25 Ways to Enjoy Spring Days
By Yordanos Tesfazion
With the arrival of spring, it’s time to leave behind your winter coats (but keep the raincoats) and embrace the warmth that will grace Seattle for the next few months. In honor of Seattle Parks Foundation’s 25th Anniversary, we’ve put together a list of 25 ways you can enjoy the extra daylight and make the most of spring in Seattle!
1. Seattle’s geographical location makes it an ideal place for running into all kinds of creatures! From orcas to owls, there are endless species to be appreciated around us.
Take in Seattle’s beautiful natural landscape and enjoy views of Mount Rainier while learning about local birds at Seward Park Audubon Center!
2. Take in some fresh air and feel the breeze on your face as you ride your bike along one of the many trails and loops around Seattle.
- Burke-Gilman Trail
- Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop
- Elliott Bay Trail (Terminal 91 Bike Trail)
- Green River Trail
Partner shoutout:
Thank you to Friends of Burke-Gilman Trail and those working to Fix the Burke-Gilman for transforming and keeping the Burke-Gilman Trail clean and safe!
For nearly a decade, Duwamish Valley Safe Streets has been advocating for a safer, wider network of multi-use trails to make commuting across South Seattle more accessible. With the help of the Seattle Department of Transportation, their Georgetown to South Park Connection project broke ground last November.
The trail advocates we partner with aren’t stopping at making multi-use trails accessible just in Seattle. Leafline Trails Coalition has a vision of connecting the trails network across the entire Central Puget Sound region.
3. After months of cold weather, sunny skies and warmer temperatures call for a picnic every now and then.
- Reserve a shelter for your picnic party or bring a blanket for lunch at Angle Lake Park.
- Stop and smell the flowers before enjoying your meal at the Woodland Park Rose Garden.
- The view of south Downtown and Elliott Bay from Dr. Jose Rizal Park makes it an ideal picnic location as the sun sets.
Partner shoutout:
The Dr. Jose Rizal Park Stewards host volunteer events and work with the Filipino community and Friends of Dr. Jose Rizal on park improvements.
4. If you’re looking for a bit more distance as you enjoy the weather this spring, spend some time at a pocket park.
Parks with a view:
Downtown gems:
Quiet, quirky spots:
Partner shoutout:
The lower half of Kobe Terrace is home to the Danny Woo Community Garden. Restaurant 2 Garden operates a biodigester at the garden to help local restaurants in the Chinatown-International District make use of their food waste so that gardeners have high-quality fertilizer for the garden.
5. Enjoy Seattle’s iconic cherry blossoms while they’re at their peak!
6. And if you’ve had your fair share of cherry blossoms…
- Plan a trip out to Mount Vernon for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
- On your next hike at Olympic National Park, try to find Pacific Rhododendron, Washington’s state flower, and other wildflowers on the Tubal Cain Mine Trail.
- If you don’t want to travel too far outside Seattle, grab a book and take in the hydrangeas and rhododendrons at the Parsons Garden in Queen Anne.
7. What better time to plan a photoshoot than during the spring? Whether you need a new headshot, an updated family picture or a candid shot for your next photo dump – make sure these locations are on your list of places to take pictures:
- While you can’t take professional photos inside the Volunteer Park Conservatory, it makes for a stunning backdrop option in addition to the greenery around the park.
- Snap a few candid pictures with the azaleas and magnolias at Washington Park Arboretum.
- The open fields and beautiful Japanese garden design of Kubota Garden offers countless picture-perfect options for a family portrait.
Partner shoutout:
Thanks to our partner, Volunteer Park Trust, the park stays in pristine condition year-round!
Last October, Seattle Parks and Recreation received a 1.25 million grant from the King County Flood Control District to support the Friends of Arboretum Creek with their Headwaters Project in the park. The grant will fund their efforts in restoring year-round water flow to Arboretum Creek, a crucial first step towards protecting the biodiversity of the park and preventing flooding.
8. Finding somewhere to get lost in nature isn’t a problem in Seattle.
- Tackle the trails at Cowen and Ravenna Parks and look out for the critters!
- Make a stop at Interlaken Park while you’re in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
9. Support your local farmers market or visit one in another neighborhood.
10. When spring starts to tease us with summer weather at the end of the season, it’s time to have a beach (park) day!
- Plan ahead for a visit to Alki Beach Park to miss the crowds and secure a parking spot.
- Make the trip to Des Moines for a proper beach day surrounded by tide pools and forested trails at Saltwater State Park!
- Another great option for a beach day in Des Moines, just a few minutes away from Saltwater State Park, is Redondo Beach. Stop by the MaST Center Aquarium if you’re at the beach on a Saturday!
- Enjoy the beach with a side of beautiful artwork at Constellation Park and Marine Reserve at the Charles Richey Sr Viewpoint.
Partner shoutout:
When A Cleaner Alki formed their group, they hosted weekly beach cleanups. Years later, they now organize cleanups across West Seattle and beyond, wherever extra help is needed.
Alki Beach Park is home to the first Pride event “At the Beach” in Washington State. Founded by two Black women, Alki Beach Pride celebrates the LGBTQ+ community while promoting awareness, inclusion, and providing a safe space for people to be their authentic selves!
11. With cloudy, gray skies in hibernation until the last quarter of the year, treat yourself to a Seattle sunset!
Partner shoutout:
Thank you to Friends of Golden Gardens Park for keeping the park free of invasive weeds and full of plants native to our region!
12. Face the trolls of the Northwest!
Thomas Dambo is the Danish artist behind the giant troll sculptures around the Pacific Northwest, and the Seattle area is home to five of his six trolls. Each one of his sculptures is intertwined with local history that tells an environmental story with local, cultural connections. Visit the Northwest Trolls website for more information about each troll and travel trips!
13. Hollywood loves Seattle! Many iconic movies and television shows are filmed right in our backyard, plan a day around these filming locations:
- Grey’s Anatomy
KOMO Plaza’s heliport is on the roof of the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital. While most of the hospital scenes were filmed in Los Angeles, Grey’s Anatomy fans will recognize the exterior of the building.
Queen Anne’s Kerry Park, one of Seattle’s most popular tourist spots, made regular appearances on Grey’s Anatomy. Just a few blocks away, you might spot Meredith Grey’s intern house (remember – the house is private property with people living in it, so if you happen to find it, be respectful).
- 10 Things I Hate About You
Plan some solo time or have a spontaneous date at Gas Works Park! The grassy fields of the park make for a good spot to lay a picnic blanket down or move around! You’ll have the perfect view of the houseboats on Lake Union, where the Sleepless in Seattle floating home once was.
Partner shoutout:
Coe Kids Crossing is a group of Queen Anne residents and businesses who are working with the Seattle Department of Transportation to improve the crosswalk safety near Coe Elementary School.
Friends of Troll’s Knoll take care of the greenery surrounding the Fremont Troll, and hope to eventually expand the existing westside of Troll’s Knoll Park to include the east side right of way.
14. Imagine what a lid over I-5 would look like.
The long-term project campaign to lid I-5 aims to reconnect neighborhoods that were divided when I-5 was built while also reducing air and noise pollution. With I-5 being overdue for important repairs, the campaign has been engaging with Seattle residents to learn more about what the community would like to have included when reconstruction frees up to 17 acres of urban space. In the meantime, visit the Jim Ellis Freeway Park!
15. We’re so privileged to have access to a wide variety of museums in and around Seattle!
Don’t forget to take advantage of free museum days every first Thursday of the month and show some love to museums with free admission year-round.
16. Spend some time on the water!
Plan a trip on the water taxi or ferry.
Visit The Center for Wooden Boats for hands-on boating experiences and the opportunity to learn about Seattle’s maritime history. Their spring Public Sail events will be on April 28 and May 26 – don’t miss out!
Partner shoutout:
We appreciate our partner, Friends of Lake Union Park, for their commitment to preserving and promoting Lake Union Park!
17. Enjoy an event at Pier 62!
Pier 62 is home to Overlook Walk, a new public space and pedestrian connection that bridges the gap between downtown and the waterfront. Overlook Walk is a part of a larger project to redevelop Waterfront Park, and its recent completion has resulted in approximately 60,000 square feet of new elevated park space to the waterfront.
Check out Friends of Waterfront Park’s upcoming events!
18. Look out for murals around Seattle as you’re out and about this spring and upload your findings to FindMASA: Murals and Street Art.
19. Get moving and find a sports field or court to play a game!
Visit Seattle Parks and Recreation’s website for more information on where you can find parks to play sports. If you prefer being active in an indoor setting, visit one of 26 community centers in the city.
Partner shoutout:
Last year, the golf course at Jefferson Park was renamed to Bill Wright Golf Complex in honor of William “Bill” Wright, Franklin High School graduate and the first African American to win a United States Golf Association event.
20. Make some time to get involved with a community group or organization that shares the same passion for a certain cause as you.
Seattle Parks Foundation works closely with the Tree Equity Network (TEN), a group that brings together community-driven organizations and government agencies to address gaps in funding and coordination around tree canopy projects. Reach out to celeste@seattleparksfoundation.org to be invited to TEN’s Slack channel so you can stay informed about events and more opportunities to get involved.
21. Head out to the Exit 38 Crags for a climb to celebrate the transition to warmer and dryer days.
Beginner: Write-Off Rock, Gritscone
Intermediate: Blackstone, Peannacle Point
Experienced: World Wall
Find more information about each climbing location and where to find them in this Indigo Alpine Guides post.
22. Attend Earth Day 2025: Seattle’s Innovation and Leadership in Climate Equity!
On April 22 at 7:30pm, spend Earth Day at Town Hall Seattle to learn and draw inspiration from local leaders in climate and equity who are making an impact in Seattle and across the country.
23. Plan a self-guided tour throughout the spring with friends, family or a pair of headphones.
Find a tour:
Visit the neighborhoods our partners are creating change in through their various projects!
Volunteer Park – Volunteer Park Trust
Central District – Garfield Super Block, Central District Community Preservation and Development Authority, Seattle Martin Luther King Jr. Organizing Coalition
24. Check out one of our Partners’ events.
You can find dozens of outdoor Partner events on our Events Calendar! We update the calendar on a regular basis, keep it bookmarked for whenever you find yourself with a free day!
25. Tell us why you Love Parks!
This time of year gives us the long-awaited chance to spend more time outside. The warmer, longer days pair perfectly with blossoming spring flowers and beautiful skies.
Share your spring adventures with us on social media! Tag us in your photos (@seattleparksfoundation) and use the hashtags #LoveParks and #SPF25Years to be featured on our page.