Getting there:

Seattle's largest open space began as the Fort Lawton defensive base. After being used as an embarkation point for soldiers during World War II and the Korean War, the land was close to becoming a missle base in 1968. In 1972, after the proposition's defeat, Discovery Park was born. Now over 250 species of birds and other wildlife have made the park their home.

Seven miles of hiking trails and the Wolf Tree Nature Trail provide ample opportunities for park patrons to immerse themselves in the great outdoors. The land stretches all the way to the shores of Puget Sound, where a 19th century lighthouse perches at the end of a quiet, wide beach. Okay, so the beach is in the shadow of a water treatment plant...just turn your back on it and the sounds of lapping waves will prove pleasantly distracting. Beach walkers can peek into tiny tidepool universes and study the strange life of sea anenomes as they make their way down the expanse of shore.

If you'd like to know more, the Visitor's Center (206-386-4236) has lots of helpful information about the park along with trail maps and fun interactive exhibits for kids. It's open 8:30am - 5pm every day except holidays. The Daybreak Star Arts and Cultural Center (206-285-4425) hosts Native American events.

Thanks to Friends of Discovery Park