Destination: Discovery Park

Out + About

10 Best Things to Do With Kids at Seattle’s Discovery Park

Play, dig in the sand, watch for orcas and more at this epic Seattle park

Story and photos by Nancy Chaney

New York has Central Park, Boston has Boston Common, San Francisco has the Presidio. Seattle has Discovery Park.

This expansive Seattle park is the crown jewel of our city’s impressive park system and it’s a marvelous place to explore with kids any time of year. The park’s 534 acres include a variety of trails, wide-open meadows, a sandy bluff overlooking Puget Sound and a beach. There’s a fantastic updated playground, a handful of geocaches and important local history to learn about. And on top of all that, there are those views! The most impressive thing about this park is its sheer size. You can visit over and over again and discover new pockets every time. Read on for 10 awesome areas to explore with kids at one of my very favorite places on earth, Discovery Park.

The bluff and the sandy area

On a sunny day, or any day, your kids will love digging in the big sandy area along the bluff. Bring the shovels, buckets and toys for beach play, though there’s no water here — Puget Sound is quite a ways down the hill (more on the beach later).

But you won’t need any water on the bluff: There’s great sand and amazing views. Watch ferries and other marine traffic, spot peaks in the Olympic range or scan the water for signs of orcas.

Find it: The sandy area is located on the park’s loop trail. For the shortest walking route, park in the south parking lot, although you can also reach this area by taking a slightly longer walk from the east parking lot.

The giant tree

Talking about this amazing tree is how I first got my son to hike with me along Discovery Park’s loop trail. This arboreal giant strikes awe and isn’t for the faint-of-heart parent watching from below as their kid scales its limbs. If you trust your climber’s sure-footedness and judgment, they will love it. There’s also plenty of fun to be had at ground level, running around the tree’s trunk and admiring its immensity.

Find it: From the visitor center at the east parking lot, take the loop trail heading north. You’ll go down a few steps and soon pass through a short tunnel. In roughly 15 minutes of walking along the loop trail, you’ll encounter the giant tree.

Historic buildings

My family enjoys inspecting the stately old buildings in Discovery Park’s historic district. Find the old barracks, chapel, school, gym and other structures. They’re all boarded up, sadly, but you can try to peek through the windows and imagine the goings-on in the days of early Fort Lawton, which opened here as a military base in 1900.

Along California Avenue, you’ll spot historic homes that have been remodeled and are now privately owned (so no peeking in the windows, please!). These homes are on an island of private property within the park, and these lucky homeowners have some of the best views in the entire city.

Fun fact: You’ll also see a radar tower in this area that looks like it has an enormous volleyball sitting on top of it. Find it: The closest parking lot to the historic buildings is the south parking lot. This area is also where you’ll find wide-open meadows suitable for all kinds of play.

Meadows and parade oval

Discovery Park’s meadow area, formerly the Fort Lawton parade oval, provides the perfect spot for flying kites, kicking a soccer ball and throwing a Frisbee. Or pack a picnic, a blanket and a good book and just spread out. The wide-open space and gorgeous views of the Olympic Mountains are good for the soul.

This area includes a long, paved pathway where kids can perfect their emerging bike riding skills. Originally a road, the path is no longer used by cars, making it an ideal place for little ones to practice their cycling. You can also find a geocache in the vicinity, and there are a few more hidden away in other areas of the park.

Find it: The meadow area is most easily reached from the south parking lot. Head west on the loop trail and when you spot the chapel off to your right, you will also see the meadow spread out in front of you.

The beach

While the bluff provides the perfect overlook for views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, the beach, of course, offers the opportunity to get close to — or in — the water (toe-dipping, anyone?). It takes some effort to get here, but it’s totally worth it — just know what you’re getting into. There is no public parking at the beach.

From the visitor center/east parking lot, it’s a 3-mile trek to the beach and back, and it involves a lot of elevation change. Plan for a multi-hour excursion if you take this on — and possibly some whining on the long slog back up to the bluff.

Once the visitor center has reopened, there’s a free beach shuttle on weekends, and from Tuesday through Friday, families with kids ages 6 and younger can check out limited parking permits from the center’s front desk. For now, make your way by human power. You could also reach the beach by bicycle, if you have strong riders; there’s the same giant hill to face when returning from the beach. (Note: Bicycles are allowed only on paved roads and paths in Discovery Park; bikes are not permitted on unpaved trails.)

The beach also features a historic lighthouse, complete with a keeper’s quarters.

Wolf Tree Nature Trail

On the north side of the park, you’ll find

continued from page 23 the terrific Wolf Tree Nature Trail. Wellsuited for little legs, this short loop trail showcases a lush green wetland ecosystem that’s quite different from what you’ll see in most areas of the park. Note that this trail does not allow dogs, and you won’t want to bring a stroller; there are stairs and other tricky spots. Kids will love the boardwalk sections, plants with enormous leaves and a stream.

Find it: The Wolf Tree Nature Trail is close to the north parking lot.

Hidden stairways

Save this activity for when you’re ready for Discovery Park, advanced edition. If you know your way around, have a decent sense of direction or are comfortable exploring and potentially getting a little lost, there are hidden stairways all over this park to discover. Some obviously connect one point to another, some appear to be random and some have been abandoned. Launch a nature mission to uncover as many stairways as you can.

Wolf Tree Nature Trail

The playground

Discovery Park’s updated playground opened at the end of 2017. It’s fab.

Find it: The playground is about 300 yards south of the visitor center.

Discovery Park Environmental Learning and Visitor Center

You’ll have to save this stop for a future visit. Discovery Park’s Environmental Learning and Visitor Center is currently closed.

Once the center reopens, you’ll find clean restrooms, a drinking fountain and great exhibits on the flora and fauna of the park. There’s also a family space that features a huge box of animal puppets and a puppet theater, providing super-fun entertainment for the kids.

Find it: The visitor center is located adjacent to the east parking lot.

Daybreak Star and Discovery Park history

The Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center is an important community center

Learn from the best.

Ages 7-18. Our virtual tech camps Ages 7-18. Our virtual tech camps are now available! With the hottest are now available!With thehottest STEM course lineup, small class sizes, STEM course lineup, small class sizes, and live iD Tech-Certified rockstar andliveiD Tech-Certifiedrockstar instructors, your child will sharpen instructors instructors,yourchildwillsharpen yourchildwillsharpen their tech skills and have a blast their tech skillsand haveablast learning with new friends! learning with new friends!

MINECRAFT MINECRAFT

Get started at: iDTech.com Get startedat: iDTech.com

Courses are selling out fast! Sign up today. Courses are selling out fast! Sign up today.

use code usecode secode SEAFAM60 SEAFAM60

(Virtual Tech Camps & Academies only) (Virtual Tech Camps & Academies only)

for Seattle-area Native Americans that also serves as the headquarters of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. The center, which houses a native art collection, is currently closed, but typically is open to visitors on weekdays.

The center came into existence in 1970 when a group of native activists staged a peaceful occupation of some of the land that previously comprised Fort Lawton. The federal government had closed Fort Lawton and deemed the land to be surplus.

The center’s building, completed in 1977, has a modern architectural design that incorporates Native American elements. It’s worth checking out its exterior, too, and don’t miss a visit to the duck pond nearby.

Check the Daybreak Star Facebook page for future events, such as the rescheduled 50th anniversary celebration of the Fort Lawton takeover. (At present, the celebration has been postponed until July.) Daybreak Star also hosts powwows. ■ Nancy Chaney is ParentMap’s Out + About editor.

A Little Discovery Park History

While this park is a gem in the Seattle Parks system, in part because it includes a community center for the descendants of the first people to live along this coast, Discovery Park also holds important lessons from its past. These lessons are worth exploring, especially for families with school-age kids.

Fort Lawton was home to a unit of African American soldiers known as the Buffalo Soldiers. In 1909, some 900 African American soldiers and their families accounted for about one-third of Seattle’s Black population.

During World War II, Fort Lawton housed German and Italian prisoners of war. In 1944, an Italian prisoner of war was killed, and 28 African American soldiers were wrongly convicted of his murder. It took until 2007 for their convictions and dishonorable discharges to be overturned.

The Sammamish Montessori School

In Redmond

Call 425-883-3271 for a tour.

Child-centered, joyful atmosphere with strong academic focus Preschool, kindergarten, and STEAM Enrichment Family owned and operated since 1977

Now Enrolling

www.sammamishmontessori.com 425-883-3271

North Seattle Colleges Cooperative FD20_sammamish_montessori_1-8h.indd 1 7/30/20 5:20 PM Preschools and Parent Education Program

northseattlecoops.org

A program for children from birth to 5 years and their caregivers. NOW ENROLLING FOR 2021–2022 SCHOOL YEAR

NOW ENROLLING for 2021/20220321_NSCC_1-8h.indd 1

Mandarin/Spanish Full Day Preschool

1/25/21 11:45 AM

• Serving children ages 8 weeks-6 years • Spanish and Mandarin Chinese immersion • Recipients of the KCTS WA State Caregiver Award and PBS Nationwide Caregiver Award

(206) 395-8209 • worldkidsschool.com • offi ce@worldkidsschool.com Serving Edmonds, Burien, Georgetown/SODO and West Seattle