We love spending some time at the Fay Bainbridge park anytime we are on Bainbridge Island. We were…read morein Bainbridge Island recently and spent some time after lunch at the park. There's a lot of space and a play area for kids. We love walking along the shore, having to climb around driftwood. It was lovely watching the sky change colors as the sun set.

This place is incredibly gorgeous…read more There's the lush hillside, a picnic shelter with fireplace, views and access to the sound, lots and lots of driftwood, and a big pirate ship play structure for children. You can relax and it's rarely too busy.

Manitou Beach Park is a pocket viewpoint on Bainbridge Island. It is great that local residents…read moreallow access to view the Seattle skyline. Just remember to drive slowly (20-25 mph range) as the main arterial greatly narrows. Caution should be exercised as there are both pedestrians and cyclists present. (7/7/18)

Delightful little public access spot on one of the beloved stretches of the Bainbridge Island…read moreshoreline. Just three or four public parking spots across the street from a short board walk. Wonderful view of the City of Seattle skyline and the peak of Mt. Rainier. A wonderful place to observe a sunrise or a moonlit evening.

There are two parking lots to this Park, one at the upper level and one at the lower level…read more I usually drive south from Lynwood Center along Pleasant Beach Drive NE and park at the lower level. Here you directly accesses a put-in for recreational boats and kayaks. The long, flat, paved trail is waterside and goes from the (lower) parking area to the erstwhile army cabins of this U.S. military installation. It is a pleasant waterside walk, which is incredibly hard to find on Bainbridge Island as every inch of it is cordoned off with hostile "Private Beach" signage of the rich who believe they can fortress themselves away... I enjoyed this walk because it was one place on the island to have wide open views (otherwise you are claustrophobic covered in trees). Across the water is a spit of land in Bremerton (the residential part) and further to the western horizons are the Olympic mountains. Periodically the Seattle to Bremerton ferry (or reverse direction) plies the channel closer to the Bremerton side. Then the quiet water channel will see some surging mini-waves. I love watching the seals playing in the water. A remnant set of wood pilings in the water makes for a stunning perch for a gaggle of cormorants...aquatic fowl with elegant necks that are bendy like ballerinas. Bird watching here is superb. I've seen great ducks on the rocks at the sea-kelp and sea-lettuce strewn water's edge. Other than the barnacle rocks on the beach, the main trail of this park is ideal for those with limited mobility. The upper parking lot has a steep trail down to the water, and it is not recommended for people with mobility issues (nor on slippery wet and icy days). All in all one of the best water access points on this otherwise rather tightly locked-away island.

A fun historical place to hike, or kayak or paddle boarding, beautiful day for all the above (…read moredefinitely need to get a paddle board) shady trails with spectacular views of the mountains, both the Olympic and Cascade, along with peeks of Rainier. Easy fun trails, gave me some time to spend on the rocky beaches, listening to waves and taking in the relaxing smells of ocean salt water on the light breeze. A fun way to explore a little of the many hiking trails on the peninsula. Close enough to the ferry to hear the horns blowing during arrivals and departures. Exploring new adventures! Cheers!

A Seattle Gem with Breathtaking Views!…read more Discovery Park is hands down one of the most beautiful spots in Seattle. My husband grew up in Magnolia, so he took me here for a hike last weekend, and I was completely blown away. ​We explored the south side and walked the Loop Trail. The path is well-maintained and offers stunning panoramic views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. It's hard to believe you're still within the city limits! It's the largest park in the city, so there is plenty of space to enjoy nature. Whether you want a serious hike or just a peaceful stroll to see the water, this is the place to go. Don't forget your camera--the scenery is post-card perfect!

Seattle's Discovery Park is the bee's knees! I was completely blown away by this picturesque public…read morespace. From an urban park perspective, the only other experience that comes close for me is when I moved to the Old Town Manchester neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia, and had Belle Isle in my backyard, which offers access to hiking, large flat rocks for sunbathing, and whitewater rafting on Class II, III, and IV rapids on the James River right in the middle of downtown. Okay, back to Discovery Park. I spent an entire day exploring the park. I started by ordering a carryout lunch at Damoori Kitchen, which is now closed according to Yelp. I then walked to Discovery Park and hiked the 4.4-mile Discovery Park and Lighthouse Loop. A map for that trail can be accessed using a trail app. The loop trail took me through several ecosystems such as coastal meadows, tidal beaches, forest groves, sand dunes, and vast stretches of thickets with wild berries. Once I finished hiking the loop, I walked back to Damoori Kitchen and caught a rideshare back to downtown Seattle. Highlights from my Discovery Park adventure included eating lunch at the tidal beach, exploring sea cliffs, seeing jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier, hiking past the West Point Lighthouse, and experiencing the sights, sounds, flora, and fauna of the park's majestic landscape.

This is a charming little public green space. A few parking spots are available on the side of the…read moreroad at the trailhead. The path winds down a forested area that is lush and shaded. Moss and mushrooms sprout everywhere and the elbows of trees have fuzzy ferns growing out of them. At the bottom of the slope the trail forks and has a short option to the left that goes down to the rocky beach. From the beach you can see the ferries coming in from Seattle. Going back up to the fork, the trail to the right goes over some marshy low areas before spitting out alongside a short stretch of road, and finally to a small pier overlooking the water. It isn't a large park but it makes for a nice walk with people who don't have the interest or stamina for a full hike. From the ferry leaving Bainbridge it is fun to look back to the shore. You can tell where Hawley Cove Park is because it it is the stretch of beach that has been left wild and green sandwiched between houses on either side.

Peaceful beach park that, as described, is pretty rocky - peaceful, definitely need a car, scenic…read moredrive from the ferry terminal

It can get pretty crowded, although it's to be expected to a place this gorgeous. Who doesn't like…read morethe beach? When I visited, there were cyclists, roller skaters, people flying kites, numerous dog-walkers and even a pair out walking their pet goats!? Totally amazing atmosphere. On clear days, there are great views of Seattle and surrounding mountains. On lucky days, you can spot orca whales! Keep an eye out especially during the fall and winter, or if you're particularly committed, there are several social media groups dedicated to posting about whale sightings. You might just want to bring along a pair of binoculars whenever you visit...just in case. There's street parking that's a close stroll to the beach, and one public washroom that I could find.

According to history, "Alki Beach is the site of the landing of the first white settlers in Seattle…read moreon a cold, stormy day in November of 1851. Chief Seattle and his tribe greeted them and helped them build their cabin to stave off the cold, wet winter." Little did that settlers know that a little over 100 years following this the beach would be a party beach with teens driving up and down the street with their loud motors, bonfires and Bluetooth speakers and other activity clearly trying to draw attention. The beach itself is nice but it's way crowded. I came here and it was only like mid-April, and it happened to be a decent day with some sun but boy was it crowded and noisy. Like a lot of beaches parking is a bit touch and go as well with mostly street parking that you have to luck out with. I'm told you can walk and bike your way downtown from here which must be interesting. While Alki is nice, the vibe seems totally for the young blood out here trying to impress one another. Lincoln Park beach is a bit more my scene.

Stayed for a weekend camping visit! Loved how secluded it felt while still being relatively close…read moreto town. Driving distance from plenty of restaurants and stores. Walk to the water was a bit long and hilly- being tennis shoes! Once there it was a gorgeous view!

Came here to do some afternoon reading by the lake…read more I really like this park because of the beach access and a boardwalk that jets out into the lake. There are ample tables for picnics, but only one bench for looking out over the lake. I took up a good portion of it so I could get comfortable reading- it was nice! There is a boat landing dock at the end of the boardwalk for those who want to take a break from their boating adventures. Other portions of the park have walking trails through trees, and there are lovely camping spots too.