Volunteer Park, Seattle

Museum was closed making parking easier than usual. The volunteers do a wonderful job making the flower observatory a place worth your time. The water tower stairs are a work out but the view is fantastic. Lots of decent walking and picnic areas. Kind of nice to avoid walking around the downtown park tents. Place was clean and patrons seemed respectful.

Volunteer Park is quite beautiful and one of the most peaceful corners of Seattle--a small sanctuary from the urban hustle. It's got lots of shade and paths to explore (none long enough for a serious hike of course, it's a strolling park). There are always many other people there with dogs and children but the park is just spacious enough that it still doesn't feel crowded. It has a wading pool for kids right next to a graveyard which I think is a striking juxtaposition of life stages. Other features of interest include botanical gardens, a water tower, and an art museum. And the houses that surround the park are quite stately, of a more traditional style with larger lots than any that are getting built nowadays in Seattle.