3 must-go places for outdoor activities in Seattle
Intro
If you’re thinking of outdoor activities in Seattle, its slightly chilly and cool weather makes it a great place to have fun outside.
While you’re there, you’ll want to take photographs of your family as a keepsake for the future. While many factors might affect your photoshoots, such as the drizzling rain or a grumpy child, it’s still worth capturing a few candid photos to look back at these happy times in the future.
Whether you are a familiar local or a tourist just passing through, there are many beautiful spots to enjoy the lovely weather and partake in outdoor activities in Seattle. We put together this list of our top 3 places in Emerald City that we recommend for a great family bonding moment for all ages and a chance to take photos for the family album.
What are our top 3 recommendations for outdoor activities in Seattle?
1. Seattle Center and the Space Needle
If you have not hopped on the Seattle Monorail to go to the top of the Space Needle in a while, then it’s time to bring the children and grandparents.
The landmark was renovated a few years ago, and it currently features the world’s first revolving glass floor.
You can head to the glass floor observation deck located 500 feet above the ground. Once here, you can gingerly thread onto the rotating glass deck to get a panoramic view of the city and the mechanism of the Space Needle Structure. If you are traveling with children or the elderly, they might feel afraid to step out on the glass deck.
If that’s the case, bring them further up to the second observation deck, 520 feet off the ground. This is an outdoor observation deck with 24 glass benches that tilt outwards so you lean toward the city. It feels more secure sitting down than merely walking on glass, so you may be able to coax the whole family to take an excellent photo over here.
If you’re looking for a full day’s outdoor activities in Seattle, note that the landmark has free entry for children under 5, discounted entry tickets for youths from 5-12 years of age, and seniors above 65. Wheelchairs are also allowed on the observation deck. Beware that it might get crowded, so opt for a handheld camera or just your phone camera.
2. Alki Beach
One of the best places for outdoor activities in Seattle is the beach. Alki Beach in West Seattle is a beautiful stretch of sand on Puget Sound where the whole family can get some sun, play volleyball, and admire the view of Seattle’s skyline.
You can drive out to West Seattle from downtown via the West Seattle Bridge, but a recommended route will be to take the metro’s water taxi. It’s a 12-minute ride across the bay, and once you reach Sea Crest Park, you can take the Metro’s free DART shuttle to Alki Beach. We recommend the water taxi for a more scenic route, which brings you straight to Salty’s Seattle, a waterfront grill restaurant.
Apart from the extensive seafood menu, you can relax and unwind with sweeping views of Elliott Bay and the Seattle city skyline. We think if you’re traveling with grandparents, or perhaps want to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday, it’s a must-go destination.
For everyone else, especially the children, packing a picnic basket to head to Alki beach promises hours of fun with no streets and a trail for miles. You can bike, skate, or stroll along Alki with the family. If the children get bored, bring them to Whale Tail Park, where whale-themed art and a children’s playground in the shape of a whale’s tail will keep them entertained.
Photo-taking here is a magical experience. The sunset casts a soft glow for a golden-hour photoshoot, and the skyline makes an excellent visual backdrop for pictures.
3. The Washington Park Arboretum
Another lovely place to visit for a family day outdoors is The Washington Park Arboretum.
It’s a massive park with plenty of features, such as bridges and ponds, enough for the entire family to plan outdoor activities. Best of all, it’s free entrance. There is even a Japanese Garden with one of the world’s largest Japanese Maple Tree collections. Pack a picnic basket and explore the gardens with these activities. You can also rent a bicycle at Montlake Bicycle shop.
While the park is open all year round, from dawn to dusk, early fall and summer are the best seasons to visit. The good weather and full bloom of the flowering trees mean you’ll be able to take the best photographs with Mother Nature as your prop.
Why should you take family photographs outdoors?
It might be a hassle to remember to take photos when you’re busy minding the kids or attending to the needs of seniors in the group. But taking photographs of them while participating in outdoor activities in Seattle means you’ll be able to benefit from the natural sunlight and props around you. The sun adds a beautiful glow to people’s faces without harsh lighting. Nature also lends a helping hand if you take pictures at the park, as you can get your family members to frolic in leaves or capture a tender moment when they are picnicking on the grass.
Besides, a photograph captures a moment in time that will pass. By keeping these photographs, you get to reflect on these sentimental moments in the future. Taking photos outdoors also means plenty of space to move around and be creative with poses!
If you’re in Seattle and you’re looking for a professional photographer…
We hope you enjoyed this article on places to take the whole family for a great family bonding time with fun outdoor activities in Seattle. If you think of having a family photo shoot, it might be stressful to plan all of this, including the photography gear you have to bring along.
If you are looking for a family photographer in Seattle, contact us, and we’ll be in touch to offer you more information. We would love to showcase you or your gorgeous family in some of these stunning places!
