Olympic Sculpture Park050

The Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park has transformed a nine-acre industrial site into open space for art. The new waterfront park gives Seattle residents and visitors the opportunity to experience a variety of sculpture in an outdoor setting, while taking in spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. A 2,200-foot Z-shaped path links three land parcels and leads from the steel-and-glass PACCAR Pavilion through four ecological environments to Elliott Bay - or at least it will, once the section closest to the water is finished.

The larger-than-life works of art include an orange "eagle", an old-fashioned typewriter eraser (you may have to explain this one to the kids), and Seattle Cloud Cover, which changes colors according to the light and angle of the sun. An online tour of the artwork is available on the website.

Don't miss the "nursing tree" located in its own building at Elliott and Broad. A full-size downed tree was brought in from the Cedar River watershed and is a microcosm of the rain forest - complete with slugs.

The PAACAR Pavilion has restrooms, a cafe, swinging cages that children can play in, and more stunning views.