Top Rated Attractions in Seattle

Although Discovery Park has a beach, it is not a prime spot for sunbathing or swimming as the water's a little cold and the beach a little rocky. Most visitors hike the miles of trails, which offer great bird-watching opportunities. One of the trails extends to Puget Sound, and after a lengthy downhill walk, you will find tide pools and a lighthouse.

This 200-acre (80.93 hectare) park is a must-see for every Seattle visitor with even an hour of free time. With its lush green spaces, its breathtaking Japanese Garden (open 10a daily), and its abundance of rare trees, plants and flowers (more than 40,000 species), it is one of the brightest jewels in the Emerald City. Scenic and aptly named Azalea Way cuts a path through the park. The Graham Visitor's Center can be rented for social events, meetings and seminars for 45-75 guests. Rates include kitchen and audio-visual equipment. Call or visit the web site for detailed information and hours.

If one were to speculate the least likely thing to appear at the corner of South 55th and Renton avenues, Japanese gardens may be one thing that comes to mind. Nevertheless, these splendid acres of lush greenery, feeding ponds and footbridges painted bright red with gold accents provide a beautiful escape. Fujito Kubota, a master gardener and landscaper, gave the park to the city of Seattle in 1987. Admission is free.

This two-and-a-half-mile strip of sandy beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area, and it was also where Seattle's first non-Native American settlers spent their first winter. In warm weather, Alki Beach is crowded with sunbathers, swimmers and families. For athletic types, there are volleyball games. The beach is also lined with a path, great for walking, jogging, biking and skating. Across the street there are several cafes and restaurants where you can stop in for a bite after a day in the sea air.

Located in Volunteer Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Volunteer Park Conservatory is a botanical garden made up of five different houses. Modeled after the Crystal Palace in London, these ornately, victorian style greenhouses hold various botanical wonders. Each greenhouse holds a different variety of plants, from succulents, ferns, palms and bromeliads to cacti and seasonal flora. A Seattle staple since 1922, the extensive collection has grown thanks to generous donations from the public and private benefactors. Visitors can roam through the greenhouses for a small fee of USD 4 or choose to take one of the tours on offer. Be sure to visit the website for further details.

Named for Senator Magnuson, creative force behind the Pacific Science Center, Warren G. Magnuson Park is an unusual combination of scenery and science, consisting of windswept hills, a pleasant beach, a muddy dog run and a sculpture stroll. Most famous of these artworks is the Sound Garden, a hilltop collection of gently oscillating aluminum tubes that, when the wind passes over their mouths, hum hauntingly. Against the stark-mirrored walls of NOAA—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the whole setup feels vaguely futuristic. The place is open daily from 4am.