Spend an afternoon walking garden trails, taking in the bright colors of summer’s bloom. These Seattle-area gardens are very popular, and must-sees (for a reason)! Definitely worth a visit, but some can get very busy depending on time of year. If you’re looking for a lower stimulation outing with fewer crowds, consider checking out some of the area’s lesser known garden gems.
Washington Park Arboretum | 2300 Arboretum Drive E. Seattle WA 98112 | Open: Dawn to 8 p.m. | With 230 acres of trails and plant life on the shores of Lake Washington, many species found only at the park, your family will enjoy a day of exploration, discovery and nature. Dogs on leash are allowed.
The Arboretum is open every day until 8 p.m., located at 2300 Arboretum Drive E. in Seattle. (Image: UW.edu)
Kubota Garden | 10915 51st Ave S. Seattle, WA 98178 | Open: Sunrise to sundown | Children will delight in the ponds filled with koi and the bridges over the pond. A beautiful place in Rainier Beach to take family pictures, or snap some shots of your children playing in the garden — Kubota is one of Seattle’s most popular gardens. Dogs on leash are allowed.
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Bellevue Botanical Garden| 12001 Main St., Bellevue, WA 98005 | Open: Dawn to dusk | Starting with a gentle waterfall at the entrance, the different landscapes of this park draw children in. Kids will enjoy the windy paths. Many birds, bees and butterflies can be found here. Dogs not allowed.
Bellevue Botanical Garden (Image: Kathryn Mueller)
Parsons Gardens | 650 W Highland Dr., Seattle, WA 98119 | Open: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. | This tiny garden park on Queen Anne Hill’s south slope is perfect for a game of hide-and-seek in the large gazebo structure or behind one of the many hydrangeas.
Formerly the family garden of Reginald H. Parsons, Parsons Gardens was given to the City in 1956 by the family’s children. (Image courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation)
Kruckeberg Botanic Garden | 20312 15th Ave NW, Shoreline, WA 98177 | Open: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. March – October: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and November – February: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | It’ll take you more than one visit to cover this beautiful park in Shoreline. There are four acres here. Go birding, hike to identify trees and plants, and stop at MsK Nursery. The “kids only” website features garden-themed virtual learning resources. Dogs on leash are allowed.
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Seattle Children’s PlayGarden | 1745 24th Ave. S. | Open: Dawn to dusk (except when summer camps are in session | This one acre gem at the old Colman Playfield allows children with disabilities along with their typically developing peers to both safely and adventurously engage with nature. There’s an edible sensory garden, playground, water feature, a tree fort, an interactive music installation and a menagerie that includes a resident goose, chickens, ducks, and bunnies. Look online for camps hours, and for info about its preschool program, open play sessions, summer camps, art classes and more.
Entrance to Seattle Children’s PlayGarden. (Image: Allison Peterson)
Seattle Japanese Garden | 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E. | Open: Tuesday through Sunday, with seasonal changes in hours | Admission: Free for children under 5, $10 for adults, $6 for youth 6-17, disabled, seniors and college students with ID | This 3½-acre formal garden located inside the Washington Park Arboretum was the earliest postwar Japanese-style public garden on the West Coast. It has trails for peaceful strolling, and kids love crossing the small footbridges and spotting koi in the pond. Family Saturday programs provide family-friendly cultural experiences every month and offer free admission to the garden for youth 12 and under from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No dogs allowed at this park.
(Image courtesy Seattle Japanese Garden)
Bloedel Reserve | 7571 NE Dolphin Dr., Bainbridge Island | Open: year-round Tuesday through Sunday | Admission: $22+ for adults, $10+ for older students, $5+ for children 5-12, and free for children 4 and under | This tranquil 140-acre site on the north end of Bainbridge Island includes 12 distinct environments, from forested woodland to a bird marsh to a fairyland-like moss garden. Groomed trails snaking through the property encourage spontaneous meandering. Bloedel is considered a “living museum” and as such, eating food, picking flowers and wheels of any kind aren’t allowed; the experience is more zen than zoo. No dogs allowed at this park.
Visit Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island. (Image courtesy: Keith Brofsky)
