Location: Central Seattle/Capitol Hill Address: 1247 15th Ave. E. Acreage: 48.3 Looking for someplace to take out-of-towners that’s free and has views almost as good as the Space Needle? Volunteer Park’s water tower on Capitol Hill provides great vistas of Seattle and the only cost is the workout it takes to get up the 106… Continue reading Volunteer Park
Category: kids
Cal Anderson Park
Location: Central Seattle/Capitol Hill Address: 1635 11th Ave. Acreage: 7.37 I often talk about certain parks serving as hubs for their communities. I can’t help thinking it’s true about Cal Anderson park, too. Like its Capitol Hill neighborhood, this park buzzes with activity year-round. On a weekday afternoon in November, I’m amazed at how many… Continue reading Cal Anderson Park
Washington Park Arboretum
Location: Central Seattle Address: 2300 Arboretum Drive E. Acreage: 193.9 It’s picture day at the Arboretum. And there are two breeds of photographers to observe. In one camp are the serious, slightly cranky, amateur nature photographers. This is prime season for this group as they strategically set up their shots on fancy tripods waiting for… Continue reading Washington Park Arboretum
Wallingford Playfield
Location: North Seattle/Wallingford Address: 4219 Wallingford Ave. N. Acreage: 4.5 Another hub of the Wallingford neighborhood is the Wallingford Playfield. School is letting out for the day as I arrived and a group of 20 kids are carrying what looks like band equipment into the park. I’m surprised when, instead of tuning up their instruments,… Continue reading Wallingford Playfield
Meridian Playground
Location: North Seattle/Wallingford Address: 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. Acreage: 6.5 If Meridian Playground feels like a busy school yard, that’s because it is just that. The backyard to the private Meridian School and the historic Good Shepherd Center, which was built as a Catholic girls school and now hosts a number of non-profits, this park… Continue reading Meridian Playground
Magnolia Playfield
Location: Magnolia Address: 2518 34th Ave. W. Acreage: 15.26 I realized today on a visit to Magnolia Playfield that kids in Seattle have got it good. Remember back when we were kids and playgrounds consisted of a set of rusty swings and a dented slide that gave you an electric shock when you slid down?… Continue reading Magnolia Playfield
Soundview Playfield
Location: Northwest Seattle Address: 1590 N.W. 90th St. Acreage: 10.5 Soundview Playfield is Crown Hill’s action center for all ages on a sunny September Saturday. Six-year-olds are tearing around the castle-like play structure. A four-year-old is riding his scooter up and down the park’s small hill. A 20-something is simultaneously catching up on sleep and… Continue reading Soundview Playfield
Ravenna Park & Ravenna Park Triangle
Location: North Seattle/Ravenna Address: 5520 Ravenna Ave. N.E. Acreage: 49.9 I can’t believe I had never been to Ravenna Park before. Fifty acres of quiet, wooded trails carved out of a ravine that was formed by run-off from the Vashon Glacial Ice Sheet. The park seems like such a gem it’s hard to believe that… Continue reading Ravenna Park & Ravenna Park Triangle