Every year, Washington experiences a brutal winter, full of gray skies, downpours, and 4:30 PM sunsets. Seattle’s despondent weather state is enough to make you want to close your blinds shut and lock yourself inside for eternity. But as the air gets warmer and the days get longer in the springtime months, I suddenly find myself itching to get outside any chance I can. While Seattle often gets recognized for its coffee, rain, and trees, its parks don’t receive nearly enough attention. Last weekend I spent two days wandering through one of the most beautiful green spaces in the city: Discovery Park. I was so taken aback by its beauty that I had to spotlight this park for longtime Seattle residents and newcomers alike who haven’t taken a chance to explore it.
As soon as I entered the park, I came upon a gigantic open meadow surrounded by a barricade of classic Washingtonian Evergreen trees. The late afternoon sunlight danced off of the copious dandelions in the field, making me want to frolic through it like a kindergartener. As we ventured through the winding trails, we came across the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, a beautiful community center designed to educate and connect Indigenous people in the Puget Sound region. The cultural center possessed a picturesque view of the Sound and spaced-out picnic benches with room for people to picnic and enjoy the scenery.
We meandered down to the water and viewed the West Point Lighthouse (pictured below), along with a seemingly endless beach and towering sea cliffs. Coming across an actual sandy beach in Washington is often a rarity, which made walking along this shore even more special. The air was filled with salt and it was the perfect setting to watch the sunset.
