Discovery Park

Discovery Park is Seattle's largest public park at 534 acres, occupying a bluff on the Magnolia peninsula with sweeping views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier. For families, it is the best place in the city to combine hiking, beach exploration, and wildlife viewing in a single outing -- and it is completely free.

The West Point Lighthouse is the most popular destination within the park. This working lighthouse, built in 1881, sits on a sand spit where the beach meets the Sound. Reaching it requires a half-mile walk from the south parking lot through forest that descends via switchbacks to the beach.

The trail is manageable for kids ages 4 and up, though the return uphill climb can challenge younger legs. The lighthouse exterior is photogenic against the water and mountains, and the surrounding beach offers miles of shoreline for exploration.

The beach at low tide is Discovery Park's secret weapon for families. When the tide recedes, it reveals rocky tide pools teeming with sea stars, anemones, hermit crabs, and small fish. Kids crouch over the pools with intense focus, pointing out discoveries.

The beach surface is a mix of sand, smooth pebbles, and massive driftwood logs that serve as balance beams and climbing structures. On clear days, the view from the beach to the Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound is one of the most beautiful panoramas in the Pacific Northwest.

The park's trail system offers options for different family energy levels. The Loop Trail circles the entire park for 2. 8 miles through forest, open meadow, sand dunes, and bluff-top viewpoints.

It is mostly flat with a few moderate slopes and is suitable for ages 7 and up. Shorter routes using connector trails can reduce the walk to 1-2 miles. The forest sections feature towering Douglas fir trees, bigleaf maples draped in moss, and fern-covered forest floors that feel like the Pacific Northwest wilderness.

Wildlife viewing is excellent. Bald eagles nest in the park year-round and are frequently spotted soaring above the bluffs or perched in tall snags. Great blue herons fish in the shallows. Harbor seals rest on the beach rocks, especially in quieter areas. The park's environmental learning center (near the south entrance) hosts nature programs for families on select weekends.