If you're looking for a leg destroying workout, look no further. There's two ways to approach, from…read morebelow at street level with a small gravel parking lot or above as you need to walk a short path to get to it from the nearby park. Your quads will be on fire after a while. The next day (or 2 or 3) your calves (and/or knees) feel like jelly. I don't understand people running downwards and using gravity to their advantage. Run upwards for a high intensity cardio sesh! The steps aren't uniform, with different lengths and angles, so it'll keep you on your toes...literally. Do at least 5 rounds to get a solid burn.

Monkey's secret place to get my head straight during the most difficult time…read more Shaded and sunny, well kept and clean, it's a great place to burn calories and get those hiking legs warmed up. Small dirt parking lot at base and street parking across. No toilets or water fountain, so do bring your hydration needs. GMonkey may want to walk in his footsteps next time...

- The horse Trail -…read more Hubby and I decided to take an afternoon hike here, and we had no clue it's a state park and a discovery pass is required. We parked at the parking lot closer to the entrance, and we bought an annual discovery pass. Other than the starting incline, there is nearly no inclination for this trail. It's rather family friendly if your kids aren't afraid of horses or horse poops as I saw two horses and gazillion poops. It's funny how there is a sign that identifies the differences between horse poop and dog poop lol. The whole trail is shaded except for a small part. There are three recommended routes and the signs are quite obvious, but it's also easy to walk elsewhere as there are so many routes in this park. We were going for the middle length route, but ended up finishing the bigger loop instead and it took a bit more than an hour. There were also tons of salmonberries next to the trail that's perfect for a healthy snack for your "hike" xD!

Bridle Trails State Park is a great state park that's perfect for horses and everyone else!…read more Although this state park is used for riding your horse along the trails, I say it's a great park for everyone else who wants a stroll through the forest along the Kirkland-Bellevue border. Because it's a state park, you must pay for a $10 single-day pass unless you have the Discovery Pass. There are two parking lots to the area, one parking lot is closest to the entrance to the trails and the other parking lot is smaller, which is closer to the bathrooms and where community events are held as there's a stage. I've been here a few times and it's always a nice way to enjoy a nature walk. In my most recent visit, I came here on a hot day with my dog as Bridle Trails State Park is mostly shaded from the trees. There are three different trails, and if you're looking to spend more time here, take the Coyote Trail, which is about 3.5 miles long. It's not entirely flat, with some hills here and there, but it's a super easy trail, along with the other trails here. I saw a lot of families and horses here. And speaking of horses, be aware that there will be horse poop on the trails. The reason why it's not picked up right away is because unlike dog poop, it decomposes within a short time. Dogs are allowed on the trails as long as they're on leash. At the area where events are held are where bathrooms and a water fountain is located, along with benches. It's nice to live nearby Bridle Trails State Park and enjoy the trees, green space and well-maintained trails that provide shade for those scorching days we're not used to in the Seattle area. That right there is reason enough to visit Bridle Trails State Park.

I frequently visit Bellevue but never knew about this garden until lately. It's such a gem and…read moretranquil place to visit. The peaceful atmosphere is just so beautiful and relaxing I felt I was away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I even spotted deers! There's no admission fee. Washrooms are available. Parking is free.

For some reason I don't remember coming to Bellevue Botanical Gardens before even though after…read morelooking at my check in count on Yelp it says I have been here twice. I also didn't have a review for the place previously which over time kind of convinced myself I never came here before. Even after exploring around I didn't really remember anything from before. So regardless if this is my first time or a refresher visit I paid a visit here recently. There is no entrance fee but there is a suggested donation. The little shop here is cute! There are several different sectors to these botanical gardens. Probably my favorite was one area with a lot of plants in bloom. Another area was a bit more wild and took me to a suspension foot bridge. I went across the bridge twice but kind of got a touch of vertigo as it is kind of high and the bridge wobbles a little as you walk. It's perfectly safe... it's just me and having a fear of heights. There are pleasant and tranquil water features as you wonder around and there was one with a pond with koi that I got in a short video. These gardens are very nice to kind of "get lost" in as you bond with nature and hopefully have a bit of peace with your thoughts from everyday life at least for a little while.

Heritage Park is a not-so-hidden gem that somehow only the very-locals make their way there, even…read morethough it is steps away from the ever-so-popular Marina Park. This park is behind the Heritage Hall with easy walking paths for a stroll, see the water from a distance, walk the dog, and/or play tennis. They have two tennis courts (see photo). During springtime, they have several cherry blossom trees that bloom beautifully. Parking is plentiful by the street or use their small lot (see photo). I usually am walking over from downtown to extend my walking distance. There are two benches to enjoy the water view. There are no official children's play area, though there are some natural stones for climbing in a separated area (see photo). This park is simple, immensely peaceful, and a great place to just chill.

Cute green space park within Kirkland to walk along or take your dog to go for a run. Nice views of…read morethe water and some tennis courts on one end with some beautiful flowers near Heritage Hall. The park has several lots to park along and a few minutes walk from the Marina Park pavilion and nearby coffee shops and stores on Central Way.

Carillon Woods was a bit of an odd park in that half of it is developed (a play area, climbing…read morerock, and a paved walkway) and half of it is undeveloped (straight nature and narrow paths). Midday on a very sunny afternoon, Carillon was totally deserted, which we found strange when we happened upon the play area. The park overall did not seem well designed or bright and as we passed the structures they gave off a bit of a gloomy air. Unfortunately, unlike our experiences in Seattle, we found the parks in Bellevue to consistently lack seating and be poorly maintained. Carillon Woods was hands down the nicest park and easily offered the most amenities, so we appreciated that even though it could have used an editors eye to draw more people in, it did bring something to the neighborhood and the community it was in (unlike Watershed). Overall, if you're in the area and looking for a child friendly hiking park I'd recommend either Carillon Woods or Moorpark, and to avoid Bridle Trails.

This little area does a really good job of keeping it clean and nice right along the lake. The…read morehotel and surrounding areas including the parking lot were very clean and felt extremely secure. Love how they set it up for Christmas as well. Great vibes had had a great time here.

WAVERLY BEACH PARK @ KIRKLAND…read more This is more of the righter side (near most stores and restaurants) of the Wavery Park Street. It's about a 5 minutes walk from the main one. Parking is available but will cost you during the week except Sundays. Today was a beautiful day - lots of people, ducks, and even rentals for Kayaking. Beautiful weather and can get super crowded but it's a beautiful park where there's always room to walk around!

Lovely beach park in Kirkland. We went during the long weekend, midday and it wasn't too crowded…read moreuntil we left. Both parking lots were full so I can only imagine how crowded it gets during the summer. Great spot for the kids to play on the playground and also get some Sandy/rocky beach play in too. Beautiful views of the water and lovely boardwalk to take a stroll.

We love this park, and only just discovered it!…read more It has everything from beautiful water views, to a semi-circular path/pier that goes out over the water. There are playgrounds for the littles and the bigger kids and so much space to run, play, enjoy. It's truly a wonderful place for kids of all ages!

Extremely clean and manicured, family friendly park with a large play structure, shaded gazebo with…read moregrills, bench seating, beach volleyball sand pits, and well-maintained bathrooms. Great walking areas. Parking is plentiful. The waterfront views are spectacular and the water is calm. While it's not clean enough to swim in, it's perfect for paddle boarding or even light kayaking. I wish we had this kind of park where we live.

This is a park that could be quite nice with a bit of funding…read more As it is, it's fairly small - a short walk through a narrow path that opens into a clearing with a retired reservoir that was at one point the supplier of the city's water. The clearing boasts a couple benches and another another narrow path that leads to the exit. There's quite a bit of road noise and overall it would benefit from a play area or a few sculptures placed in what has been renamed the "peace bowl". I could easily see someone who lives locally enjoying their morning walk here, but the park feels neglected and could really use some sprucing up.

Great park with a wilder set of plants. Lovely to see a well maintained trail that has more natural…read moregreenery and wildlife (we saw lots of birds, ground squirrels, slugs, etc.). There are not many people and there is a good amount of parking, plus a portable potty out front. It is a little steep in certain parts but everything is manageable and it is relatively short but nothing stops you from going another loop around or going down all the little side trails! Bonus: Dog friendly just pick up all waste so that it's nice for the next person!

We walked by here twice today and took a few photos. The view of the river is gorgeous and it's…read morevery mellow and serene here. I'm going to walk back in a few hours and watch the sunset. This is my first time in Kirkland and its so calm compared to downtown Seattle!

My experience at Marsh Park was good, especially with the lovely view of Lake Washington. The…read morerecent high lake levels did cover most of the beach, leaving only a few areas accessible, but it was still enjoyable overall. The park doesn't have many activities, and it's located near a busy street, but if you love nature, you'll appreciate it here. :D

Located in the city of Kirkland, and named for the city's first female mayor, Doris Cooper Houghton…read moreBeach Park is a 3.8 acre recreation area of waterfront access to Lake Washington. Our son-in-law took us here just in time to see an absolute gorgeous sunset over the lake. Most of the water access is via concrete stairs, with a small sandy area and a sunbathing/diving pier. It reminded me a lot of the UW-Madison Memorial Union, with a similar set-up...though we never saw such a gorgeous sunset like this there.

A great space and lots of waterfront as well as some beach…read more The views are spectacular especially the sunsets. There's kayaks and canoes to rent. Or just a dock to fish or swim off of. Or just go for a walk. Restaurants and cafes are within walking distance too.