The Best Parks in Seattle

Cowen Park

The best thing about Cowen Park is the zip line at the playground. This is always a huge hit with the kids, and while they are zipping back and forth, you can enjoy the peaceful area. This park is an addition to Ravenna Park, and you’ll find a grassy play area along with some picnic tables and barbecue pits. There are bathrooms right next to the playground, which comes in handy with the kids, and there are also three tennis courts and a softball field.

St. Edward State Park

St. Edward State Park has a little something for everyone. With over 300 acres of land, there are plenty of walking paths and picnic tables for a lunch out in the fresh air. This park also has one of the most innovative playgrounds in the area, a wooden structure that features turrets and tunnels along with slides and many places for the kids to explore. In the summer there is boating and waterskiing on the sound, and you and the kids can swim.

Carkeek Park

Take a trip to Carkeek Park on the shores of Puget Sound with the kids to learn about the flora and fauna in the area, and then bring them to the playground that includes a slide shaped like a salmon, a huge sandbox, and see-saws. There are 220 acres to explore in this park with some great hiking trails, and you can even watch the salmon during spawning season.  There are bathrooms right near the playground and places where you can stop for a picnic.

Discovery Park

Head to Discovery Park when you want to take a nice long walk, or trek down the stairs for a day at the beach where you can enjoy beautiful views of the mountains. Walk along the loop trail with the kids, and you can go through the forest and along wide open spaces where they can play or fly a kite on a windy day. There is a huge sand dune where the kids can dig, and the Environmental Learning Center at the Visitors Center where you can learn all about local animals and plants. There is a bathroom at the Visitors Center, and a large playground with a zipline can provide hours of fun and exercise for the kids.

These are just a few of the many parks in the Seattle area. Most of them have playgrounds for the kids and paths and trails for hiking and walking so you can all enjoy the day. Pack a picnic and spend the day outside at one of these local areas with your family.

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