Discovery Park352

Seattle's largest park offers an interesting mix of domesticated and wild landscape. Smooth asphalt trails for walking and biking co-exist with unmowed grass, open meadows, and lots of birds, especially during spring migration. There's a little bit of everything in this 534-acre park, including two miles of beach. Hiking trails wind throughout - try the 2.8-mile Discovery Loop for a walk through forests of oak and douglas fir, a meadow alive with the song of savannah sparrows, and breathtaking vistas of the sloping land and Puget Sound.

The Environmental Learning Center (open Tue-Sun, 8:30am-5pm) is well worth a stop on your way through the park. It offers interactive nature displays for kids (including a stuffed coyote and fox); a charmingly decorated Discovery Room where kids can color, play, and put on a sea-themed puppet shows; and a good collection of hiking, botanizing, and birding guide books for kids and adults.

Park maps are available here for $1. New visitors would do well to buy one; this park doesn't reveal itself easily to the casual observer and signs are limited. Do walk out the back doors into the small amphitheater-like garden out back. This charming spot, planted with native plants, is a sheltered place to sit, picnic, or bird. Walk along the path on the right and into the woods.

Tennis courts, basketball hoops, and a children's playground are located beyond the Environmental Learning Center. Follow the left-hand path past the center a short distance; all three are on the left. The playground features lots of trees and good shade, a nice climbing structure, a tire swing, and a rope swing. Contact the City of Seattle Parks Department about reserving the tennis courts.

Classes: Discovery Park offers a monthly calendar full of classes for young naturalists of all ages and their families, as well as birding and botanizing walks, and conservation classes. Check our calendar for listings, or contact the park to get on their mailing list for a quarterly catalog. A catalog is available on the website.

Nature Day Camp: Each weeklong session in this tremendously popular daycamp gives your child the chance to explore the park and learn about its plants and animals. Sessions usually begin the second week of June, and run through the end of August. Each week is tailored toward different ages; check the park's website for details.

School vacation day camps are also scheduled to coincide with the Seattle School District's breaks, including mid-winter break at the end of February and spring break in April. Contact the park for registration information.