabbing vitamin D. read more

Westlake Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

When the Russian army was sent out to deploy land mines to take out Afghanistan locals, they followed the concept of, 'if you find a place you feel like sitting down and enjoying, plant a land mine.' That seems to be the methodology here putting a concrete park in the middle of corporations pillars to consumerism. This place is actually quite the hub of activity, but you may quickly pass it by because it is also maybe not the activity you are looking for at that particular moment or ever. I've seen someone climb up a tree several dozen feet into the air and protesters clash in this area. I've also seen many, many days to by without any eventful days to report. Such is the way of Seattle. One day this is the pinpoint location of millions of social media followers, the next, it is just another yelp review, waiting to be ignored. read more

The park itself is a cool space. Places to sit, water feature to gaze at, and often a fun event or two. My favorite time of year is when the carousel is set up. I love watching children and happy families having a great time during the holidays while I head to this store or that to pick up a gift. The park is also popular for protests and other special events. At times, the park takes on a different look. Currently, the trees are blue. I'm not sure when they will stop being blue but it's been quite a few months and I could use a change. Perhaps they could go back to striped sweaters? The location is good in terms of amenities such as places to eat, grab a cup of coffee, and shopping. Before I started working downtown, I was like the fun-loving tourists - taking pictures at the water feature and such. I don't do that very much anymore. But, on my break, it definitely lightens my heart to see people enjoying the space in a different way than I do. read more

This is one of my favorite places downtown. In the summer you can play games borrowed from the games hut. There are weekly concerts, dance and performance events ALL FOR FREE! In the winter there are craft markets, a wonderful carousel, and hot fresh doughnuts around Christmas season. The best thing about this place is that people from all walks of life gather here and mingle. You'll see people in suits playing chess with backpackers, tech geeks chilling out with fashonistas on their coffee break - it's all here. I think of it as Seattle's living room. read more

There are definitely pros and cons to this downtown public space, but either way, it will always be a very iconic part of Seattle's identity. This is where the annual tree lighting ceremony takes place as well as being the hub for downtown holiday shopping activity. In the past, Westlake part has been home to championship celebrations for the Seattle Supersonics and Seattle Mariners in addition to having the notorious distinction of being ground zero for controversial protests that were seen by the entire world. The best time of the year to visit this park is during the holidays so you can experience everything from the aforementioned tree lighting to the glowing carousel and heart warming (or maybe its stomach warming) mini donut stand. The magic of the holidays shines a little brighter here than anywhere else in Seattle...thanks to the gigantic Macy's star across the street. Any other time of year, you are more likely to run into beggars, loiterers, and illegal substances rather than elves, carolers, and hot chocolate. During these times, Westlake Park is more of a place to quickly walk through rather than a place to slow down and linger. read more

It's difficult to write a review of this wedge of public space, as certain aspects of this "park" at certain times of the year are marvelous, and other times, not so much. As a result, I'm only giving this park 3 stars. Let me explain: After Thanksgiving and all through December, this park is amazing! All lit up beautifully, with a joyful old carousel and the Figgy Pudding carollers and often chestnuts being sold... It's a wonderful place to be over the holidays! We like how the City dresses up the trees (lately, they're painted a whimsical cobalt blue. Very Seussical!) and we also like how, on a hot summer day, it's fun and refreshing to run through the fountain (you WILL get wet!). Despite being so centrally located (or, perhaps because of it), this area attracts a lot of homeless folks, druggie folks, protesters and crows leaving their marks everywhere. I appreciate how the cops on foot patrol make their presence known here, but still, my family doesn't like being bombarded by protesters handing out offensive materials (offensive to us, anyhow), the stench of cigarette smoke (and worse), the semi-aggressive pan-handlers, the teens spouting obsenities and the occasional clusters of litter. Those of you who have young kids will understand! For this reason, I was very surprised to see that a tiny playground area was built right smack dab in the middle of this wedge park, right outside of See's Chocolates. Which brings me to my critique of this playground for the kiddies: I don't get it. Sure, I understand how and why City officials would want to attract families and thier kids to shop downtown, and an area for the younger crowd to play. But surely they could have done better. For one, this tiny area has a small climbing geo-dome. It's so small, I'd venture to say 2-3 rambunctuous kids MAX could play safely on it. Next, there is a metal rounded and elongated piece for kids to climb on and sit on. Sure, there's a sign that reads that this metal installation gets hot when in direct sunlight, so be forewarned. Why then install a play piece for young children that you KNOW is going to get bloody hot in the summer? Surely other pieces made of other materials would be better suited for this purpose. Lastly, the sign says this play area is for kids 5-12. I have a 12 year old and no way on earth is this area appropriate for 12 year olds. It's way too juvenile. I'd venture to say this area is more appropriate for kids 4-7. And, again, keep in mind it's surrounded by swearing teens, homeless folks and occasional druggies and protesters and tons of pooping crows. Odd context for a playground. read more

This place was great!! Our 11 month old daughter really enjoyed it, and so did us.

For all the effort put into making this Seattle's town square, I rarely linger long enough to enjoy them. Westlake is virtually always crowded with tourists, transients and commuters waiting along 4th Ave. Westlake is the sight of many of the major protests in town as well as the locus for many of the biggest celebrations like Pride & Seafair. There are giant sized chess games, some interesting holiday set-ups, and some trees they've painted blue much to my disgust. The reason I rarely stop for long here is because it's so busy. Even if you can find some bench space not taken by some homeless folks, this park doesn't provide any respite from the city and there isn't a blade of grass. I think of city parks in Paris or New York or San Francisco which can provide you a minutia of separation from the city traffic or at least the dulling by a decibel of the sound, you won't find that here. Unless I'm here for one of the aforementioned fesitvals or protests, I tend to stay away or simply stroll quickly through... very quickly. read more

A welcome kids' play area in the middle of busy Seattle downtown. Both my children enjoyed our short visit. The play equipment was lacking, but all children really need is one playmate and they are happy as clams. Good for older kids 4+, but not younger ones. read more

A wonderful park that attracts a diverse crowd and diverse events. I wish we had more nice & simple pavers in our sidewalks.

"Park" is a bum word for this "area", but I kinda get it. Don't go there as a tourist thinking "take my dogs for a peeing rest stop"!!! This is a jam-packed, bustling mash-up of all walks of life: executives, shoppers, tourists, homeless, bikers, police, teenagers, druggies, techies, and snobs. Its catch-all location grabs your attention for the events from the Christmas tree lighting at Macy's (nearby) to any given "anti/pro-something-gathering", from the Monorail to the sidewalk musical artists. Definitely park your car and walk - - you can't park here...and if you're attempting to drive through here, good luck, especially during the day time. read more

Well, the kids liked it here. They had fun climbing the jungle gym in the children's play area as well as playing foosball and the giant sized connect four and jenga games at the public tables outside the play area. There is also table tennis, giant sized chess and shuffleboard and maybe some other games I might be missing. Okay place to stop by in between shopping for the kids to have a little fun. They didn't seem bothered by the homeless folk hanging out since there are so many people milling about in this busy plaza. It's an urban park with no grass but plenty of trees for shade when it's sunny. There are also plenty of seating areas and tables to enjoy a snack at or to just chill and people watch. I wouldn't care to stop here though if the kids hadn't been so anxious for a play break. read more

Some of the most important lessons about life I learned right here at Westlake Park in Downtown Seattle!

just came here to have my 1 1/2 yr old daughter play in their little playground area and she/we loved it! we didn't see any grassy areas here. it appeared to be more of a shopping plaza, to be honest. but, the soft playground mat in the kids' area was good enough. this place is in the heart of downtown with lots of other things to do in the area (touristy activities, eateries and shopping). i would recommend this place for kids and adults to enjoy some down time together. read more

This is an awesome place to hangout or sit down and hangout for a few to relax. Also an awesome place to watch outdoor movies! Some people may call Westlake Park the Park like they have in NYC! LOL same trait different city! Amazing read more

This is more of a plaza. In the summer they set up Mary go round and host concerts. There are many shops around. There is always artists, homeless, and pigeons here. read more

I usually only come down here when I need to catch a bus. It's nice in the "summer" cause they put out chairs, jumbo chess games and they have interesting art/awareness installations. That water fall thingie is fun to run thru. Don't believe what people say, you get really wet. read more

I like to people watch. One of the great free activities of life. If you're like me, then you'll definitely love this part. Some of the most interesting people in Seattle walk back and forth here. My suggestion:. sit down, relax and if you're up to it, strike up a conversation with the person next to you. You never know, you just might need a very interesting person, make a new friend, and learn something along the way read more

Nice park that they are trying to keep clean and safe it is hard with all of the homeless. It seems to be getting better.

You got to check out the Waterfall.. If it is warm out, take a walk through the middle of the water fall. The park is nice but always has homeless or activists. read more

There's a giant chessboard and a good hotdog stand here. Great to eat lunch and hang out when the weather's not bad...but when it's all cold and dreary outside, not so much. read more