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Washington Park Arboretum
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Madison Park
2300 Arboretum Drive East
2300 Arboretum Dr E
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 543-8800
2300 Arboretum Drive East
2300 Arboretum Dr E
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 543-8800
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
72 reviews for Washington Park Arboretum
I have no idea how I missed reviewing the Arboretum!
It is an oasis in Seattle. I lived across the street from her eone year. Daily walks and so much appreciation of beauty. Azaleas, rhodendrons..
I will provide one caveat.. the activities inthe Seattle Times Weekender ar enot always accurately listed. Followup with Arboretum staff about what was posted or expected, tho' it provides apologies does not rectify or change that one might have arrived at the Arboretum for a tour or talk which didnt exist.
Go on your own. Expect quiet beauty, changing landscapes and well-tended plants and lawns.
Though tempted to give the Arboretum 3 Stars due to an interaction with an employee over the summer, I'm trying not to let it cloud my judgement of the Park in general. I've been to more exotic Arboretums but this one is quite lovely. We've explored a different part of the Park on every visit, so it's big enough that you won't feel like you've done the whole thing after a couple trips. Plus it's never that crowded. This is definitely a walking park: not that many benches and being in Seattle the trails and grass can be muddy (even in summer), so keep that in mind if planning a picnic, or run, or if you want a place to sit and observe. There are usually ducks around which I quite enjoy. Alot of the plants are labeled, which is helpful if you're into botany and such. I've only been to the Japanese Garden once and I think it was undergoing a bit of construction at the time. It was pretty but a bit more crowded than the rest of the Park. I'd like to go again, and judging by some of the pics, autumn would be a good time to go see the Japanese Garden. It costs about $5 to get in, which I found reasonable. Last summer we discovered a trail that leads out over Lake Washington (via a somewhat dubiously constructed floating path of wood and concrete) and onto a small island. It was cool to be on the water and quite picturesque. Two warnings: it was really muddy, so wear sensible shoes and maybe rethink biking or pushing a stroller. Second, we saw a poor dog with his foot caught in the metal grate part of the trail. The owner eventually extricated him but makes me think it's not such a dog-friendly part of the Arboretum!
Now here's my bone to pick: on one of our recent trips we noticed people canoeing through the Park. We came back about a month later and stopped by the Visitor/Information Center to ask about canoe rentals. The woman there seemed to be working in the gift shop but came over to the information desk. My boyfriend asked her about renting a kayak. The woman told us that there aren't kayaks at the Park and sent us over to the Agua Verde Paddle Club (to be reviewed separately). Here's where I take issue -- I worked in customer service long enough to know that doing your job means sometimes answering a question the customer didn't ask or showing them somewhat similar to what they are looking for. In this case my BF meant to say canoe but accidentally said kayak. Any decent Park employee would have told him that they didn't have kayaks but they do in fact have canoes -- which would have been fine since that's what we actually wanted. I'm annoyed that she didn't offer that critical piece of information. As a result, we spent the afternoon fighting against the current of Lake Washington instead of a leisurely paddle through the streams of the Arboretum. Arg.
Aside from that aggravating experience, I've always enjoyed the Arboretum and think it's pretty awesome that it's free and right in town. Good one Emerald City!
This place is reminiscent of GG Park.
There are free guided tours every 1st and 3rd Sunday at 11am and 1pm that last for ~1.5hrs. Nice intro to the park.
The place is very well thought out, with multiple sections. For those of you who think that parks are only beautiful in spring/summer, you're missing out. Fall brings loads of different colored berries on the trees, and there is an entire section within the park where the trees were planted for winter enjoyment...
Check it out. You won't be disappointed!
A fantastic park with trees from all over the world - a must for any visit to Seattle and if you have the time and money, then go and visit the Japanese Garden.
When I was 10 years old, I took a trip into Seattle to the arboretum with one of my best friends and her mother. We wanted to go canoeing and that day proved to be a great opportunity for a little fun in the sun.
It was a lovely August day. Sunny, around 75 or so. A perfect day for a little canoe action, right?
...
Had it not been for the pervo in the ski mask, socks & running shoes 'getting happy' and staring at us in the shrubbery about 30 feet from our boat, it would have been the perfect afternoon. My friend noticed him first and seconds later, her mom's saying to us, "Row girls, ROW!!"
After somewhat of an adrenaline rushed paddle, we were finally in the clear. Though the afternoon was pretty much ruined (according to the folks at the arboretum, there had been sightings of this individual for years) it was fun up until that point.
I've only been back once for canoeing a few years ago and I didn't see any ski masked men. I'm pretty weary of this place, which is a shame since it is beautiful.
Maybe someday I'll get over it, but for now I'm stayin' outta the shrubbery and keepin' an eye out for skiers who don't wear pants.
The Boy and I spent a good hour and a half wandering around the arboretum this morning. Aside from nearly getting caught in the quicksand bog (aka trail) when we first started out, it was a lovely experience. And even though you never really escape the sounds of traffic on 520, that's easily excusable. You know, Nature's Glory and all that.
I especially liked the rhododendron garden. I don't know if it's like that all year round, but at least in May it was all abloom and just gorgeous. Also impressive was the lack of litter and the abundance of signage, just in case you wanted to know what trees you were looking out.
Can't wait to go back to explore the 70% of the park that we didn't get to. Although I might wait til it's a little less mucky.
I have been meaning to come here during a sunny afternoon, and finally did last Friday...oh, it was so worth it! The park is quite large, with lots of intercrossing paths, perfect for wandering or jogging. Rhododendrons were in bloom, the last of the cherry tree blossoms were falling into the wind, and benches are everywhere for your resting pleasure. This is the best place near downtown that I would want to picnic. I haven't tried out the Japanese Garden yet, but I'm sure it's just as amazing as the rest of the park.
So much to explore!...Trails, grassy knolls to relax and lay out, Japanese gardens, canoeing, picnic tables, etc. Its one of my favorite places in Seattle!
This place is gorgeous!
I am waiting for the cold to abate. The variety of trees here is truly wondrous! Every time I go here I find myself wanting to spend more time wandering around and soaking in the arboreal eye-candy. I love the all the Japanese Cherry Trees and Korean Maples! Totally sexy satiny trees! Bring a date your Camera (and goloshes if is it has been wet cause it can get wet and muddy at the lower places.) I recommend this place for artistic inspiration or just an infusion of Mama Earth nourishment. Just get that check in with Ma in the middle of an urban existence. There is something in bloom here year around and a very helpful visitor center. With a tree guide booklet. Nice canopied walks and open air goodness,
Thanks Ma!
I was really looking forward to wandering around, getting some greenery to relax the eyes, and finding some time and space for me with the trees. What surprises that lurked around the shrubbery, the trees, the grass!
Perhaps Tuesday afternoon just is not the time to come here. Yes, to be expected are the horticulturists/botanists/park workers/landscape artists making haste for their spring debut... but there was barely any escape from the roaring of the chainsaws and the revving of the trucks! In every which way, within 1 minute of walking would come upon roads, parking lots, saws, trucks, people with boomboxes pumped.... what is this???
The evergreens were quite lovely, as expected. The Winter Garden actually had some nice flowers in bloom and fresh fragrances of pollen and petals. Being the dead of March, flowers and rhodendrons were not in bloom yet, which was to be expected. Some of the paths were not cleared, trees/hedges not trimmed (despite heavy sawing), which is fine. It's still cold season after all.
The space itself is nice, but why are there so many roads within the arboretum?? It also doesn't help that I have the Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts as a reference point.
The Japanese Garden was nicely done. Conveyed a peaceful and quiet environment, despite being right off the road of a busy street. There were ducks swimming in the pond. Nice pond space, benches, layout. Everything trimmed and groomed to perfection. Included: man in the orange suit doing the trimming off to the side.
I love this place. So much peace and beauty in the middle of the big busy city! Canoing around here is one of the best ways to get a taste of the magnificent Pacific North West - just thinking of it makes me homesick for Seattle!
One of my favorite city parks in the country. Enough trails to keep you walking all afternoon. Beautiful Lake Washington views. A great slash of green in the Emerald City.
Tree porn.. that's what he said.
I've only been here during the fall/winter yet I am always excited to return here.
I am sure people strolling by are wondering what we are doing..
Since I've only been here a couple times and it's been to shoot.
I've yet to fully explore the whole park with all of it's layers.
The north end of the park is more industrial which makes this place very versatile as a back drop.
I can't wait to come back during spring!
OMG! This place is beautiful!! My dog and I really enjoyed the walk through the park. Put on your walking shoes!! The fragrance in the air- from the winter garden- was lovely! There is a map to help you get a feel of the layout. The trails have some stairs and hills. This is a place you can go for a walk year-around with your sweetie or your dog!
I did not see many garbage cans in the park. It could be a winter thing. Hopefully, your dog will do a number two at the beginning or at the end of the walk. There were some distractions for my dog like the squirrels, and birds. (It's an on leash park. )
If you like trees, this place is for you. Such a wide variety of tree porn to appreciate, with many specimens nicely labeled. I like to go year 'round, mostly to experience the different states the trees are in, but I guess if you are a flower power bloomer, then the spring and summer months are the best time to go.
As far as the Japanese Garden is concerned, I vaguely remembering going once, but I seem to remember liking it. However, I'm cheap, so the $5 kinda kills it for me.
One Sentence Summary: The Arboretum is a great place for picnics, hugging trees, and getting a whiff of nature.
Um- I think I'd love you if I were dating. Because then I'd have a boyfriend who would take me over on the ferry and drive my tushie all the way here. But as it , it's a-ok. I found out a lot about tree's here and it was very well kept and all around good.
As it was - I was with a person who does not like to linger, and I think an Arboretum is Linger central. So, meh. Sorry Charlie.
Don't' miss the color of Fall!
Who need to go New England for autumn scene?! We have the more amazing scenes in Seattle Puget Sound. It is in the city, just exit at Lake Washington Boulevard on 520. It is a perfect place to escape from negative news for a few hours.
We didn't go the world famous Japanese Garden today. I highly recommended it though. They offer tea class regularly. The weather was perfect. Leaves have been changing color. There is no cafe or restaurant in the park. Shops in Madison Valley are close by where you can grab a bite or you can bring your own food & drink and have a picnic at such beautiful park.
My old collie dog Ferghal has the arthur-itis something fierce, which makes him slow and rather lethargic.
Since he is fortunate enough to have been adopted by me, the crazy dog lady, he gets weekly acupuncture and chiropractic treatments to soothe his painful woes.
I also carry him up and down the stairs several times daily, which forces me to keep up on my sit-ups in order to keep my back strong enough to sling his 60 pounds of bones around.
(Thanks to Trophy, Paseo, Brouwers, and other neighborhood establishments, however, I do not look like I have ever done a sit up in my life).
Almost daily I throw Ferghal into the Dog-Mo and cart him off to this place.
This Spring we have strolled through rain, snow, hail and sunshine - sometimes all in the space of one afternoon!
He L O V E S it - I don't know what it is, but his eyes get shiny and bright, his pace quickens - he perks up considerably when we get here.
We take long and very slow walks under the blooming cherry and plums trees, alongside the almost-ready-to-pop rhodies and the cooing duck couples, busily feathering their nests.
Anyplace that can make my old dawg feel young again is heaven on earth.
I fell in love in the Arboretum yesterday. Yes, he's disabled. We all have issues. And sure, he's little older (possibly over 90), and okay, he isn't the same species. But I swear to you when I look into his sweet brown eyes, all those concerns fade away.
I love you, Ferghal. Sigh. I love your long, soft Collie nose, and your bushy fur. I love the way you look around blindly for your mama. I love your hoppy little walk. Say you'll be mine, Ferghal, and we will spend our days tip-toeing through the Arboretum where we first met.
This is such a lovely spot, one of the reasons Seattle is, in fact, the Emerald City. It feels as secluded as a country lane, the cherry blossoms are peeking out, and the landscaping is so well-thought out, you could picnic here on a busy day and never see another soul.
But if you see a sweet old Collie, back off. He's all mine. :)
As a "native" Seattle person I'm embarrassed to say that I take our Arboretum for granted. I don't enjoy this free treasure as much as I should. Today I was reminded of this natural respite in the city as I went for an impromptu picnic in the sun. There's all sorts of special gardens, huge shoreline, grassy knolls, inviting trees to lounge under, trails, bird watching, open grasslands, kayaking, etc. to enjoy all year round. Lots of free parking in various locations. Free Free Free Free Free.
AWEOME!!!! what a way to use a former landfill. Nice Trails, funny ducks, mud when it rains.
Too bad you can't climb (legally anyway) the Sequoia trees
I have seen many places in my years and I will always say this is one of the most gorgeous. I am waiting on the warmer weather so I can take my grand babies. I want them to get the perfect start to enjoying the beauty of nature.
Walking trails are exceptional. Views are exceptional. Upkeep workers and landscapers must be exceptional.
Due to its size, it kinda reminds me of Golden Gate Park, maybe on steroids.
We saw a high school track team running through there and what a place to run!
You go team!
Large manicured lawns to lie around on with your blanket and book and a snack. I want to go back and hike my butt off.
What a lovely place to come and walk around. It's peaceful, usually pretty quiet, not over-run by people by any means, and very beautiful.
I've been here wth many out-of-town guests (in addition to in town people) and everyone just seems to love it. There's such a wide variety of ecosystems, ranging from Lake Washington to fields of open long-grass, to very wooded, to ponds, etc..
Plus my puppy really loves it here.
This park rocks....its huge....its beautiful...it often gets overlooked by many who might want to people watch at green lake.
There are so many private spots where you can pack a lunch and just enjoy the beauty of the arboretum...whenever i get down on seattle, which happens abit... i take myself to this gem to rediscover what i love about seattle...
Dont wait...just go
We went at what I'm hoping was a bad time of year because there was hardly anything in bloom there, which was a disappointment. It was okay . . . but not that great for a walk. I prefer some other trails in the area.
I DID like the Japanese Garden which is somewhat attached to this place. You have to pay $5 to get in, but it's really pretty. I just wish less people were there when we went--it could be really nice for just sitting and chilling out.
This has become my favorite place in the city. I like taking naps on benches or under a tree if the ground isn't wet. With any luck this is where I'll be when I have the big one.
The Arboretum is a runner's paradise. Just enough hills to be challenging, dirt tracks (rather than tarmac), enough trails to offer some variety, and lovely scenery to boot. It doesn't feel like it's in the middle of the city. Just don't run/jog on the Azalea trail or you might get yelled at by an overzealous flower-lover.
Great place to take kids or out-of-town visitors who want to do more than gape at the Space Needle (good views from the floating waterfront trail--look in the opposite direction of the stadium to see Mt. Rainier peeking out from behind the trees). Haven't rented boats yet, but I've heard good things.
Beautiful driving / biking park.
Of course you can also actually get out of the car and walk around the Azaleas, visit the Japanese Garden or just find a spot by the water for a picnic.
This was one of the first places that I went when I arrived here and wasn't being led around by my nose.
I spent the whole day walking around the paths, looking at the well labeled trees and bushes, watching runners and bikers rumble by, discovering potheads lighting up in the woods with picnic baskets full of (I'm guessing) "munchies," and seeing a lot of lovely wildlife. Some of which was some of the fattest squirrels I've ever seen. They were like furry bloated wood ticks. Crazy.
The Japanese garden is also well worth the price of admission. It's lovely. I'm considering an annual pass.
This place is amazing- but sshh- lets keep it a little secret!!
Great for walks on 2nd dates! Great for picnics!!
Beware of adult activities in far off corners-
Great for pictures!!
A nice escape from the urban hustle with the serenity of a beautifully laid out Japanese the garden. The garden itself is small and a short little walk around a beautiful koi filled lake. Filled with beautiful shrines to balance out the elementals.
The trees are all labeled and laid out nicely along a marked pathway. So you can learn while you experience the garden. The way the trail winds through the small fenced garden doesn't seem deliberate and gives a sense of balance when you scan over the landscape. There are nice benches and secluded areas to sit and talk or to just enjoy your surroundings. The fish are whimsical and the natural bridges are a wonderful touch. A good experience for the soul.
Remember to pick up a calendar of events to find the ones you would like to experience and to buy a bonsai tree to help with the expansion project. Only $7 for a tree and $5 for a ticket into the park. But consider the annual pass for $15.
However, there are drawbacks. The parking and crowds surrounding the garden can be annoying. But are worth going through. And worst of all are people taking photographs in the garden. I understand the no tripod rule but it still doesn't keep people from clawing over each other and giving attitude to other patrons in order to take a photograph of the waterfall or a flower. Sort of makes you wonder if they understand anything about the concept of a Japanese garden. Don't let them ruin your experience or tell you to move. Sooner or later they will learn.
During the summer, the arboretum is 5 stars hands down. You can compare it to Vancouver's Stanley Park but on a much smaller scale. There are hanging gardens (Japanese), bridges and trails that lead you through some "islands", and just a great beach'ish area that you can sit on and look over the lake.
One of my favorite activities at the arboretum is to rent a canoe and explore. Since there are some islands, that implies that there are some canals that you travel via a boat and the canoe is the perfect size and speed to have fun and enjoy the sights in.
*You can rent canoes at the UW Waterfront Activities Center or UW WAC.
I grew up in the country and living within a few blocks of the arboretum is awesome. There are woods enough here to pretend that you're getting lost, and while there's a road or two through, you don't hear a lot of traffic and in the summer can come here and disconnect and read a book.
There's swimming up by 520, along with the unused overpass that provides a scary enough jumping off point to keep crowds there despite no trespassing signs. As has been mentioned, renting a canoe across the canal at UW provides a nice way to explore around here by water, where it's calm and the foot bridge across some of the islands prevent larger boats from wandering in. At night, the waterfront is beautiful as well.
My favorite is wandering around here at night with friends, despite it probably being closed. There's a cute gazebo east of Lake Washington Blvd along one of the paths. I can't describe how to get there, except that it's near the fields near the parking lot near Interlaken.
Woods though. I love woods, it's great having it in Seattle. Plus a lot of the trails are still dirt paths as opposed to something like Discovery Park where they paved the crap out of it all.
This place is great - it has everything a nature lover would love and then some! You can go in any direction - out to Lake Washington, or to the Japanese Gardens, or even down Azalea lane. Two great times to go is during the spring (when everything is out in bloom) and during the fall (when all the leaves are on the ground).
Looking through old photo albums, I have too many pictures from here. It's hard not to though, when you are surrounded by beauty.
Bring your lovely lady here, she'll dig ya.
Finding peace and solitude "outside" has been an ongoing process.
When I was a little kid, there was a neighborhood park where all of the neighborhood kids went. For a short period, back when there weren't that many of us neighborhood kids, it was a great place to be. Big, open green space, large enough for all of us to have "our spot". Eventually, it became overcrowded and/or I grew up. I don't know which happened first, actually.
When I was in college at the UW, I spent time "outside" in the Quad. During the sunny days of spring, the Quad took on an almost beach-like atmosphere...people playing frisbee, portable stereos everywhere, people lying on towels or blankets and soaking up some vitamin D while "studying". (I use the term loosely because I wound up getting distracted from my books. This might explain a few things, actually.)
When I was a fresh grad, "outside" meant Greenlake, where I could get exercise on a paved trail and people watch all at once. And bunny watch. My God, there are a lot of bunnies there.
But see, all of these places have one thing in common...they became so overcrowded that "peace and solitude" became impossible to find. Overcrowded with kids, overcrowded with college students, overcrowded with bunnies. I'm not against any of these groups in any way, but when a girl's looking for "peace and solitude" in the great outdoors, these groups in large numbers are hardly compatible.
Enter the Arboretum, which is not only "outdoors", but is so frickin' huge that it's EASY to find a niche.
My niche changes based on my mood. Sometimes it's under a cherry tree, where the air smells sweet as cotton candy. Sometimes it's in a patch of soft grass and dandelions, where I nap surrounded by green and yellow. Sometimes it's by the little river, where I can quietly watch the canoes and kayaks float by and where I am kept company by a pair of curious ducks, who seem convinced that I have bread somewhere in my backpack. Sometimes it's in one of the green grassy meadows surrounded by evergreens, where I feed squirrels cashews from my trail mix. (The M&Ms are mine.)
It changes as often as my mood, and it's fine...because I can always find that spot as close or as far away from others as I want. It's happiness, nature, and "outdoors", all wrapped into one. You couldn't ask for better.
The Japanese Garden at the Arboretum is ...well, I hardly know where to start. This garden was designed and the construction was overseen by a master Japanese garden designer. The plants and shrubs are exquisite in all seasons. The Koi pond teems with life. The tea houses and the shrine for moon ceremonies are lovely. Walking the path around the garden is a perfect way to center myself and let go of the insanity.
I like it here so much that my boyfriend bought me an annual pass.
Here is the link to the official site. http://www.seattle.gov...
I have only 2 reservations. The first is the availability and conditon of rest rooms. The only rest room in the garden area is a honey bucket. It would be nice to have a clean modern facilities in good repair (which disqualifies the toilets by the playing fields). The second is that you can't go into the tea houses. They are completely locked up. You can go to a formal tea ceremony put on by the Urasenke Foundation. http://www.urasenkesea... I'd love to hear if anyone has been to one.
Also, I don't care but photographers should be aware that they may not take tripods into the garden because the paths are too narrow and it prevents others from enjoying the garden.
What a beautiful place right in the Seattle area! Lots of beautiful trees and flower gardens... and lots of places to sit back and have a picnic.. I wish we had!
And it's not crowded with people like at other areas so you can actually enjoy the serenity and relax in peace. There'a also a place that sells botanicals in the arboretum. We didn't get to walk around the entire park.. it seems pretty big.
But yes, what a lovely spot to sit back, talk, eat, enjoy the nice summer days...
probably the single best place to drop acid. (but i wouldn't know :\ )....
the arboretum is also awesome solo. take a book - or don't take a book - just get lost and "happen upon" something new and different. it's awesome.
it's not like golden gardens - where i feel i can only go if i am throwing a bbq or bonfire... it's not like discovery park where i feel like i need a frisbee an a hippy friend named rainbow to play frisbee with me. it's not like sporty-spice-greenlake where i feel like i need to run or rollerblade or dodge strollers on my beachcruiser. it's none of those.
the arboretum is a quiet, peaceful, engaging and relaxing park... it makes me feel as if i had my own huge backyard or like one of those lucky few who inherit acres of land and actually take strolls in complete privacy.
I love the arboretum. How cool is it to have this right smack dab in the middle of our fare city?
go bushes and trees
